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Originally, the poles of a magnet were called the 'North-seeking pole' and the 'South-seeking pole', because they pointed towards the North (actually Magnetic North) and South respectively. Over time, we have dropped the 'seeking' part of the names and they are now known, simply, as the 'north pole' and the 'south pole'
These terms were then used as the names of the magnetic polarities of a magnet. Because 'unlike poles attract', the location we call "Magnetic North" has a south magnetic polarity.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIf a bar magnet is suspended, and allowed to come to rest, it will align itself in an approximately North-South direction. This is the principle of operation of a compass.
The end of the magnet that points approximately North was originally termed its 'North-Seeking Pole', and the end that points approximately South was originally termed its 'South-Seeking Pole'. Over the years, the term 'seeking' is no longer used, and we describe the poles of a magnet, simply, as its 'north' and 'south' poles. We say that these terms describe the magnetic polarities of a magnet's poles.
The reason that I say a magnet aligns 'approximately' North-South is that the earth's natural magnetic field does not coincide exactly with the geographical North and South poles. To differentiate between the two, we call them 'True North' and 'Magnetic North', and it is to 'Magnetic North' that a magnet, or compass needle, will point.
It's important to understand that 'Magnetic North' and 'Magnetic South' are locations or directions, and NOT the magnetic polarities. Since unlike poles attract, the magnetic polarity of Magnetic North (the location) is south -which is why it attracts the north magnetic pole of a magnet or compass needle.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoBecause if you hang the magnet up from a thread so that it's free to turn, and let it turn
whichever way it wants to, the magnet always turns to make that pole point North.
This is the secret behind the hiking and navigation aid called the "compass".
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe North Magnetic Pole of the Earth attracts the north pole of a bar magnet and so is in a physical sense actually a southmagnetic pole. See for the "magnet" on Wikipedia.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause they point to the respective direction
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What is the north and south ends of a magnet called?
they are called poles
Where are the greatest of magnet located?
At the two points or ends on a magnet, called the north and south poles.
What labels north and south are the two ends of a magnet?
Hahahahahahahaha I don't know
If you broke a magnet in two would you have isolated north and south poles?
no...you cannot isolate magnet north and south pole..
What is The part of a magnet that points north is called?
The pole of the magnet that points to earth's magnetic north is the south pole of the magnetIt should be understood that the north pointing end of a compass is a North magnetic pole. That being so, the north pole of the earth got its name because of this fact. Actually, the north pole of the earth has a South magnetic polarity which attracts the north pole of the compass. The south pole of a magnet points to the south pole of the earth because the south pole has a north magnetic polarity. Confused? Just remember that true (magnetic) north resides in the magnet; not in the earth. dbm 7/16/09Clearer AnswerThe above answer is incorrect. The poles of a magnet were named after the directions in which they point. The earth's poles were NOT named after a magnet's poles!When a horizontally-suspended comes to rest, it points in an approximately North-South direction. For this reason, the end of the magnet pointing North was called the 'North-Seeking' pole, and the other end was called its 'South-Seeking' pole. We no longer use the terms 'seeking', and we now call the ends of a magnet its 'north pole' and 'south pole' and these terms are also used to define their magnetic polarities.To differentiate it from True North and True South, we say that the magnet actually points to Magnetic North and Magnetic South -these are the names given to directions (or location) NOT their magnetic polarities. So, because 'unlike poles attract', the magnetic polarity at the location we call 'Magnetic North' is a south pole which therefore attracts the north pole of a magnet.
What are north and south ends of a magnet called?
The north and south ends of a magnet are called magnetic north pole and south pole. The ends are named such because of the Earth's North Pole and South Pole.
What do we call ends of magnet?
North and South (Poles) :)
What is the name of the ends of magnet?
north and south
The strongest parts of the magnet are called the?
The north and south ends of a magnet are called magnetic north pole and south pole. The ends are named such because of the Earth's North Pole and South Pole.
What do you call two different ends of a magnet?
North and South :)
What is the north and south ends of a magnet called?
they are called poles
What ere the ends of a magnet called?
North and south poles.
What is the special name for both ends of a magnet?
North and South!
Which ends repel on a magnet?
Two of the same, i.e., south and south repel or north and north. South and north attract.
Where are the greatest of magnet located?
At the two points or ends on a magnet, called the north and south poles.
What is the proper name for the ends of magnets?
The ends of a bar magnet are generally called the north and south poles. However they are more accurately known as the North Attracting pole and the South Attracting pole as the respective ends of the magnet are drawn to the Earths north and south poles.
The ends of a magnet are called what?
a pole
