Question

The diagram shows two bar magnets. They are cut along the dashed line, and then the two marked ends are placed near each other.

Two bar magnet horizontal. The top has the north pole left and the south pole right. The magnet below is reversed. There is a red line from the center of the top one to the south pole of the bottom one.
Which statement best explains how the pieces will react?

The pieces will repel because the cut end of the top magnet is not a magnetic pole.
The pieces will attract because the cut end of the top magnet is not a magnetic pole.
The pieces will repel because the cut end of the top magnet is a south pole.
The pieces will attract because the cut end of the top magnet is a north pole.

Answer 1

They will attract because cutting a magnet creates new poles at the cut. The right-hand piece of the top magnet (cut face) becomes a north pole, and it is placed next to the bottom magnet’s south pole, so opposite poles attract.