State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F). (i) A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole. (ii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other. (iii) Iron filings mostly stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them. (iv) A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the north-south direction.
False. A magnet cannot be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole. Even when a magnet is broken into smaller pieces, each piece has both a North pole and a South pole. A single pole cannot exist.
True. Similar (like) poles of magnets repel each other. When two North poles or two South poles are brought close together, they push each other away.
False. Iron filings do not stick in the middle of a bar magnet. Maximum iron filings stick near the ends (poles) of the magnet, while very few stick at the middle portion.
True. A freely suspended bar magnet always comes to rest pointing in the north-south direction because Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet.
Explanation
(i) The chapter states: 'It is not possible to obtain a magnet with a single pole. If a magnet is broken into smaller pieces, North and South poles always exist in pairs even in the smallest piece of the magnet.' (ii) Activity 4.5 demonstrates that 'like poles, that is, either the North poles or the South poles of both magnets, repel each other.' (iii) Activity 4.2 shows that 'maximum iron filings stick near the ends of the bar magnet' and 'very few iron filings stick at the remaining part of the magnet.' The ends are called poles where magnetic strength is maximum. (iv) The chapter states: 'A freely suspended magnet comes to rest along the north-south direction' and 'A freely suspended magnet rests along the north-south direction because our Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet.'