I keep getting “No isolated magnetic poles” questions wrong in Magnetism & Matter. What's the trap?
expecting a cut magnet to leave one north-only and one south-only piece.
The usual trap: expecting a cut magnet to leave one north-only and one south-only piece. How to avoid it: every cut makes two complete magnets. Go back to the definition — Cutting a bar magnet produces smaller north-south dipoles, not separate monopoles. Therefore net magnetic flux through any closed surface is zero.
Key point
No isolated magnetic poles
Common mistake
expecting a cut magnet to leave one north-only and one south-only piece.
Memory tip
every cut makes two complete magnets.
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