Question

If a bar magnet is cut into 3 parts, the total number of poles will be:
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 6

Answer 1

Hint Having two poles is a property of the magnet, so no matter how many times you cut every piece has its two respective poles north and south. This is a consequence of the fact that magnetic monopoles do not exist in real life.

Complete step by step answer:
A magnet has two poles which are equal and opposite. They are called the North and South Pole. If a magnet is broken into a number of pieces, each piece becomes a magnet. This in turn implies that monopoles do not exist; that is the ultimate individual unit of magnetism in any magnet is called dipole.

So, when a bar magnet is cut into 3 parts each part has its own north and south pole, so the total number of poles is 6.

The correct option is D.

Note: For a bar magnet, two poles are at opposite ends which are separated by a small distance. Poles are not exactly at the ends. The shortest distance between two poles is called effective length which is less than the length of the magnet.