The region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material (iron, steel, cobalt and nickel) is called the magnetic field. • The force between a magnet and a magnetic material is always one of attraction. • The strength of the magnetic field depends on the distance from the magnet. The field is strongest at the poles of the magnet. • The direction of the magnetic field at any point is given by the direction of the force that would act on another north pole placed at that point. The direction of a magnetic field line is from the north (seeking) pole of a magnet to the south (seeking) pole of the magnet.