Question:
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Magnetite is a natural magnet.
Statement II: A freely suspended magnet always aligns in N-S direction.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
(B) Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
(C) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect
(D) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct
Answer : (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
Both statements are fundamental and correct principles of magnetism.
Analysis of the Statements
- Statement I: Magnetite is a natural magnet.
- This is correct 👍. Magnetite (
) is an iron ore and is the most magnetic of all naturally occurring minerals on Earth. Naturally magnetized pieces of magnetite, known as lodestones, were the first magnets discovered by ancient civilizations.
- This is correct 👍. Magnetite (
- Statement II: A freely suspended magnet always aligns in N-S direction.
- This is also correct 👍. The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet with its own magnetic field. When a magnet is suspended so it can rotate freely, its magnetic poles will align with the Earth’s magnetic field lines. The magnet’s north pole points towards the Earth’s magnetic North Pole, and its south pole points towards the Earth’s magnetic South Pole. This is the basic principle behind how a compass works. 🧭