Three magnets are placed on a plastic stick as shown in the image. The magnets are floating above each other because the , which causes the magnets to push away from each other.

Magnets repel when like poles face each other: north repels north, and south repels south. So the magnets float apart because the same poles are closest together. Opposite poles attract, so choice B would not cause them to push away.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.