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Each piece has both poles.

When a bar magnet is cut in half, each resulting piece retains both a north and a south pole. This is a fundamental property of magnets, where each segment behaves as a smaller magnet, complete with its own poles.

A) North only, south only

This option is incorrect because cutting a bar magnet does not result in individual pieces having only one pole. Each segment will still possess both north and south poles due to the nature of magnetic domains within the material.

B) Both poles

This option is correct as each half of the bar magnet, when cut, continues to exhibit both a north and a south pole. The magnetic field lines rearrange themselves to ensure that both poles are present in each segment.

C) One with poles, one without

This option is incorrect because both halves of the magnet will have poles. Cutting the magnet does not eliminate the poles; rather, it creates two smaller magnets, each with their own poles.

D) No poles

This option is incorrect as well, as it suggests that cutting the magnet removes its magnetic properties entirely. Each half maintains both poles, which is essential to its identity as a magnet.

Conclusion

The correct answer, that each piece has both poles, reflects the inherent properties of magnets whereby every segment, regardless of size, will have a north and a south pole. Other options fail to recognize this fundamental aspect of magnetism, leading to misconceptions about the behavior of magnets when divided.