North pole and south pole of magnets

Magnetism is ubiquitous in everyday life. For example, almost every modern car has more than one electromagnet. But also, in numerous households there are usually magnets in the most varied of shapes. The same principle is used again and again, which explains the properties of magnets. Because they are all North Pole-South Pole magnets.

Structure of a north and south pole magnet

As its name suggests, there are two poles in a north and south pole magnet. Magnets can therefore be divided into the following components:

  • North Pole
  • South Pole

These are the respective ends, which are also collectively called magnetic poles. Both a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole are also present in the earth's magnetic field. The structure or the naming of the magnetic north pole and the magnetic south pole are based on this model.

How a north pole-south pole magnet works

If you hold two North Pole-South Pole magnets together, there are a total of three ways in which they can react:

1) They attract because the North Pole and South Pole meet.

2) They repel each other because two south poles come into contact.

3) Two north poles also repel each other.

The force effect of a magnetic field can be quantified in physical calculations by the so-called flux density B, which can be specified in a measurement either in the unit Gauss or in the unit Tesla. In addition, the magnetic field can be better visualized through the course of field lines.
The denser the field lines, the stronger the magnetic field. They also have neither a beginning nor an end and can be easily traced in an experiment using iron powder.

Charges on a north pole-south pole magnet?

There is another way of structuring magnets - apart from the South and North Pole.
Magnets can also be divided into a negative and a positive pole based on the characteristics of the poles. However, these terms are colloquial.

    • Technical term:
    • North Pole
    • South Pole
    • Colloquial:
    • Positive pole
    • Negative pole

One could therefore assume that the North Pole is positively charged, and the South Pole is negatively charged. However, this is not the case. The name “plus pole” has established itself in everyday life because the field lines begin at the north pole of a north pole-south pole magnet. The terms plus pole and minus pole come from the field of electricity. As with an electrical charge, there are particles in a magnetic field that determine its properties.
As soon as electrons are in motion, magnetism is created. However, unlike the use of electricity, a magnet does not have a single charge. This explains the division of the poles into two parts. A north pole-south pole magnet always has a dipole field.

Which magnet end attracts metal?

In general, almost all substances have a kind of magnetic sensation, so that they react to a magnet. However, this is usually too weak to be seen with the naked eye. The attraction of a magnet visibly affects other bodies. These include, for example:

  • Cobalt
  • Iron
  • Nickel

These materials are also referred to as "ferromagnetic".
It is unimportant whether the north and south poles of a magnet are used because each end of the magnet is attractive. The reason for this is that these substances are magnetized from the outside by a magnetic field and retain their properties for a certain period.
However, metals such as copper, silver, brass, and gold are not ferromagnetic.
Ferromagnetism is just the most common type of magnetism - or rather the magnetic properties of certain materials. Other forms include antiferromagnetism, diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferrimagnetism.


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