What Happens If You Cut a Magnet in Half?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What happens if you cut a magnet in half?

The Big Idea

If you cut a magnet in half, you do not get a north piece and a south piece. You get two smaller magnets, and each one has its own north and south pole! Let's find out why.

Tiny Groups Everywhere

Step one: tiny groups are everywhere. Inside the metal, tiny magnetic groups fill every part of the magnet. Each little group has a north end and a south end of its own.

Cut It Apart

Step two: cut it apart. No matter where you cut, the tiny groups in each piece still line up the same way. So each new piece has a north pole and a south pole.

Keep Cutting

Step three: keep cutting. You can break a magnet into pieces again and again, and every piece is still a magnet. You can never separate a north pole from a south pole by cutting.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! We begin with one whole magnet. We cut it in half. Now there are two magnets. Each has its own north and south pole.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A magnet can be broken into pieces again and again. Every single piece is still a magnet. That is because tiny magnetic groups are everywhere inside the metal. You cannot get a north pole all by itself.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, cut a flexible fridge-magnet strip in half with safety scissors. Test each piece on a steel paper clip. Then test each piece on the fridge door. Both halves still work as magnets!

Outro

A cut magnet becomes two magnets, each with its own north and south pole. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!