Question

Nikhilesh has a strange piece which can attract many objects including some non-magnetic substances. What are the things would he need to find whether it is a magnet or not?

• A. All of the above
• B. A piece of magnetic substance
• C. A piece of non-magnetic substance
• D. A thread to suspend

Answer 1

The correct option is D

A thread to suspend

A magnet, when suspended freely, aligns itself according to the Earth's magnetic field. So, Nikhil can just suspend the magnet with the help of the thread. If the piece is a magnet, it comes to rest in the north-south direction when suspended freely. This is because the south pole of the magnet is attracted by the Earth's magnetic north pole(geographical south) and the north pole of the magnet is attracted by the Earth's magnetic south pole(geographical north). So, he does not need anything more than a piece of thread.