Magnets can push and pull things without touching them because they are surrounded by an invisible magnetic field. In Book 2 the electrons explain to Millie how it works.
The article about Magnetism shows us that the magnetic field spreads out around the magnet. It can be visualized with iron filings, which form visible lines around a magnet. These field lines show the shape and reach of the magnetic field.
If you bring a paperclip closer and closer to a magnet, you will notice that at a certain point, it starts being pulled toward the magnet because it has entered the magnetic field.
Millie thinks that a magnetic field is like perfume because you can sense it from a distance, and the closer you are, the stronger it feels.
But what happens if you move the paperclip far away? The magnet doesn’t pull it as strongly anymore.
This happens because the magnetic field spreads out in all directions. Close to the magnet, the field is strong because it is concentrated in a small area. But as you move farther away, the field has to cover a larger space, so it becomes weaker.
It’s a bit like blowing up a balloon. At first, the air is packed tightly in a small space, but as the balloon gets bigger, the air spreads out and becomes less concentrated. Similarly, the magnetic field feels weaker when you're farther away because its energy is spread over a larger area!
