In: Physics
What are magnetic poles? Why are they called north pole and south pole?
a) For a magnet :
Magnetic poles of a magnet are the areas near the ends of the magnet where the magnetic field due to the magnet is strongest. For any magnet there are two points one at each end of the magnet where the magnetic field is srrongest.
These two points one at each end of the magnet are called magnetic poles.
When a magnet is freely suspended one of its end point towards the geographic north pole of the earth , this pole of the magnet is called north pole and the magnetic pole at the other end of the magnet is called south pole of the magnet.
b) For the earth :
For the earth magnetic poles are the regions near the geographic poles of the earth where the magnetic field of the earth becomes vertical. When a dip circle is taken to the magnetic poles of the earth , the needle of the dip circle becomes vertical.
Magnetic North pole of the earth is near the geographic south pole of the earth and Magnetic south pole of the earth is near the geographic north pole of the earth