You are given two similar bars. One is a magnet and the other is of soft iron. How will you distinguish and identify them?

Let the two identical bars be bar A and bar B.

1. Take the bar A and place it on a table.
2. Take the bar B and touch it to one end of bar A, then at another end and then in middle. If the bar B sticks to the bar A at both the ends and also at the middle, then the bar A is made up of soft iron.
3. Repeat the above process by placing the bar B on the table and touch the bar A on one end, then on another end and finally on middle of bar B. We will find that the bar A will be attracted towards both the ends of bar B, but not to the middle which shows that bar B is a magnet.