What happens if you break a magnet in half?

If you break a magnet in half, will each piece still have a north and a south pole?

Magnets do have north and south poles. For example, Earth’s magnetic poles currently lie close to the north and south geographic poles, around which the planet turns.

Within a magnet, individual atoms carry their own north and south poles — created by the constant motion of electrons within the atoms. Magnets are created when the north poles of atoms align to face the same direction. This can happen either naturally — or by exposing a magnetic material to another magnet.

A magnetic field is always strongest at its poles. In the middle of the magnet, the two competing polarities cancel each other out, producing a weak attraction. When you break a magnet in half, the competing force is eliminated and a new pole is the result.

What happens if you break a magnet in half?

So, yes, if you break a magnet, each piece will still have two poles. In fact, you could keep breaking your magnet in half, all the way down to the scale of atoms, and even then the last remaining atom would have a north and south pole.

what happens if you break a magnet in half

Photo source: splung.com

20 thoughts on “What happens if you break a magnet in half?”

  1. The answer is very simple if u break a magnet in half it will still have a north and south end so when u break it in will still have north and south

  2. william h. zelinski jr.

    when a bar magnet is broken 1 half of the magnet changes its polarity ends. what energy is released? break it again and either half can change polarity ends. mark a 6 inch by 1/4 by 1/4 north and south. break it anywhere in the near middle. you will notice that the polarity of 1 piece remains the same while the other has changed its polarity ends what energy is released?

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