Confusing the Two Sections: How Does Magnetism Work?

[Abood]

Homework Statement

You have three marbles, A, B, and C, that look identical. Each of them contains either a magnet or piece of iron. You have observed that A sticks to B, but B does not stick to C.
i) Could all three contain iron?
ii) Could all three contain magnets?
iii) Which of them contain magnets? Which contain iron?

Relevant Equations

Conceptual question so there are no relevant equations

I noticed that I posted this question on the wrong section previously by accident and I don't know how to delete it... Sorry for confusing the two sections


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Given:
- A sticks to B
- B doesn't stick to C

My solution:
As A sticks to B, one must be a magnet and the other iron.
As B doesn't stick to C, they must be of the same type (either both magnets or both iron).

As A sticks to B, it implies that it moves to it and makes me think A is made of iron and B magnet.
But the vagueness of B & C is confusing, it could either imply that they repel each other (in that case they are both magnets and have the same pole facing each other) or they are both iron and thus have no attraction to each other but would make the first statement false.

As iron is a soft magnet, it will easily become magnetized and demagnetized but the wording of the question makes me keep questioning my thought process as I feel like I misinterpreted something and would render my answer incorrect.

 

[Merlin3189]

As far as we know, magnets are always dipoles (a N and a S pole).
So what will happen if you put two spherical magnets near each other?

 

[jbriggs444]

As B doesn't stick to C, they must be of the same type (either both magnets or both iron).

Can two magnets stick to one another?

 

[Abood]

Can two magnets stick to one another?

If the two magnets were facing each other with opposite poles, they will be attracted to each other and stick.
I assumed since B and C don't stick they must be of the same type

 

[Abood]

As far as we know, magnets are always dipoles (a N and a S pole).
So what will happen if you put two spherical magnets near each other?

I believe that if they have identical poles facing each other, they will repel (N and N or S and S)

 

[jbriggs444]

If the two magnets were facing each other with opposite poles, they will be attracted to each other and stick.
I assumed since B and C don't stick they must be of the same type

Possibly you have never played with magnets.

If you put two magnets next to each other, they will rotate so that opposite pole mates with opposite pole. They will then attract. Which means that two magnets placed next to each other will always attract. [You have to prevent rotation in order to get repulsion]

 

[Abood]

Possibly you have never played with magnets.

If you put two magnets next to each other, they will rotate so that opposite pole mates with opposite pole. They will then attract. Which means that two magnets placed next to each other will always attract. [You have to prevent rotation in order to get repulsion]

My bad... whenever I remember when I played with magnets I always remember trying to force 2 identical poles to touch. Thank you very much for the explanation!

I think I understood the question now
Since B and C don't attract, they must both be neutral (i.e iron) and that leaves A to be the magnet

 

[Cutter Ketch]

If you put two magnets next to each other, they will rotate so that opposite pole mates with opposite pole.

Particularly if they are embedded in marbles!