Final answer:
If a bar magnet is held stationary next to a solenoid, nothing happens. There is no induced current because there is no change in magnetic flux. Current is generated only when there is relative motion between the magnet and the solenoid.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a bar magnet is held stationary next to a solenoid, nothing happens because there is no change in the magnetic field through the solenoid. An electric current is generated in a solenoid when there is a change in magnetic flux, according to Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction. For current to be induced, the bar magnet must be moving relative to the solenoid or the solenoid must be moving relative to the magnet. This creates a change in magnetic flux, which is required to induce a current in the solenoid. Holding a bar magnet stationary does not create this change, and therefore, does not induce a current.
If a bar magnet is moved through a solenoid, the magnetic flux through the solenoid changes, which induces an electric current in the solenoid as per Lenz's law. Lenz's law states that the direction of the induced current will be such that it opposes the change in magnetic flux that produced it. Examples of this are seen in generators where the motion between a magnetic field and a coil or wire loop generates electrical current.