103 replies to this topic

[matt.lang]

since there are no metal objects, you could always use the old trick of placing the rods on a piece of cork or wood and float it in water, and then whichever one points a certain direction sonsistently is the magnet.

[mgtfernandez]

1. split both rods
2. reconnect each rod
3. reconnecting the iron rod will not have any effects
4. reconnecting the magnetic rod will have effects, for like poles repel and opposite poles attract

[eleigh]

You did not say that the room had windows and if it did not then how could you tell which way is north. You could not use a compass beacause compasses contain metal in them and you could not bring them into the room.

[credels]

Take one rod, beat the heck out of the guy who thought this one up, and see if it sticks to the metal trash can outside, when you throw it away as evidence!

[desguyert]

how can you hang the rods when you dont have anything else in the room but the rods?

i say just snap one of the rods in half and see if they sick together or not, then you can find out which one is a magnet. but you have to be Superman to do that.... hey you never said how strong the rods were

[Psysex]

This is geting to easy, just old one of the rods a few centimeters above the other one. If the one on the floor come up to meet the other, then the one in your and is the magnet. If the one in your hand is trying to go down to meet the other, than the one in the floor is the magnet.

[hipowertech]

I believe this is correct, please feel free to bash me if I'm being an idiot.

if you hold one rod in each hand with your thumbs say as a reference point for wich direction you're holding them. turn them thumbs together or apart and the rods will attract each other.
at this point you can reverse one of the rods. if they continue to attract you just reversed the non-magnet. if they cease attracting you just reversed the magnet.
viola!

[aruseb]

place it against your pacemaker. if you lived, you used the iron. if you see a tunnel, you've got the magnet.

[torelativity]

This is a pretty easy one. All you need to do is to arrange the bars in a T shape. The magnetic strength of magnets is zero at the centre and highest at the poles. So using this arrangement, you can tell which one is the magnet depending on whether the bars attracted each other or not. I havent checked pages 2-4 so if this solution has been given already, please excuse.

[Craig 444]

the answer is symple: you need to break the bars and throw them at the walls. then you make a hole and escape. thats how you get out of the room