What causes magnets to attract each other at other times and repel each other at other times?

Answer 1

The standard North and South Pole explanation does not satisfy me. Yes, like poles repel and unlike poles attract but that doesn't explain the actual mechanism that causes the attraction or repulsion. I think that there is a similarity between a magnet and a tornado. If two tornadoes both rotating clockwise approached each other they would push each other away like gears grinding against each other. On the other hand if one tornado was rotating clockwise and the other counterclockwise they would not repel because they would be like gears meshing properly. So they would not repel but what then would cause them to attract. There are many forms of matter and energy in space, it is not empty. All these forms of matter and energy are not sitting still; they are moving and bumping into each other, pushing on the tornadoes. Two things that are not pushing against each other will be pushed together by all the other pushing forms of matter and energy in space. Also, a whirling tornado creates a partial vacuum inside the tornado which will enhance the forces pushing them together. A tornado is also called a vortex.

An electromagnet is usually made by wrapping insulated wire around an iron core and pushing electrons thought the wire by connecting a battery or power source. This is very similar to a tornado or vortex but it is a vortex of rotating electrons. The rotating electrons in the wire will also stimulate the rotating electrons in the iron atoms. My guess is that the rotating electrons will create a partial vacuum of negatively (and probably positively) charged particles inside the vortex of rotating electrons. The external pushing forces in space will push against the magnets until their rotations in the electro magnets line up and no longer grind and push against each other I.e. like poles repel and opposite attract. They are just filling a vacuum!

This suggests a possible mechanism that better explains what happens with magnets and satisfies my curiosity more than a rule that says like poles attract and unlike poles repel. It may not fully explain the cause but I think it's closer to the actual mechanism.

Answer 2

It is not random. Always, "different poles attract", "same poles repel".

The poles are termed North or South and is the way the poles align themselves, with the earths magnetic poles. North seeking or South seeking ends.

Answer 3

The way it works is that magnets have two sides, called the north pole and the south pole. Two poles of the same kind (for example, two south poles) repel one another; two different poles (i.e., a north and a south pole) attract one another.