Five identical bar magnets (M1–M5) are arranged in a straight line on a frictionless…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Magnetism and Matter · Magnetism and Matter
Problem
Five identical bar magnets (M1–M5) are arranged in a straight line on a frictionless horizontal surface with equal center-to-center spacing d. Their orientations from left to right are
M1: N–S, M2: S–N, M3: N–S, M4: S–N, M5: N–S.
Only magnet M3 is free to move; the others are held fixed. Which statement best describes the initial net magnetic force on M3 immediately after the supports are removed?
(a) A net force acts to the left because M2 attracts M3’s south pole while M4 repels its north pole.
(b) A net force acts to the right because repulsion between like poles is stronger than attraction between unlike poles.
(c) Equal and opposite forces from M2 and M4 cancel, so the net force on M3 is zero.
(d) No magnetic force acts, since the magnets are identical and symmetrically spaced.