You are given three iron rods. Two of the rods are magnets but the third one is not. How could you use the three rods to definitively identify the unmagnetized rod?
Answered on
You can use the two magnetized rods to definitively identify the unmagnetized rod through a process of elimination. Here's a step-by-step approach:
1. Touch one of the magnetized rods to the unknown rod.
2. Touch the other magnetized rod to the unknown rod.
Now, you have two scenarios:
- If the unknown rod becomes attracted to one of the magnetized rods in both cases, then the unknown rod is also a magnet.
- If the unknown rod does not become attracted to either of the magnetized rods in both cases, then the unknown rod is not a magnet.
By comparing the reactions of the unknown rod to the magnetized rods, you can definitively identify whether the unknown rod is magnetized or not.