Magnetic poles and polarity

Principle

The pupils should understand

• that that it is at the two ends of a bar magnet, the magnetic poles, that the strongest forces appear.
• why the two ends of a magnet are called the north and the south poles.
• how one can identify the two poles.
• which forces appear between magnetic poles.

Benefits

Quick and easy experiment for qualitatively understanding of magnetic phenomena

Tasks

1. To find out at which positions on a magnet iron pieces are most strongly attracted.
2. To i´nvestigate how the two enda of a magnet can be distinguished by their different effects.