Why Do Magnets Always Have Two Poles?

Every magnet has tiny magnetic particles. Each particle has a north and a south end. When these particles align, they create the magnet’s overall north and south poles. If you cut a magnet in half, the particles in each half still have a north and a south end, so both pieces have two poles. This is why you can’t get a magnet with just one pole.


Scientists call a one-poled magnet a “magnetic monopole”. Recently, a chemical called holmium titanate has been observed to allow magnetic monopole at certain temperatures. As of now, a magnetic monopole is a treat for the brain, with no real life uses yet tested.

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