Materials attracted to a magnet are known as magnetic materials.

Explanation:

Magnetic materials are substances that can be attracted to a magnet. These materials have properties that allow them to interact with magnetic fields. When brought near a magnet, magnetic materials will either be drawn towards it or exhibit some form of magnetic behavior.

Examples of magnetic materials:
- Iron
- Nickel
- Cobalt
- Steel

These materials are made up of tiny magnetic domains, which are regions where the atoms or molecules are aligned in a specific way. In the absence of an external magnetic field, these domains may be randomly oriented, resulting in a net magnetization of zero. However, when a magnetic field is applied, the domains align, causing the material to become magnetized.

Properties of magnetic materials:
- Attraction to magnets: Magnetic materials are attracted to magnets and can be easily pulled towards them.
- Repulsion: Similar poles of magnets and magnetic materials repel each other.
- Magnetization: Magnetic materials can be magnetized, meaning they can develop a magnetic field of their own when exposed to a magnetic field.
- Retention of magnetism: Some magnetic materials can retain their magnetism even after the external magnetic field is removed. These are known as permanent magnets.

Applications of magnetic materials:
- Electric generators and motors: Magnetic materials are used extensively in the construction of electric generators and motors.
- Magnetic storage devices: Magnetic materials are used in hard drives and magnetic tapes to store and retrieve information.
- Magnetic separators: Magnetic materials are used to separate magnetic substances from non-magnetic substances in industries such as mining and recycling.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Magnetic materials are crucial in MRI machines, which use magnetic fields to generate detailed images of the human body.

In conclusion, materials that are attracted to a magnet are called magnetic materials. They possess unique properties that allow them to interact with magnetic fields and find numerous applications in various fields.