Let us start with the basic, The Attraction of a magnet ( North ) is always stronger than the Repulsion (South). So as an example, take two bar magnets from radio shack and place one on a table and tape it down were it will not move, then hold the other in your hand and angled it just right, keeping it spaced exactly 1/4" apart. then slowly entering the table top magnet sweeping over it with the other, you will see that the attraction is far greater than the resistance = repulsion..... in the diagrams below we have tried to illustrate exactly what is going on in these bar magnets.