Lodestone is a natural magnet, it points at

Step 1: Analyze the question A lodestone is a naturally occurring magnetic rock (a form of magnetite, Fe₃O₄). The question asks which direction it points when it is free to rotate.

Step 2: Concept The Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet. A freely suspended magnet (or a compass needle) aligns itself with the Earth's magnetic field. Its north-seeking pole points towards the Earth's magnetic north, and its south-seeking pole points towards the magnetic south. So the magnet comes to rest along the North-South (N-S) line. This is how ancient navigators used lodestones as early compasses.

Step 3: Check the options

• A. N-W: a magnet does not settle along this line. Wrong.
• B. N-S: matches the Earth's magnetic field direction. Correct.
• C. S-E: not a magnetic alignment direction. Wrong.
• D. S-W: not a magnetic alignment direction. Wrong.

Step 4: Answer The lodestone points N-S when suspended freely, which is option B.

Tip: Remember the rule "a freely suspended magnet always settles in the N-S direction." Any question on compasses, lodestones, or suspended bar magnets uses this idea. (Strictly, it aligns with magnetic north-south, which is slightly different from geographic north-south. This difference is called magnetic declination.)