Magnets have the ability to attract some metallic objects. We call these ferromagnetic materials. The magnet first magnetises the ferromagnetic material by a process called magnetic induction. Then the opposite poles of the permanent magnet and the induced magnet are attracted to each other. This can be demonstrated by using a permanent magnet to pick up some paper clips or iron tacks. The paper clips within the field of the permanent magnet become magnetised and they align to form a chain, with their opposite poles attracted to each other. The principle can be demonstrated with other ferromagnetic components, such at iron tacks.
