Question

Explain why a single bar magnet shows that the magnetic field of a bar magnet is the strongest in strength at its poles.

Answer 1

The magnetic field of a bar magnet is strongest at either pole of the magnet. It is equally strong at the North Pole compared with the South Pole. The force is weaker in the middle of the magnet and halfway between the pole and the center.

If you were to sprinkle iron filings on piece of paper and place the magnet beneath it, you could see the path of the magnetic field lines.

The field lines are closely packed at either pole of the magnet, widening as they get further from the pole and connecting to the opposite pole of the magnet.

Closely packed field lines means stronger field and wide field lines means weak field.

The magnetic field lines emerge from the North Pole and enter the South Pole. The magnetic field gets weaker the further you get from either pole, so a bar magnet is only useful for picking up small items over short distances.