Question

Describe two simple experiments to support the statement that magnetism is a property of the molecules of a magnet.

Answer 1

Magnetism is a property of molecules of a magnet.
Experiment-1: Take a bar magnet and break it into as small parts as possible. We shall find that each small part retain the original polarity i.e. even the smallest part of the magnet has its own north and south pole and can attract the magnetic substances.
It shows that, if it were possible to break a magnet into its molecules then each molecule would retain the property of a magnet.
Experiment-2: Take a soft iron bar. Place it in a magnetic field. We shall find that there is a small increase in its length on getting magnetized.
A soft iron bar becomes magnetized and gets lengthened only if each molecule of soft iron bar behaves as a magnet. Due to the setting of molecular magnets along straight chains, there is a slight increase in the length of soft iron bar. So we can say that magnetism is a property of molecules of a magnet.