The Broken Magnet

The behaviour of magnets can be explained by the model of elementary magnets. This model imagines the effects of numerous elementary magnets on the inside of a magnet, which can be visualized by “mini-magnets“. If all elementary magnets face the same direction, the object will adopt this polarity, too, and become a magnet.

The rupture separates it into two halves. However, the elementary magnets still face the same direction as before - in both pieces. In each half, new poles are formed, depending on the alignment of the elementary magnets. The opposite animation shows that every elementary south pole faces upwards, even after the breaking. Therefore both pieces form a south pole in their upper halves.