Question

A bar magnet is broken into 3 pieces P, Q and R. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the poles. ​
1 repels 3, 4 attracts 5 and 6 is the south pole. Identify the other poles.​[4 marks]

Answer 1

A bar magnet is broken into three pieces, so it will have 6 poles. Each piece will have both north and south poles. (0.5 marks)
We also know that like poles repel and unlike poles attract. (0.5 marks)
Now let’s use the given data and solve the question.
It is given that 6 is the south pole. It means that 5 must be the north pole because every piece has both south and north poles. (0.5 marks)

It is given that 4 attracts 5. It means 4 and 5 are unlike poles. 5 is the north pole, so 4 should be the south pole. (0.5 marks)

Also, 3 and 4 are poles of the same piece of a magnet then 3 should be the north pole. (0.5 marks)

3 repel 1, it implies that both are like poles. 3 is the north pole, so 1 is also the north pole. (0.5 marks)

1 and 2 are poles of the same magnet, so 2 is the south pole. (0.5 marks)
So, here is what we can conclude.
1- North pole
2- South pole
3- North pole
4- South pole
5- North pole
6- South pole
(0.5 marks)