Magnetism can be used to describe:

Magnetism is a fundamental force associated with the magnetic fields produced by moving electric charges. One of the key characteristics of magnetism is its ability to both attract and repel objects, particularly magnetic materials like iron, cobalt, and nickel. Unlike some forces that may act only in one manner, magnetic forces can cause two magnets to either pull towards each other (attraction) or push away from each other (repulsion) depending on their orientation. This dual action of attraction and repulsion occurs without any physical contact between the magnetic objects, making it a non-contact force.

Additionally, this characteristic is integral to many practical applications, such as in electromagnets and magnetic levitation, which leverage the ability to control attraction and repulsion to achieve desired movements and stability in various technologies.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the nature of magnetism. For instance, stating that magnetism can only repel objects ignores the attraction aspect. Limiting magnetism to electrical systems excludes its role in permanent magnets and various mechanical systems. Lastly, suggesting that magnetism only applies to conductive materials overlooks the fact that many non-conductive materials can also exhibit magnetic properties when influenced by an external magnetic field.