Question

John has a magnet which is pointing in the North-South direction. He brings a large magnet which is not pointing in the North-South direction close to it. The first magnet then ___________.

• A. will change its direction to South-North
• B. will change its direction so that its poles become parallel to the large magnet
• C. will remain unchanged
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B will change its direction so that its poles become parallel to the large magnet

It is given that John has a magnet which is pointing in the north-south direction. When a large magnet is brought near it, it will experience a magnetic force from the large magnet. The smaller magnet will align itself in the direction of the magnetic field lines of the larger magnet.

Magnets align themselves to the strongest magnet around them. Therefore when the large magnet is close to the small one, it will move accordingly so that it becomes parallel to the large one.