north pole
The positive pole of a magnetic dipole that seeks geographic north.
north pole: the end of a magnet that points north
In a permanent magnet or electromagnet, the north pole is the end at which magnetic field lines emerge into the external environment. It is defined operationally: when the magnet hangs free to rotate, this pole orients toward Earth's geographic north. The term reflects a historical naming convention; in reality, Earth's magnetic field is oriented so that the north pole of a compass magnet is attracted to Earth's magnetic south pole, located near the geographic north.
North and south poles always exist as a pair. You cannot isolate a single pole by breaking a magnet in half; each fragment becomes a complete dipole with its own north and south ends. This is fundamental to magnetism at every scale, from iron atoms to large industrial electromagnets. The density and strength of field lines emerging from the north pole determine the magnet's effective strength in that direction.
In electromagnets, the north pole's location depends on coil winding direction and current flow, governed by the right-hand rule: curl your fingers in the direction of current circulation around the coil, and your thumb points toward the north pole. This reversibility makes electromagnets practical for applications requiring pole switching or precise field control.
Industrial work with permanent magnets must account for pole orientation. Magnetic lifting equipment, separators, and chucks all depend on pole positioning. When two north poles face each other, they repel; when north meets south, they attract with force proportional to magnet strength and proximity. Misalignment or incorrect pole orientation can cause assembly failures, equipment damage, or safety hazards.
The term 'north pole' is standard across physics, engineering, and manufacturing, though some older texts used 'boreal pole' or 'positive pole.' Geographic location matters in specialized applications: near Earth's magnetic poles (Canada, Antarctica, Scandinavia), compass-like orientation cannot be relied upon for pole identification, and workers use test equipment instead.