Competency #8

Answer and Explanation

The correct answer is D.

  1. keep a south pole at its surface and repel the permanent magnet.

    The refrigerator is magnetic not a magnet. This means that it has magnetic moments that point in random directions, meaning there is not net magnetic field. These magnetic moments will temporarily orient themselves all in the same direction when a magnet is placed nearby, but when the magnet is removed, they return to the random organization.
  2. keep a south pole at its surface and attract the permanent magnet.

    This is wrong for the same reason as A. In addition, two south poles would not attract they would repel.
  3. place a north pole at its surface and repel the permanent magnet.

    A north and south pole would attract, not repel.
  4. place a north pole at its surface and attract the permanent magnet

    This is what would happen. The magnetic moments in the refrigerator will temporary align themselves in response to the magnet so that a north pole is created at the surface. This will attract the south pole of the magnet.
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