When storing two straight bar magnets together in a box, why are they arranged in pairs with opposite poles…

When storing two straight bar magnets together in a box, why are they arranged in pairs with opposite poles facing the same side, separated by a wooden block, and closed at the ends with soft iron keepers?
  1. To stop the magnets from reacting chemically with atmospheric oxygen
  2. To form a continuous closed magnetic loop that preserves their magnetic power
  3. To increase the physical mass of the magnets over time
  4. To transform them into electromagnets

Solution

Storing bar magnets in opposite pairs with soft iron keepers forms a closed magnetic circuit, preventing loss of magnetism (self-demagnetization).

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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