Question

If an electron is placed at rest near a bar magnet, far away from everything else, the electron will

a) Move toward the north pole of the magnet.

b) Move toward the south pole of the magnet.

c) Move away from the magnet.

d) Remain at rest.

Answer 1

A stationary electron placed near a bar magnet will remain at rest because magnetic fields only exert forces on moving charges.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an electron is placed at rest near a bar magnet, far away from everything else, the electron will remain at rest. Electrons are charged particles and will be influenced by electric fields; however, a magnet solely creates a magnetic field. A magnetic field does not exert a force on stationary charged particles like electrons. It affects moving charges. Hence, since the electron starts at rest and is not in an electric field, it will not move, and the only force it could experience from the magnet is magnetic, which does not affect stationary charges.