Question

Explain the directional property of magnets. How do the poles of a magnet get their names? Describe one application of this property.

Answer 1

Hint: Any object that produces its magnetic field and can interact with other magnetic fields present in its vicinity can be referred to as a magnet. Every magnet possesses some characteristics properties such as attractive property, repulsive property and directive property.

Complete step by step answer:
A freely suspended magnet always comes to rest in the north-south direction. This automatic alignment of the magnetic poles is referred to as the directive property of magnets. This alignment is under the influence of the earth’s magnetic field.
As discussed above, upon free horizontal suspension, a magnet comes to rest in the north-south direction. The end of the magnet which points to the north is named as the North Pole and the south-facing end is named the South Pole. This is the procedure of naming magnetic poles. Thus, we can say that the directional property of magnets plays a vital role in pole nomenclature.
Besides the naming of poles, the directional property of magnets has been put to great use since time immemorial. For centuries, sailors and land travellers, adventurers have used the directional property of magnets to get a firm sense of direction. Strips of magnetite were used in olden days but now we have a magnetic compass which has a freely pivoted magnetic needle enclosed in a brass box with a glass top.

Note: Every magnet, irrespective of its shape, has a north pole and a south pole and the magnetic force of a magnet is strongest at these poles. Magnets find applications in a wide variety of electromagnets, AC and DC electric motors, electric generators, magnetic levitation, etc. based on their characteristic properties.