- #1
APUGYael
- 41
- 1
Hello,
I am unable to understand a certain (important) concept.
We all know what the field lines of a permanent magnet look like. They go from north to south, and curve around the magnet.
This direction (direction of the magnetic field) does NOT describe the direction of a force. And that's where I am confused.Say I cut another stick magnet in half, and only use the magnetic north pole portion. If I were to put this below the south pole of my original magnet, it would start moving towards it (you could start a discussion on relativity here, but that's not what I am trying to do).Likewise, if I were to put it on the north pole it would move away from the magnet.
Wouldn't that mean that the force is in the same direction as the field lines?
EDIT: someone said you can't cut a magnet in half. I know. It was ment to be a thought experiment.
-Yael
I am unable to understand a certain (important) concept.
We all know what the field lines of a permanent magnet look like. They go from north to south, and curve around the magnet.
This direction (direction of the magnetic field) does NOT describe the direction of a force. And that's where I am confused.Say I cut another stick magnet in half, and only use the magnetic north pole portion. If I were to put this below the south pole of my original magnet, it would start moving towards it (you could start a discussion on relativity here, but that's not what I am trying to do).Likewise, if I were to put it on the north pole it would move away from the magnet.
Wouldn't that mean that the force is in the same direction as the field lines?
EDIT: someone said you can't cut a magnet in half. I know. It was ment to be a thought experiment.
-Yael
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