What happens if you suspend a bar magnet so it can go freely?

Answer 1

if the magnet has a low enough mass, and the string induces very little forces and friction on the magnet, it will act like a compass, the south end will point to the north pole and vice versus with north

Answer 2

If the magnet is hanging by one end, then nothing interesting happens.

If it's hanging from its center, and IF there are no other magnets or heavy

iron or steel objects nearby, then it'll wander around for a while, and finally

come to rest with its ends pointing toward the Earth's magnetic poles.

If you're anywhere in the contiguous 48 US states, then it'll look as if the

ends are pointing roughly to the real north and south poles, even though

those are not exactly the directions toward the Earth's magnetic poles.

Answer 3

I strongly suggest you try it out! You can hang a magnet on a string.The magnet will adjust to any magnetic field; if there are no magnets nearby, it will adjust to Earth's magnetic field. The north pole of the magnet will be attracted to Earth's magnetic south pole; for most places of Earth, this is approximately to the north.

Answer 4

If you suspend a bar magnet so it can move freely, it will align itself in the north-south direction due to Earth's magnetic field. The north pole of the magnet will point towards the geographic north and the south pole towards the geographic south. This behavior demonstrates the tendency of magnets to align along the Earth's magnetic field lines.

Answer 5

both of the ends will point towards true magnetic North and South

Answer 6

Nothing. There is nothing for it to attract to!