The mirror., 1920-01-08
M A G. N E T Is M
History Some Facts About Magnet Elements that Freedom
to Aid Solution
Papsr read at cAausauqua Circle by Mr.. 4. KS

CsrcH 0y mr.. Il. n. q.
magnet may exert very little power at a
point let us say, midway between its two
poles. Now why should a magnet made of
one piece of solid metal have greater power
at its two ends than it has at any other point
on its surface? Science explains that as fol-
lows.
All matter is composed of an infinite
number of molecules, their arrangement and
number depending on the density and nature
of the matter. The molecules which COM
pose magnetic body have nature peculiar
to themselves in that each molecule contains
two different forms of energy. And these
two forms of energy are likewise known as
positive and negative energy. So we may say
that each molecule has north and south
magnetic pole. The molecules composing
a magnet are so arranged that their north
poles all point in one direction and their
south poles in the opposite direction, and
since this is true it is readily seen why a
magnet possesses its greatest power at its ex-
tremes. Imagine thousand spherical pieces
of steel, the size of bird shot, each piece of
which has been magnetized. Now each
little ball of steel is complete magnet in
itself and possesses north and south pole.
Then think of these steel balls as molecules,
though they really are millions of times lar
ger. Now imagine these spheres placed in
small receptacle and shaken. On letting
them come to rest, it will be found upon
examination that the entire one thousand
spheres cling together in one mass, yet all
their north poles lie in one direction, and
their south poles in the other. The reason is
obvious. Since the north poles of each and
the south poles of each, repel, then of course
two north poles and two south poles can
never lie together. Hence we find the north
pole of one tiny sphere clinging to the south
pole of its neighbor and so on throughout
the entire mass.
One more popularity of the magnet.
1t is impossible to construct magnet with
only one pole. "A six inch bar magnet has
a north and south pole at its respective ends.
By cutting one inch off of the bar near the
north pole, the piece thus cut off would still
retain its original north pole, yet the opposite
end where the cut was made would now be-
come new south pole, and the piece would
still be a complete magnet, though OF
less power. And of the piece of bar five
inches long, the bar would retain its original
south pole and gain new north pole at the
end where it was cut. So it is seen that
it is impossible to isolate one pole from its
opposing pole in the same piece. The small
lest fragment of magnet has two poles and
is always complete magnet in itself.
Why does magnetic needle or compass
needle point north and south? Simply be-
cause our earth itself is magnet on large
scale with its axis running in the direction
indicated by the needle. The poles of the
magnet needle are attracted by their re-
spective opposite poles of the earth. In this
connection there is a peculiar phenomenon
of the needle to note. A person at the mag
netic equator of the earth (Which by the way
is not true equator) and using simple COM
pass made by floating magnetized needle
in cup of water by the aid of bit of cork,
will find that the needle floats horizontally
to the surface of the water. But if the ex-
pertinent be repeated, say 5000 miles north
of the equator, it will be found that the end
of the needle pointing to the north is de-
pressed toward the surface of the water,
while the opposite end is correspondingly
elevated. In the former experiment the
power of attraction exerted on each pole of
the needle is the same, since at the equator
it is midway between the two poles of the
earth. In the latter, the needle is nearer the
north pole of the earth and the attraction is
stronger, causing the corresponding end of
the needle to be depressed and elevating the
opposite end. This is known as the dip of
the needle, "in nautical and astronomical
vernacular and must be taken into account
and corrected in making delicate compasses.
An artificial magnet may be made in
several ways. BY rubbing piece of steel
(Oontinssd on page .. column 81