Magnetic Particle Inspection Level 1 Practice Exam

What type of poles are produced when a bar magnet is cut in half?

1. One north and one south pole

2. Two north poles and one south pole

3. Two north and two south poles

4. No poles at all

The correct answer is: Two north and two south poles

When a bar magnet is cut in half, each half forms its own pair of magnetic poles. This phenomenon occurs due to the nature of magnetic fields and dipoles. Magnets are dipolar, meaning they always have both a north and a south pole. When the magnet is severed, the magnetic field lines adjust themselves in such a way that new poles are created on each of the resulting pieces. As a result, each half will have its own north pole and south pole. It is fundamental to understand that you cannot create a magnet with only one type of magnetic pole; this intrinsic property is a key characteristic of magnetic materials. Thus, cutting one magnet into two results in two complete magnets, each with one north pole and one south pole. The correct answer reflects this understanding of magnetism: each cut section bears both poles, affirming that for every north pole created, a south pole also exists. This ensures that the concept of magnetic dipoles is preserved.