Yes, a magnet can attract a steel ring.
Steel is an alloy primarily composed of iron, and iron is a ferromagnetic material. This means that iron is strongly attracted to magnets. While not all steel is equally magnetic (some stainless steels have very low magnetic permeability due to their composition), typical steel rings will contain enough iron to be attracted to a magnet.
The strength of the attraction will depend on several factors:
- The type of steel: Some steel alloys are more magnetic than others.
- The strength of the magnet: A stronger magnet will exert a greater force.
- The size and shape of the ring: A larger ring might be harder to move but will experience a greater overall force if magnetized.
- The distance between the magnet and the ring: Magnetic force decreases rapidly with distance.
Because the question doesn't specify the type of steel, we can assume that it is a standard steel ring (i.e., one that contains sufficient iron to be attracted to a magnet).
