If you cut a magnet in half, does it still retain both polarities?

Question

If you cut a rod shaped magnet in across its width (not lengthwise), will it still have opposite poles of attraction?

Answer 1

definitely.

the magnetic current flows throughout the magnet.

Answer 2

When an electric charge is accelerated is produces a magnetic field.
An electron orbiting a nucleus is an electron in acceleration, so it is responsible for the magnetic properties of the atom. Each single atom has magnetic properties. These mini magnets cancel out in materials with no magnetic properties, because they are placed in a random manner inside the volume of the material. Imagine something like this sketch

S N-S N N-S N
/ S-N \ /
N S-N S S
The total magnetic field is really close to zero.

But if we manage to place them in such a way that they reinforce each other's magnetic field then the (macroscopic) material becomes a magnet. Imagine something like the following sketch

N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S N-S

As you can see on the left side all the North (mini) poles reinforce each other, producing the North pole of the material. The same applies for the right hand side for the South (mini) poles, which produce the (macroscopic) South pole of the material.
As we see from this sketch inside the volume of the material there are still mini north and south poles but their net effect is zero since they cancel out one another.

But if you cut the material in two pieces then the 'missing' poles appear, since they were there right from the start

N-S N-S N-S ... N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S ... N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S ... N-S N-S N-S
N-S N-S N-S ... N-S N-S N-S

Answer 3

All the answers you have so far are correct.
A magnet N------S will cut into n---s n---s
magnets this is due to the fact the polarity of the
magnetic material will continue to have a potential
difference between both ends i.e. there can never be
a N---- or ---S magnet since the lines of force align the
charges of the material through out the magnet.

Answer 4

A magnet lines up the atoms like a string. If you cut a string in half, you get two strings. The same thing happens with a magnet.

Answer 5

"Yes."
Your answer is "Yes"
I've designed single poled magnetic fields.
I think what is needed to create a single poled magnetic field is the energy of some of today's modern atomic reactors. Of course I'm trying to open portholes to other dimensions (requires vast amounts of energy). To prove that time is a liquid. Which of course makes me insane!! Just ask Steven Hawkings. If you don't know who he is the question you asked is way too mature for you.

Answer 6

What you're asking is: are you able to create magnetic monopoles? the answer to that's no. No magnetic monopoles have so far be discovered. All you do is create smaller magnets each and every time you decrease one in 0.5; each and each with its own N and S at opposite ends, you need to bypass on doing this indefinitely

Answer 7

Yes

Answer 8

in which ever way u cut a magnet there will be a north pole and a south pole.

magnetism is caused due to the special arrangement of atoms inside the magnet when a magnet is cut an atom does not divide into 2 pieces


N----S N----S N----S
N----S N----S N----S
N----S N----S N----S

N----S
CANNOT BE BROKEN INTO
N--- and ---S

Answer 9

a good one...
i don't think so...
actually magnetic field is a vector...
so it off course has some magnitude and a direction associated with it...
so ...
N-------S.

IF THE ROD IS LIKE AS SHOWN ABOVE THEN, certainly
WHEN YOU CUT IT ALONG ITS WIDTH YOU HAVE INTRODUCED SOMETHING NEW IN THE SYSTEM...
SO SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE...
AND WHAT I BELIEVE IM THIS CASE CHANGES IS THE MAGNITUDE BUT NOT THE DIRECTION....
SO AGAIN WHAT WE GET IS....

N-------------S
N-------------S

INSTEAD OF :-
N-----S N------S

I HOPE YOU GOT MY LOGIC...
THANK YOU.

Answer 10

if you're goin' to cut the magnet, the two new magnets will have their own polarity.