The reason that some magnets push or pull away from another metallic object is the result of tiny electrons and protons. These spin around atoms which are the building blocks of all material. When a magnet or object has more protons than electrons, it has a positive charge to it. When a magnet or object has more electrons than protons, it has a negative charge to it. A positively charged object will pull toward a negatively charged object. Every magnet has both a north and south pole. If you try and push the south pole of one magnet toward the south pole of another magnet, they will repel each other and push away. If you break a magnet in half, the two new magnetic pieces will each be assigned a new north and south pole. If you want to conduct an experiment with magnets, just gather together some thumbtacks, staples or paper clips. Hold a magnet in your hand and see how many you can attach to one end of the magnet.