Question

Explain why iron filings which are sprinkled on a sheet of cardboard over a bar magnet take up a definite pattern when cardboard is slightly tapped

Answer 1

iron filling which are sprinkled on a sheet of cardboard over a bar magnet take a definite pattern because the magnet has two poles which is south pole and north pole the iron filling is attracted towards the poles of the magnet and their is attraction at the middle of magnet so it take definite shape

Answer 2

Iron fillings take a definite pattern when the cardboard is tapped as the fillings come in contact of the magnetic field lines and resemble the field line patterns of magnetic field.