Where Are the Poles on Magnets?
- A compass is a common hand-held magnet.compass image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
According to Integrated Publishing (IP), the magnetic force around a magnet is not perfectly uniform; in fact, there is a concentration of the magnetic pull at each end of a magnet. IP defines poles as "the two ends, which are the regions of concentrated lines of force, are called the poles of the magnet." All magnets have two poles--both a north and south pole, which are the two strongest yet equal parts of the magnet. - The School for Champions says that there are many applications for magnets, the two most commonly found are for compasses and common refrigerator magnets. Other uses for magnets can be loudspeakers, electrical motors and electrical generators.
- A magnet is an object or substance that attracts certain types of metal such as iron, nickel, steel and cobalt. If cut in half, magnets will become two separate magnets, each having their own north and south poles, respectively.
