Magnetism: Poles of Irregular Shapes (Tetrahedron)

[Lost in Space]

If an irregular shape such as a tetrahedron is magnetised, where will the poles be?

 

[Quinzio]

If an irregular shape such as a tetrahedron is magnetised, where will the poles be?

Just think of the tetrahedron as composted of many tiny little magnets.
(As it really is, btw).

 

[Lost in Space]

So one pole could be on a point and the other on a face?

 

[Quinzio]

I don't think. I see more realistic the "bottom" face one pole and the other three faces another pole.

 

[Lost in Space]

I don't think. I see more realistic the "bottom" face one pole and the other three faces another pole.

It's just that a hexahedron would have an equal mass distribution if magnetised so would that mean that the poles would be located on the opposing points or would they still be located on the faces as you suggest?

 

[Quinzio]

It's just that a hexahedron would have an equal mass distribution if magnetised so would that mean that the poles would be located on the opposing points or would they still be located on the faces as you suggest?

Any configuration can be all right.
You just have to make sure that if a "magnetic field line" goes in, it comes out somewhere, and two lines can never cross. (That is, the divergence over the surface is zero).
Of course only a few "easy"configuration can be obtained in reality.

 

[Lost in Space]

So if the poles were located at the points of the hexahedron and then you were to cut it in half to make a tetrahedron, how would this affect the polar regions of each half? Would the polar region previously located at the point move position to three of the faces as its opposite pole would now be on a face?