I student tries to pick up a metal object with a magnet, but the magnet is too far away. What can I change in order to successfully pick up the object?A. Rotate the magnet so the center is facing the object.B. Rotate the magnets to the opposite poles, facing the object.C. Get a larger magnet with a larger magnetic field.D. Get a smaller magnet with a smaller magnetic field.

Question

I student tries to pick up a metal object with a magnet, but the magnet is too far away. What can I change in order to successfully pick up the object?A. Rotate the magnet so the center is facing the object.B. Rotate the magnets to the opposite poles, facing the object.C. Get a larger magnet with a larger magnetic field.D. Get a smaller magnet with a smaller magnetic field.

Answer 1

C. Get a larger magnet with a larger magnetic field.

To successfully pick up a metal object with a magnet from a distance, you would need a magnet with a strong enough magnetic field to exert a force on the object despite the separation. A larger magnet or one with a stronger magnetization will generally have a larger magnetic field. By increasing the size or strength of the magnet, you increase the range at which it can attract the metal object.

Rotating the magnet (options A and B) will not have much effect on the magnet's ability to pick up the object if the distance is the issue, unless the current orientation is somehow shielding the magnetic field from reaching the object. The orientation described in option B, with opposite poles facing the object, does not change the fundamental issue if the magnet is simply too weak or too far away to begin with.

Getting a smaller magnet with a smaller magnetic field (option D) would likely reduce the chances of picking up the object because the strength of the magnetic field and its effective range would be diminished.