You're in a room with 2 iron bars

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter cragar
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Iron
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving two iron bars, one of which is a magnet, and the challenge of identifying the magnetic bar using only the bars themselves. The scope includes conceptual reasoning and problem-solving strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests balancing the bars in a cross formation, indicating that the magnetic bar will align in a specific direction when positioned on top.
  • Another participant expresses confusion regarding receiving a warning for their post, indicating a concern about moderation actions in the forum.
  • A subsequent reply advises the participant to contact the moderator who issued the warning for clarification.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the warning issue, as it appears to be a separate concern from the main problem posed about the iron bars. The primary problem regarding the identification of the magnetic bar remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address potential assumptions about the environment or the properties of the bars beyond the initial problem statement.

cragar
Messages
2,546
Reaction score
3
You're in a room with 2 iron bars. One is a magnet and the other is not.
How do you tell which one is the magnet? You have nothing but the iron bars to test this.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Balance one across the other, like a +. If the magnetic one is on top it will prefer to point in a specific direction.
 
Form a T shape. The behavior of the magnet near the poles should be different from the behavior near the middle of the bar.
 
very good , can anyone tell me y i am getting warned for posting this.
 
cragar said:
very good , can anyone tell me y i am getting warned for posting this.

You should PM the mod who warned you.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K