Question

julia puts two magnetic toy trains very close to each other on a track. what will happen next and why? the trains will move away from each other because the magnetic force will push the magnets apart. the trains will not move because the magnets are not touching. the trains will move away from each other because the magnets are not touching. the trains will move closer to each other because the magnetic force will pull the magnets closer together.

Explanation:

Looking at the magnetic poles of the toy trains, the right - facing pole of the left train is N (North) and the left - facing pole of the right train is N (North). According to the property of magnets, like poles repel each other. So the magnetic force between these two like poles (both N) will push the trains apart, making them move away from each other. The option saying the trains won't move is wrong because magnetic forces can act at a distance (they don't need to be touching). The option that says the trains move closer is wrong as like poles repel, not attract. The option that says they move away because the magnets are not touching is wrong because the reason for the movement is the repulsive magnetic force, not the fact that they are not touching.

Answer:

The trains will move away from each other because the magnetic force will push the magnets apart.