How to Determine the Negative Pole of a Magnet

Determining the negative pole of a magnet is simple if the poles are marked with a color -- usually the north pole is red -- but if not, there are at least three ways to find out which pole is which. You can buy a magnetometer and check the mystery magnet that way. Magnetometers are very reliable, but not cheap. You can also use a second magnet or compass to determine a magnet's polarity.

Things You'll Need

• Mystery magnet
• Compass or second magnet

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Instructions

• 1

  If you do not have access to a magnetometer, get your hands on a compass or second magnet to check the polarity of the magnet in question.

• 2

  Place the second magnet or compass close to the first magnet and see what happens.

• 3

  The red end of the compass needle with repel your magnet's north pole and attract your magnet's south pole. The same idea applies when using a second magnet -- the second magnet willl attract opposite poles and resist like ones.