Where did magnetite get its name?

Answer 1

If a bar magnet were suspended, and allowed to come to rest, it would point in an approximately North-South direction. The end of the magnet that points towards the North was originally called the 'north-seeking pole', and the end that points towards the South was originally called the 'south-seeking pole'. Over time, we have dropped the use of the word, 'seeking', and now simply refer to them as the magnet's 'north' and 'south' poles which describe their magnetic polarities.

Magnets don't actually point in the direction of True North and True South (located at the earth's axis of rotation) but, rather, at Magnetic North and Magnetic South, which are locations that 'wobble' around True North and True South. Because of this, navigators have to allow for the difference between Magnetic North and True North in order to accurately plot a route.

Magnetic North does not refer to magnetic polarity, but is used to differentiate its location from that of True North.

Because 'unlike poles attract', the polarity of the location we call Magnetic North is a south magnetic pole -which is why the location attracts the north pole of a magnet or compass needle.

Answer 2

A magnet (from Greek μαγνήτις λίθος magnḗtis líthos, Magnesian stone)

Answer 3

it comes from the word magnet:>