Magnetic poles are the two points on a magnet where the magnetic force is strongest. Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole. When two magnets are brought close together, opposite poles attract each other, while like poles repel. This behavior is due to the alignment of magnetic fields around the magnets. In the Earth, the magnetic poles are not located at the geographic poles. The Earth's magnetic field is generated by movements within its molten core, creating a magnetic field that protects the planet from solar radiation. The magnetic poles can shift over time, a phenomenon known as geomagnetic reversal.