Answer to Question #142275 in Physics for Belal

Question

5. Draw the magnetic field patterns around a bar magnet, a horseshoe magnet, and the planet Earth (focus on the pole found near Canada). What is the advantage of the horseshoe magnet? (Why go to all the trouble of bending a bar magnet into a horseshoe shape?)

Answer 1

The magnetic field of a horseshoe magnet is almost entirely concentrated near the poles. Also, if we want to pull a piece of metal, we have 2 poles on one side of a magnet, which gives greater magnetic force.

Magnets are made of fragile materials and you can't simply bend a bar magnet. Horseshoe magnets are made on factories.