Question

How do magnets work?

Answer 1

Generally, magnets have two poles. North and south. Magnets produce an invisible magnetic field from one pole to another. Therefore every other magnetic object (like metal) gets into this field is drawn by the force of this field and ends up attached to the magnet. To understand the field this pic would work http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magnet0873.png

Answer 2

Miracles...

Answer 3

In relation to "electricity", all common matter contains electrically charged particles. Atoms contain "electrons" that surround a positive nucleus. It is possible for these electrons to move from one object to another. When you walk across a carpet, it is possible for your whole body to basically become a magnet. As you walk the soles of your shoes can take some of the electrons from the carpet. And so you may become "negatively" charged. If you are negatively charged and touch a metal door knob, -Zap! Because metal is a good conductor and accepts your extra electrons graciously. To avoid this, touch the knob with a key to balance the "atomic charge". So ultimately the electrons leave from the key and not a small area of your finger. You asked about magnets and I assume you are speaking of Iron magnets that hold their charges well. These we call ferromagnets.

Ferromagnets such as Iron, nickel, cobalt, and other rare earth metals tend to stay magnetized. Here is a helpful study link to Ferromagnetism:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/ferro.html

Answer 4

All matter is composed of sub-atomic particles, every atom has electrons and they are located in a area with a variable density of them surrounding each nucleus. Each electron has an effect called spin, it can be up or down and some other alignment is also possible. In typical matter the alignment of the spins as a whole is erratic but in a magnet a greater amount of the spins are in the same direction producing a field. The more spins over the body are in the same alignment, the greater is the magnetic field created. FerroMagnets can lose their properties if are hit strongly or if they are heated over a temperature where the atoms start to relocate damaging the general alignment of the electrons's spins.