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Exploring Magnets – Class 6 Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Science, chapter 4. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

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Chapter overview

Magnets attract iron, nickel and cobalt. Every magnet has two poles, and like poles repel while unlike poles attract.

Properties of magnets

Magnetic materials: iron, nickel, cobalt; non-magnetic: wood, plastic, copper, aluminium.
Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole; attraction is strongest at the poles.
Like poles repel; unlike poles attract. Repulsion is the sure test of a magnet.

Uses and care

A freely suspended magnet points north–south; this is used in a compass.
Uses: compass, refrigerator door seals, toys, sorting scrap iron.
Magnets lose their magnetism if heated, hammered or dropped; store them in pairs with keepers.

Key terms

Magnetic material: material attracted by a magnet
Pole: end of a magnet where attraction is strongest
Compass: device with a magnetic needle that points north–south

Formulas

Like poles repel, unlike poles attract

Important questions with answers

What happens when like poles and unlike poles of two magnets are brought near?2 marks

Like poles (N–N or S–S) repel each other; unlike poles (N–S) attract each other.

How can you make a magnet from an iron nail?3 marks

Place the nail on a table and stroke it with one pole of a bar magnet from one end to the other, always in the same direction, lifting the magnet away after each stroke. Repeat 30–40 times; the nail becomes a magnet.

How does a compass work? How can you find which end of an unmarked bar magnet is its north pole? Give two precautions for keeping magnets.5 marks

A compass has a small magnetised needle that turns freely and comes to rest in the north–south direction, with its north pole pointing north. To find the north pole of an unmarked magnet, hang it freely or bring it near a compass: the end that comes to rest pointing north (or repels the compass needle's north pole) is the north pole. Precautions: do not drop or heat magnets; keep bar magnets in pairs with unlike poles on the same side, with wooden pieces between and soft iron keepers at the ends; keep them away from mobile phones, TVs and cards.

Quick revision

Magnets have two poles.
Compass needle points north.
Heat weakens magnets.

Exam tips

Only repulsion proves an object is a magnet (attraction also happens with plain iron).
Breaking a magnet gives two smaller magnets, each with N and S poles.

Practice MCQs

Which is attracted by a magnet?
1. plastic
2. wood
3. iron nail
4. glass
Show answer
Answer: (c) iron nail. Iron.
Like poles of magnets
1. repel
2. attract
3. do nothing
4. stick
Show answer
Answer: (a) repel. Repel.
A freely suspended magnet always points
1. north–south
2. east–west
3. up–down
4. randomly
Show answer
Answer: (a) north–south. Earth's magnetism.
Which is NOT a magnetic material?
1. copper
2. cobalt
3. nickel
4. iron
Show answer
Answer: (a) copper. Copper.
Which of these is attracted by a magnet
1. plastic spoon
2. wooden stick
3. iron nail
4. glass bangle
Show answer
Answer: (c) iron nail. Iron is magnetic.
The sure test to check whether a bar is a magnet is
1. repulsion with a known magnet
2. attraction with iron
3. weighing it
4. its colour
Show answer
Answer: (a) repulsion with a known magnet. Only magnets repel magnets.
If a bar magnet is broken into two pieces, each piece has
1. only one pole
2. only N pole
3. no poles
4. both N and S poles
Show answer
Answer: (d) both N and S poles. Poles never exist alone.
A freely hanging bar magnet always comes to rest in
1. north–south direction
2. east–west direction
3. any direction
4. vertical position
Show answer
Answer: (a) north–south direction. Used in a compass.

All chapters of Class 6 Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.