48. A bar magnet has two magnetic poles, a north pole at one end and a south pole at the other end. If the magnet were cut in half, which of the following would describe the magnetic poles of the resulting two pieces?
Answer: B
Each piece would have both a north and a south pole.
When a bar magnet is cut in half, each half retains its own north and south magnetic poles. This characteristic of magnets means that regardless of how many times the magnet is divided, each segment will always have both types of poles.
A) One piece would have a north pole only and the other piece would have a south pole.
This option is incorrect because cutting a magnet in half does not create separate magnets that possess only one type of pole. Instead, each piece will always form its own complete magnetic field with both a north and south pole.
B) Each piece would have both a north and a south pole.
This is the correct option, as it accurately describes the behavior of magnets when divided. Each piece continues to exhibit the properties of a magnet, which include having both a north and a south pole.
C) One piece would have both a north and a south pole, and the other piece would not have any magnetic poles.
This option is incorrect because both halves of the magnet, after being cut, will possess both types of poles. It is impossible for one half to be without magnetic poles, as each half will independently function as a smaller magnet.
D) Neither piece would have magnetic poles.
This option is also incorrect. The act of cutting the magnet does not eliminate its magnetic properties; it only divides the existing poles. Thus, both pieces retain their magnetic poles.
Conclusion
The correct answer, B, clearly illustrates the fundamental principle of magnetism that each segment of a cut magnet retains both north and south poles. Options A, C, and D fail to recognize this essential characteristic of magnets, demonstrating a misunderstanding of how magnetic poles operate when a magnet is divided.