Poles of a Magnet

Where is a Magnet Strongest?

If you dip a bar magnet into a heap of iron filings (tiny pieces of iron), you will notice something interesting. The filings do not stick uniformly all over the magnet.

• Observation: Most of the iron filings stick to the two ends of the bar magnet.
• Conclusion: The magnetic force is strongest at the ends of the magnet. These ends are called the Poles.

Properties of Poles

1. Existence: Every magnet has two poles:
   • North Pole (N)
   • South Pole (S)
2. Inseparability: Poles always exist in pairs.
   • If you break a bar magnet in half, you do not get separate North and South pieces.
   • Instead, you get two smaller magnets, each with its own North and South pole.