The image shows a large bar magnet with the poles labeled. How would the poles of the magnet change if it were divided into four equal parts?

Answer 1

When a bar magnet is divided into four equal parts, each of the resulting pieces will become a smaller magnet with its own north and south poles.

1. Original poles: The original magnet has a north pole at one end and a south pole at the other end.

2. Dividing the magnet: When you cut the magnet, each piece will still maintain the magnetic polarity. The new poles form at the location where the cuts were made.

3. Resulting pieces: As a result, each of the four parts will have:

   • A north pole and a south pole, regardless of how you cut the magnet.
   • The north pole will be at one end of each piece, and the south pole will be at the opposite end.

Thus, if you divide the magnet into four equal parts, you will end up with four smaller magnets, each with its own north and south poles. Each piece effectively acts as a complete magnet on its own.