360 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



the particle n to move towards the magnetic equator, 

 there is a tendency on its part to move parallel to the 

 magnet. If, instead of a particle of north magnetism, 

 \ve placed a particle of south magnetism opposite to 

 the magnetic equator, it would evidently be urged 

 along the line n q ; and if, instead of two separate 

 particles of magnetism, we place a little magnetic 

 needle, containing both north and south magnetism, 

 opposite the magnetic equator, its south pole being- 

 urged along n q, and its north along n p, the little 

 needle will be compelled to set itself parallel to the 

 magnet s N. Make the experiment, and satisfy your- 

 selves that this is a true deduction. 



Substitute for your magnetic needle a bit of iron 

 wire, devoid of permanent magnetism, and it will set 

 itself exactly as the needle does. Acted upon by the 

 magnet, the wire, as you know, becomes a magnet and 

 behaves as such ; it will turn its north pole towards p, 

 and south pole towards g, just like the needle. 



But supposing you shift the position of your particle 

 of north magnetism, and bring it nearer to one end of 

 your magnet than to the other ; the forces acting on 

 the particle are no longer equal ; the nearest pole of 



FIG. 12. 



the magnet will act more powerfully on the particle 

 than the more distant one. Let s N, fig. 12, be the 

 magnet, and n the particle of north magnetism, in its 



