Answer to Question #202755 in Electricity and Magnetism for ciara

Question

Why are the poles of a magnet called north and south poles? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The pole of the magnet is called the north pole when hanging freely it shows the direction of the geographical North Pole of the Earth. The Earth itself has its own magnetic field. Its magnetic South Pole is located close to the geographical North Pole. Since the different poles of magnets attract, the north pole of the magnet will always be attracted by the Earth's south magnetic pole, and, therefore, always point to its direction which is the same as the direction to the geographical North pole. Similar works for the south pole of the magnet.