NATURAL MAGNETS

The iron ore behaving as a natural magnet is known in Metallurgy as Magnetite. This ore has following properties:

Magnetite

1. Property of Attraction

Property of Attraction i.e., when a piece of magnetite is brought near small bits of iron, it attracts them. Attraction is maximum at the two ends of the piece.

Magnetite when brought near small bits of iron,
 it attracts them.

2. Property of Direction

Property of Direction i.e., if suspended freely, magnetite has the property of hanging in the same direction always, with its axis pointing North and South.

magnetite has property of hanging in same direction always,
 with its axis pointing north and south.

Using the Second Property of magnetite, ancient mariner's used to determine the direction with its help, and due to this fact, it is called Lodestone, meaning a Leading Stone or Guiding Stone. Even now Lodestone is being used in direction finding. A piece of magnetite is called a Natural Magnet.