What are the parts of a magnet?

The magnet is a body created by various materials (depending on the type of magnet) that produces a magnetic field around the poles (the north and south poles) that acts as an attraction or rejection towards other magnets made of ferromagnetic materials. The magnet is not made of a single piece as it may seem but is composed of 3 parts that have different functions.

Magnets are composed of 3 parts:

• Magnetic axis: a straight line that acts as a junction between the north and south poles of the magnet.

• Neutral line: the limits of the two poles where the polarized area is separated: positive and negative. This part of the magnet, being in charge of disassociating the poles, is where the minimum attraction of the magnet is found.

• Poles: There are two poles, positive and negative, which are located at the ends of the magnet.  The north pole has a positive charge and the south pole has a negative charge, unlike electric charges, the poles can be separated. If the approach of the poles is equal, they repel each other, while if the poles are opposite, they attract each other. This part of the magnet is where the greatest force of attraction is centralized.

Can magnets be divided?

The poles of a magnet are inseparable, that is to say, they cannot be divided, in the case that a magnet is cut in half and 2 independent pieces are obtained, the different parts will obtain their corresponding north and south poles. However, the attractive force of the magnet is affected by decreasing its attractive force.

The poles are most often found to be red for the north pole and blue for the south pole.

The planet Earth behaves like a large magnet, which has a magnetic field with two poles that are close to the geographic poles. The north pole of a magnet, we can find it with a great force of attraction to the geographic magnetic south, so the south pole is attracted by the geographic north pole.

The poles of the magnet can be modified since several researchers have observed a weakening in the Earth's magnetic field, so the north and south poles are exchanging positions.