What is the Difference Between Attraction and Repulsion of Magnets?

The main difference between the attraction and repulsion of magnets lies in the orientation of their poles. When two opposite magnetic poles are close to each other, they attract each other, while when like poles are pushed together, there is a force of repulsion. This can be summarized as: like poles repel, and unlike poles attract.

Attraction:

• Occurs when two unlike-poles (e.g., north and south) are brought close to each other.
• The attraction is slightly stronger than the repulsion due to the alignment of the molecular magnets within the magnet.
• When two opposite magnetic poles attract each other, one magnet supports the parallel alignment of the molecular magnets within the other magnet, making both magnets a little stronger.

Repulsion:

• Occurs when two like-poles (e.g., north and north, or south and south) are brought close to each other.
• The repulsion is slightly weaker than the attraction.
• When two equal magnetic poles are brought close to each other, the magnetic field produced by one magnet disturbs the parallel alignment of the molecular magnets in the other magnet, rendering both magnets a little weaker.

Both attraction and repulsion forces of magnets depend on the distance between the magnets. The closer the magnets are, the stronger the force, and the force will decrease significantly over an increasing distance.

Comparative Table: Attraction vs Repulsion of Magnets

The difference between the attraction and repulsion of magnets lies in the direction of their poles. Here is a table summarizing the key differences:

In summary, the attraction of magnets occurs when unlike poles are brought closer, while repulsion occurs when like poles are brought closer. The attraction between magnets is slightly stronger than the repulsion due to the alignment of the molecular magnets within the magnet. Both attraction and repulsion decrease significantly with increasing distance between the magnets.