If poles of a bar magnet were not labeled, could you tell which is north and which is south?

Question

I believe no. It could be tested with iron filings, and by looking at the field pattern the iron filing create. The pattern would be the same around the magnet.

Answer 1

Yes, if I was in the woods I would look what side of trees moss was on

Answer 2

The poles of the magnet are labeled north and south only with reference to an external magnet (the earth’s magnet). The geographic North Pole is the earth’s magnetic South Pole.

Therefore to find the north and south of a given magnet we must certainly have another magnet. The other magnet may be earth magnet or even a compass needle whose north and south are known already. It may even an electric field and in that case also we must know the North and South Pole directly or indirectly.

Answer 3

It does not matter which pole you place on which side of the armature. The motor will run clockwise with poles located one way and counterclockwise if you reverse the poles. To find out what pole is what on the magnet get a cheap compass. The north pole of the compass will point to the south pole of the bar magnet. Remember either use the right hand rule with conventional current (+ to -) flow or the right hand rule with electron flow (- to +) to determine the north pole of the armature.Either method will give you the right results, use the one you feel most comfortable with. Wrap your fingers around the wire the way the current flows through the coil, your thumb will point to the north pole of the armature. The bar magnets must be at right angles to the armature poles to get the armature spinning with maximum torque. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

You can use a compass and that should tell you which is the north and which is the south. The other option would be to tie a string around the centre of the magnet and hang it so that it can freely spin...the south side of the magnet will point in the northerly direction.

Answer 5

Test it against a compass, If one pole is made to approach the North pointing end of the compass and repels it then that too is a North pole and visa versa.

Answer 6

Yes, put it on something that floats but is lightweight and in the water, it will turn to align with the north and south poles.

Answer 7

float on something light in water the south will point north- and the north will point south.



yea like podge said use a compose

Answer 8

Yes!

Answer 9

You can use it as a compass.