A magnet suspended freely at the Equator will set itself _____ to the surface of Earth, while one suspended at pole will stand _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → parallel, vertical
A magnet that is free to turn in every direction lines up along the earth's total magnetic field at that place. The angle this field makes with the horizontal is the angle of dip.
At the magnetic equator the angle of dip is \( 0^\circ \): the earth's field is horizontal, so the magnet sets itself parallel to the surface of the earth.
At a magnetic pole the angle of dip is \( 90^\circ \): the field is vertical, so the magnet stands vertical.
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic was removed from the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it also appears to be out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Magnetic Declination and Dip – “… Thus, dip is the angle that the total magnetic field BE of the earth makes with the surface of the earth.”
Magnetic Declination and Dip – “… At the poles, the magnetic field lines are converging or diverging vertically so that the horizontal component is negligible.”