how do magnets attract things like iron from a distance, without using energy?

Question

I’ve read somewhere that magnets dont do work so they dont use energy, but then how come they can move metallic objects? where is that coming from?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Magnets can convert energy from one form to another, but not create it.

You can store energy too, and it is this stored energy that is converted to kinetic energy when magnets attract each other. To get the magnets back apart you have to put that energy back in.

If you hold a magnet and push another magnet away with it, the energy is coming from your hand.