Question

A weak magnet Y is placed near a strong magnet X as shown in the figure.


How will the magnets move?

• A. Y will move away.
• B. X will turn in the clockwise direction.
• C. Y will turn in the anti-clockwise direction.
• D. Both X and Y will turn clockwise.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Y will turn in the anti-clockwise direction.

Like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other. South pole of magnet X is repelled by the south pole of magnet Y. Also, the south pole of magnet X can be attracted to the north pole of magnet Y.
As magnet Y is vertical in position, it will turn in anti-clockwise direction as the south pole of the stronger magnet X will attract its north pole towards itself.

Here, magnet Y will turn and not magnet X. This is because, it is given in the question that magnet Y is a weaker magnet as compared to magnet X.