Question

Why is a freely suspended bar magnet always lie in the north-south direction?

Answer 1

When the bar magnet is suspended freely, it lies in the north-south direction because:

1. The molten magma forms the atoms of metals which are present in the form of ions
2. Due to the rotation of the earth these charged ions also move in a circular form which forms a magnetic field due to the electric currents.
3. Thus it can be considered a bar magnet is kept inside the earth whose south pole is located near the earth's north pole and vice versa
4. Now when a magnet is suspended it is attracted by the magnetic field of the earth and the north pole of a suspended magnet is pointed in the north-south direction.

So a freely suspended magnet lies in a north-south direction due to the effect of a so-called magnet inside the earth.