Which of the following statement is incorrect about the magnetic field?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → inside the magnet, the lines of force go from north to the south pole of the magnet.
Outside a bar magnet the field lines go from the north pole to the south pole. They do not end there: they continue through the magnet from the south pole to the north pole and so close on themselves.
Option (1) do not cut each other — Correct statement. If two lines crossed, the field would have two directions at the crossing point.
Option (2) inside the magnet the lines go from north to south — Incorrect statement. Inside the magnet they go from south to north.
Option (3) form a closed loop — Correct statement. Magnetic field lines are continuous closed loops, since there are no isolated magnetic poles.
Option (4) tangents give the direction of the field — Correct statement. The tangent to a field line at a point is the direction of the field there.
NCERT (2026-27):
The Magnetic Field Lines – “… (i) The magnetic field lines of a magnet (or a solenoid) form continuous closed loops.”
The Magnetic Field Lines – “… (ii) The tangent to the field line at a given point represents the direction of the net magnetic field B at that point.”
The Magnetic Field Lines – “… (iv) The magnetic field lines do not intersect, for if they did, the direction of the magnetic field would not be unique at the point of intersection.”