Every magnet has two poles
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.
Step 1 of 3
- A bar magnet, marked N and S.
- At each end, the pull is strong.
- In the middle, the pull is weak.