Chapter 7, Problem 42R

To determine

To Infer: Theuse of a horseshoe magnet to find Earth’s south magnetic pole.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:A horseshoe magnet’s poles are at the end of its legs.

The Earth’s magnetic poles are situated near its opposite geographic poles, that is, Earth’s north magnetic pole is near its geographic south pole and Earth’s south magnetic pole is near its geographic north pole.

For a horseshoe/U-shaped magnet, the north and south poles are at the ends of its legs. If a horseshoe magnet is hangedfrom the middle and is suspended freely such that it can rotate in any manner, the magnet will rest in geographic north-south direction, that is, its north pole pointing the geographic north, that is, magnetic south pole and its south pole pointing the geographic south, that is, magnetic north pole of Earth.

Conclusion: If a horseshoe magnet is suspended freely, it rests in geographic north-south direction, that is, magnet’s north pole pointing Earth’s south magnetic pole and its south pole pointing Earth’s north magnetic pole.