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Physicist50
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I was wondering what the difference in the magnetic poles north and south is and what makes them unique.
Physicist50 said:I was wondering what the difference in the magnetic poles north and south is and what makes them unique.
They are fictitious entities that correspond to what is commonly known as the Gilbert model of a magnetic dipole. It treats magnetic material as consisting of tiny dipoles comprised of fictitious point magnetic charges (monopoles), in analogy with real electric dipoles that can exist in a dielectric material. When such dipoles are uniformly aligned along say a bar magnet, one face is then considered to be exposed to north magnetic charges, the other to south magnetic charges. This picture is consistent with the correct external magnetic field generated by such a permanent magnet - although in real magnets magnetization is never completely uniform and the 'magnetic charge' distribution is somewhat more complicated than just charges at each end face.Physicist50 said:Indeed, but what makes one magnet north and one magnet south? Is there a difference in atomic or molecular structure, or the way they work?
Magnetic poles are the two points on a magnet where the magnetic field lines converge or diverge. They are commonly referred to as the north and south poles.
The main difference between the north and south magnetic poles is their polarity. The north pole of a magnet is attracted to the south pole of another magnet, while two north poles or two south poles repel each other. Additionally, the direction of the magnetic field lines at each pole is opposite.
This is due to the fundamental principle of magnetism known as the law of attraction and repulsion. This law states that opposite magnetic poles will attract each other, while like poles will repel each other.
The Earth's magnetic poles are different from regular magnetic poles in that they are not stationary. They are constantly moving and can even flip every few hundred thousand years. The Earth's north magnetic pole is also located near the geographic south pole, while the south magnetic pole is near the geographic north pole.
No, magnetic poles cannot be separated. If a magnet is cut in half, it will result in two smaller magnets, each with their own north and south poles. This is because the magnetic field is a property of the entire magnet, not just its individual poles.