A bar magnet has a north pole, N, and a south pole, S. Opposite poles pull toward each other. Matching poles push apart. Turn one magnet to change which poles face each other. Read the letters on the facing ends before predicting the motion.
Forces, motion and energy · Discover & try
When do two magnets push apart?
Reading level 1 of 5 · EarlyChange
Word help
Pole
A north or south region used to describe a magnet’s orientation.
Repulsion
An interaction tending to push objects apart.
Attraction
An interaction tending to pull objects together.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
The interactive activity is loading.
Qualitative bar-magnet interaction and external field-direction sketch, with no calibrated force law.
What to look for
- S faces N and the magnets approach each other.
- S faces S and the magnets move apart.
Explain what you noticed
In a separate setup, the south pole of one bar magnet faces the south pole of another. What tendency is expected?
Keep this idea: Like magnetic poles repel and unlike poles attract; the interaction acts on both magnets.
Follow the sources
Source material checked 2026-10-29. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Source links do not imply endorsement.
Keep following the idea
Next discovery →