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, 

 we 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 

 and south pole towards </, 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 oi 



S 



JN 



FIG. 12. 



the magnet will act more powerfully on the particle 

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

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



