OpenOlympiad
Concept 3 of 8Foundation
Video

Poles of a magnet

Every magnet has two poles — called North (N) and South (S). That's where its magnetic power is strongest.

If you dip a magnet in iron filings, they cling mostly at the ends (poles), sparsely at the middle.

Basic law:

  • Like poles REPEL (N↔N, S↔S push apart)
  • Unlike poles ATTRACT (N↔S pull together)

If you break a magnet in half, you get TWO smaller magnets — each with its own N and S. You can never isolate a single pole.

Example
Bring two bar magnets end-to-end. If they push apart → same poles facing. Flip one → they snap together.
💡 Tip:You can test an unknown metal rod: if its middle attracts a magnet less than its ends, it's already a magnet.
Prefer a video? Open YouTube search for “magnetic poles north south class 6

🎯 Try it!

5 questions to check what you just read.

0 / 5
  1. Q1.Every magnet has ___ poles:
  2. Q2.Like poles:
  3. Q3.Unlike poles:
  4. Q4.If you break a magnet in half, each piece has:
  5. Q5.Strongest part of a bar magnet: