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Lesson 2 of 13

Every magnet has two poles

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5 min

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Slide a paperclip along a bar magnet. Where does the magnet pull hardest?

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The idea

The magnet pulls hardest at its two ends. These two ends are its poles.

The middle has almost no pull.

Each pole has a name. One is N, the north-seeking pole. The other is S, the south-seeking pole. A magnet that swings freely points its N pole north.

A bar magnet, marked N and S.
Step 1 of 3
  1. A bar magnet, marked N and S.
  2. At each end, the pull is strong.
  3. In the middle, the pull is weak.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.