Question

If a bar magnet is cut along the dotted line as shown in the figure and the two pieces are held separated by a small distance as they are, then

• A. They repel each other.
• B. They attract each other.
• C. They do not experience any force on each other.
• D. Will repel or attract depending on the location of cut.

Hint:

Whenever a bar magnet is cut, each piece becomes a smaller complete magnet with its own north and south poles. The newly formed adjacent faces are always unlike poles and therefore attract each other.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Recall magnetic pole behavior upon cutting.
Cutting a magnet creates two complete smaller magnets, each with N and S poles. Monopoles don't exist.

Step 2: Identify poles at the cut faces.
Original N---S becomes N---S and N---S. The newly created faces are S and N, which are unlike poles.

Step 3: Determine interaction.
Unlike poles attract, so the pieces attract each other.

Step 4: Final Answer:
They attract each other (option 2).