When you place two magnets with opposite poles facing each other vertically, they attract. However, if you move one magnet horizontally by a distance greater than the magnets diameter, they will begin to repel in the vertical direction but still maintain attraction in the horizontal direction. Why is this? (Note: first, the necessary horizontal displacement for vertical repulsion is a rough estimate. I am using my hands to measure force, so I can really only measure up to 7cm. Second, the direction I chose to place the magnets is arbitrary.) Edit: (Sorry, I can't include a picture because the file is too large. I will try to describe situation in more detail below: Case 1: imagine two magnets aligned vertically with opposite poles facing eachother separated by some distance. In this case the two magnets will attract Case 2: now imagin the same set up as case one but move one of the magnets to the side by a distance of atleast the magnets diameter. In this case the magnets repel in the vertical direction.