Question

How many north and south poles are present in a magnet if it is broken into 6 pieces without loss of magnetism.
(A) Six
(B) Twelve
(C) Two
(D) Zero.

Answer 1

Hint:When a magnet is broken into pieces, each piece will behave as an individual magnet. Therefore, every broken piece will have a north pole and a south pole.

Complete step by step answer:
A bar magnet has a north and a south pole. When we break a bar magnet into two pieces, the bar magnet does not lose its properties. The new pieces now behave as individual magnets, each having a north and a south pole. The north and the south poles of the two magnets have their north and south poles at the same side as that of the original magnet. A diagram can be illustrated below:

Therefore, if the magnet is broken into six pieces, there will be six north poles and six south poles.
The answer is option A.
Additional information:
Any two broken parts of a bar magnet are always oppositely polarized. Since the north and the south poles of the broken pieces are on the same side as the original piece, the north pole of one piece faces the south pole of another and vice versa.

Note:Any magnet can never have zero and north and south poles. Indicating zero north and south poles present in a magnet if it is broken into six pieces means that the magnet loses its properties when broken, which is not true.