Chapter 20, Problem 24Q

Why will either pole of a magnet attract an unmagnetized piece of iron?

To determine

why either pole of a magnet attracts an unmagnetized piece of iron.

Answer to Problem 24Q

Solution:

Because of the magnet, the domains of the unmagnetized iron orient in single direction.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A magnet is a material that produces magnetic field. It attracts other magnetic objects. In a magnet, magnetic domains are there which give it magnetic property. A magnetic domain is a region in which the magnetization is in a uniform direction. This means that the magnetic moments of each atom are oriented in single direction.

Iron is a magnetic material.

The magnetic domains are in the random direction in the unmagnetized piece of iron. When either pole of the external magnet (strong in nature)is brought close these randomly distributed domains, some domains start orienting in such a way that their north pole becomes closer to the external South Pole and vice versa.