Physics – 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism | e-Consult

When two north poles (N pole) are brought together, they repel each other. Similarly, when two south poles (S pole) are brought together, they also repel. This is because like magnetic poles reject each other.

However, when a north pole and a south pole are brought together, they attract each other. This is because opposite magnetic poles attract.

A magnetic material is magnetised when it is exposed to a strong magnetic field. This aligns the magnetic domains within the material, making it behave like a magnet. A unmagnetised material does not have its magnetic domains aligned and therefore does not exhibit magnetic properties. A magnet will attract a magnetised magnetic material.