Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet — Interactive Diagram
See the invisible field around a magnet and why opposite poles attract while like poles repel.
TL;DR: See the invisible field around a magnet and why opposite poles attract while like poles repel.
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet: See the invisible field around a magnet and why opposite poles attract while like poles repel.
Why it matters: Magnetic field lines, poles and attraction/repulsion are the basis of magnetism, compasses and electric motors.
Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet — Step by Step
- Every bar magnet has two poles — NORTH (N) and SOUTH (S). The magnetic force is strongest at the poles.
- Invisible FIELD LINES run from N to S outside the magnet. Iron filings line up along them to reveal the field.
- OPPOSITE poles (N–S) ATTRACT — field lines join up. LIKE poles (N–N) REPEL — field lines push apart.
Quick Notes — the Exam Crux
- A magnet has two poles: north (N) and south (S).
- Outside the magnet, field lines emerge from the N pole and enter the S pole.
- Magnetic field lines never intersect one another.
- Where the field lines are closer together, the field is stronger (near the poles).
- Like poles repel; unlike poles attract.
- A freely suspended magnet always points north–south — the basis of the compass.
Remember It (Memory Trick)
Field lines come OUT of the North pole and go INTO the South pole. They never cross. Closer lines = stronger field. Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
Real-Life Example
Sprinkle iron filings on paper over a bar magnet and they line up in curved arcs from pole to pole — you are seeing the invisible magnetic field made visible.
Test Yourself
In which direction do magnetic field lines point outside a magnet?
From the north pole to the south pole.
What does the spacing of field lines tell you?
Closer lines mean a stronger magnetic field; wider spacing means a weaker field.
Why can two magnetic field lines never cross?
At any point the field has only one direction; a crossing would mean two directions at once, which is impossible.
📖 Read the full explanation of Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet →
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- A Simple Electric Circuit
- Dispersion of Light (Prism)
- How We Hear (Sound)
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Refraction of Light
- Series vs Parallel Circuits
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