How does magnetic force change as two magnetic poles move farther apart?

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Learn about magnetic fields and the levels of particles, atoms, crystals, and domains — magnet Magnetic fields and the levels of magnetism of particles, atoms, crystals, and domains.

The magnetic force between the poles of two magnets is governed by an inverse square law. This means that as the distance between two magnetic poles increases, the force of attraction or repulsion diminishes rapidly.1

Specifically, if the separation distance between two poles is doubled, the magnetic force decreases to one-fourth of its original value. This relationship reflects the fundamental nature of magnetic interactions, where the strength of the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the poles.12