Question

Assume the learning goal is a test question. Talk about what you would include to get full credit.

Learning goal: Compare and contrast the fields of gravity and magnets qualitatively

Answer 1

The field of gravity is always directed towards the centre of mass of the body concerned, and hence is always attractive.

The magnetic field is directed from the north pole to the south pole outside a bar magneti, and from the south to north inside the magnet. This means that the force it exerts can be either attractive or repulsive. The magnetic field due to the line currents is circular around the line current.

On the other hand, both gravity and magnetic fields are inverse square fields, i.e they vary as per the inverse square of the distance from the field source.