Opposite poles of two magnets attract when brought near one another. Which statement is true?

• A. Like poles attract
• B. Opposite poles attract
• C. Poles do not interact
• D. Magnets repel always

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that magnetic poles interact by attraction when they are opposite and repulsion when they are the same. Opposite poles attract because the magnetic field lines go from the north pole of one magnet to the south pole of the other, forming a continuous, lower-energy path. When you bring a north end near a south end, the fields line up in a favorable way, pulling the magnets together. The same-poles situation causes the field lines to push apart, so like poles repel. Saying that poles do not interact is incorrect, and magnets do not repel all the time—opposite poles can attract.