Chapter 20, Problem 11Q

To determine

Answer to Problem 11Q

Can an iron rod attract a magnet and can a magnet attract the iron rod

Solution:

Explanation of Solution

• No, an iron rod cannot attract the magnet.
• Yes, a magnet can attract an iron rod
• Firstly we can say that iron rod cannot attract the magnet as the domains of iron when not in the presence of magnetic field are aligned in the random directions due to which no magnetic property is seen with an iron piece in the absence of magnetic field.
  
  The blue arrows here are representing the domains of the substances.
• Yes, a magnet can attract an iron rod as in a magnet the domains are aligned on the fixed particular manner. When an iron rod is brought near the magnet i.e. in the presence of magnetic field then all the domains get aligned in the particular direction creating the opposite pole as that of iron.

Hence the iron rod gets attracted.