Understanding Magnetic Fields: N and S Pole Placement in Current-Carrying Wires

[bfusco]

Homework Statement

Facts that facilitated this train of thought:
-a magnet has a magnetic field that follows a route from the north to south pole.
-no single pole magnet can exist, they must exist in pairs, implying that a magnetic field must always run from a N to a S pole.

question:
if a current carrying wire generates a magnetic field that continuously traces radially around the cylindrical wire, where would the N and S pole be? and why

 

[PeterO]

Homework Statement

Facts that facilitated this train of thought:
-a magnet has a magnetic field that follows a route from the north to south pole.
-no single pole magnet can exist, they must exist in pairs, implying that a magnetic field must always run from a N to a S pole.

question:
if a current carrying wire generates a magnetic field that continuously traces radially around the cylindrical wire, where would the N and S pole be? and why

Since the magnetic field around the wire is not produced by an actual magnet, why should there be a pole at all?
For any small section of the field, we can work out where/how to pace some physical magnets, with their North and South poles, to create an equivalent local field.

 

[bfusco]

ok, i thought that a magnetic field implies the presence of magnetic poles. i guess a magnetic field implies there is either a magnet with poles, or a current. thank you