How are magnets magnetized (where are the north and south poles)?
A: The majority of magnets are magnetized across their thickness, for example a disc magnet such as a 20mm diameter x 2mm thick magnet would have the north pole on one circular face and the south on the other (opposite) face. In most cases the last measurement given is the length in which the magnet has been magnetized. This can be shown by a magnet such as an 50mm x 25mm x 10mm, the north is on one 50mm x 25mm face and the south is on the other, thus the magnet is magnetized across the 10mm thickness. It is also possible to have disc and cylinder magnets magnetized across the diameter so that the north is on one half of the curved face and the south on the opposite half, this is referred to as diametrically magnetized.