How are magnetic poles and electrical charges similar?
1 Answer
Their field patterns look similar provided the electric charges form a dipole.
Explanation:
See illustrations provided by 
Electric dipole is consisted of two opposite charges of equal strength separated by a small distance, in analogous to the magnetic N-pole and S-pole of a bar magnetic separated by a distance. In fact, a bar magnetic is also called a magnetic dipole. Hence the field patterns of a magnetic dipole is similar to the field pattern of an electric dipole.
Observations:
The magnetic field is radiating in divergence from the N pole while converging into the S-pole. Whereas the electric field is radiating from the positive charge while converging into the negative charge. At the equator, the field are parallel.
What are the meanings of these fields?
Electric field interact with electric charges. If you place an positive test charge on one of the electric field flux line, say, on the last one on the right, the charge will follow the curve going from north to south toward the negative charge, provided the dipole is fixed and not allowed to move. Hence, the arrows show which way the positive charge will move or the direction of force experience by the test charge.
The magnetic field, however, interacts with another magnet, e.g. a compass. The arrow of the lines of magnetic flux indicate what direction a compass will point if it is placed there. If you place a campus in the equator of the bar magnet, the compass will point straight to the south, and align itself in parallel to the bar magnet.
