positive magnetic pole
A bar magnet suspended by a string aligns so its positive magnetic pole points north.
Noun 1. The north-seeking pole of a magnet: The end of a freely suspended magnet that points toward the Earth's geographic north. This is the pole that is attracted to the Earth's magnetic south pole. 2. The pole from which magnetic flux emerges: In physics, it is the pole where magnetic field lines are considered to exit the magnet.
This term is used in physics, engineering, and navigation to specify the orientation and polarity of a magnet. * In a simple bar magnet, the positive magnetic pole is typically marked with an 'N' or the color red. * When using a compass, the needle's positive magnetic pole points toward the Earth's magnetic north.
- In electromagnetism: The designation of a "positive magnetic pole" is a conventional label. According to the law of magnetism, every north (positive) pole is always accompanied by a south (negative) pole; isolated magnetic poles (monopoles) have not been observed.
- Historical Context: The concept stems from early observations of lodestone and compass needles. The pole that pointed toward the north was naturally called the "north-seeking" or "positive" pole.
- North pole (of a magnet): A common synonym.
- N-pole: An abbreviated form.
- Seeking pole: Used in compounds like "north-seeking pole."
- Positive pole: Can be ambiguous, as it may also refer to the positive terminal of an electrical battery. Context is key.
- North-seeking pole
- Magnetic north pole (of the magnet itself)
- Negative magnetic pole: The south-seeking pole of a magnet.
- South pole (of a magnet)
- S-pole
- Magnetic dipole: A pair of equal and opposite magnetic poles separated by a small distance.
- Like poles repel, unlike poles attract: The fundamental law describing the interaction between magnetic poles. The positive magnetic pole repels another positive pole but attracts a negative pole.
- Magnetic field lines: Imaginary lines that emerge from the positive magnetic pole and enter the negative magnetic pole.
A bar magnet suspended by a string aligns so its positive magnetic pole points north.
- the pole of a magnet that points toward the north when the magnet is suspended freely