How does one go about identifying which pole is which on a magnet?
You can use a number of straightforward methods to locate the north and south poles of a magnet. The terminology of north and south can be a bit confusing. Just below is probably the best definition of poles that we have come across. “In physics, all magnets have two poles that are distinguished by the direction of the magnetic flux. In principle these poles could be labeled in any way; for example, as “+” and “-“, or “A” and “B”. However, based on the early use of magnets in compasses they were named the “north pole” and the “south pole”, with the north pole being the pole that pointed north. When it was later understood that opposite poles attract, a terminological dilemma arose: the Earth’s North Magnetic Pole and the pole of the magnet that was attracted to it could not have the same polarity. By convention, the “north pole” of a magnet remained defined as the one attracted to the Earth’s North Magnetic Pole, and by this definition the Earth’s North Magnetic Pole is physically a ma
