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Class 6 · Science · Curiosity Class 6th

Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets

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SolutionsNotes Important Questions

Jump to Question:QQ1(i)QQ1(ii)QQ1(iii)QQ1(iv)QQ2(i)QQ2(ii)QQ2(iii)QQ2(iv)QQ3 QQ4 QQ5 QQ6 QQ7 QQ8 QQ9 QQ10 QQ11

Exercise Let us enhance our learning17 Qs

Q Q1(i)fill-in-the-blank

Fill in the blank: Unlike poles of two magnets __________ each other, whereas like poles __________ each other.

Solution

Unlike poles of two magnets attract each other, whereas like poles repel each other.

This is a fundamental property of magnets — North and South poles pull together (attraction), while North-North or South-South poles push apart (repulsion).

Q Q1(ii)fill-in-the-blank

Fill in the blank: The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called __________.

Solution

The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials.

Examples include iron, nickel, cobalt, and some of their combinations with other metals.

Q Q1(iii)fill-in-the-blank

Fill in the blank: The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the __________ direction.

Solution

The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the north-south direction.

This happens because the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet, and the compass needle (which is a small magnet) aligns itself with Earth's magnetic field.

Q Q1(iv)fill-in-the-blank

Fill in the blank: A magnet always has __________ poles.

Solution

A magnet always has two poles (a North pole and a South pole).

Poles always exist in pairs — even if a magnet is broken into smaller pieces, each piece will have both a North pole and a South pole.

Q Q2(i)true-false

True or False: A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole.

Solution

False (F)

A magnet cannot be broken to obtain a single pole. When a magnet is broken into pieces, each piece — no matter how small — will always have both a North pole and a South pole. A single isolated pole cannot exist.

Q Q2(ii)true-false

True or False: Similar poles of a magnet repel each other.

Solution

True (T)

Similar (like) poles — North-North or South-South — always repel each other. This repulsion is also used as the best way to confirm whether an object is truly a magnet.

Q Q2(iii)true-false

True or False: Iron filings mostly stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them.

Solution

False (F)

Iron filings stick most strongly near the ends (poles) of a bar magnet, not the middle. The magnetic attraction is strongest at the two poles (North and South), and the middle region has very little magnetic effect.

Q Q2(iv)true-false

True or False: A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the north-south direction.

Solution

True (T)

A freely suspended bar magnet always comes to rest in the north-south direction because Earth behaves like a giant magnet and exerts a force on the suspended magnet, aligning it along its magnetic field.

Q Q3match-the-column

Column I shows different positions in which one pole of a magnet is placed near that of the other. Column II indicates the resulting interaction between them for different situations. Fill in the blanks.

Screenshot 2026-05-26 at 8.14.47 AM

Solution

Column I (Pole arrangement)	Column II (Interaction)
N – N	Repulsion
N – S	Attraction
S – N	Attraction
S – S	Repulsion

Rule: Like poles (N-N or S-S) repel each other; unlike poles (N-S) attract each other.

Q Q4mcq

Atharv rolled a bar magnet over a heap of steel U-clips (as in Fig. 4.15). The positions A, B, and C refer to one end (pole), the middle, and the other end (pole) of the magnet respectively. Which option from Table 4.3 correctly describes the number of clips attracted at each position?

4.15

table 4.3

Solution

✔ Correct Answer: (i) — Position A: 10, Position B: 2, Position C: 10

Why (i) is correct: The magnetic force is strongest at the two poles (ends) of a bar magnet, so positions A and C (the poles) attract the most U-clips (10 each). Position B is the middle of the magnet where the magnetic effect is weakest, so very few clips (2) stick there.

Why other options are wrong:

(ii) This option shows maximum clips at A and B but few at C, which is incorrect because both ends are poles and should attract equally.
(iii) This shows few clips at A (a pole), which contradicts the fact that poles attract the most.
(iv) This shows equal clips everywhere, which is wrong because the middle of a magnet has very weak magnetic effect.

Q Q5short

Reshma bought three identical metal bars from the market. Out of these bars, two were magnets and one was just a piece of iron. How will she identify which two amongst the three could be magnets (without using any other material)?

Solution

Reshma can use the property of repulsion to identify the magnets. She should bring the end of one bar close to each end of every other bar and observe:

If two bars repel each other at any end, both those bars are magnets (only a magnet can repel another magnet; iron is always attracted).
The bar that is only attracted to the others and never repels is the plain iron piece.

This works because an iron bar is always attracted to a magnet, but only a magnet can repel another magnet.

Q Q6short

You are given a magnet which does not have the poles marked. How can you find its poles with the help of another magnet which has its poles marked?

Solution

Bring the North pole of the marked magnet close to each end of the unmarked magnet one by one.

The end of the unmarked magnet that is repelled by the North pole of the marked magnet is its North pole.
The end that is attracted by the North pole is its South pole.

This works because like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

Q Q7short

A bar magnet has no markings to indicate its poles. How would you find out near which end its North pole is located without using another magnet?

Solution

Suspend the bar magnet freely by tying a thread to its middle and allow it to come to rest on its own (as in Activity 4.3).

A freely suspended magnet always aligns in the north-south direction.
The end that points towards the geographical North is the North pole of the magnet.

You can determine the North direction by noting where the Sun rises (East), which helps you identify North.

Q Q8short

If the earth is itself a magnet, can you guess the poles of earth’s magnet by looking at the direction of the magnetic compass?

Solution

Yes, we can figure out the poles of Earth's magnet using a compass. The North pole of a compass needle points towards geographical North. Since unlike poles attract, the geographical North of Earth must be near the South pole of Earth's magnet, and geographical South must be near the North pole of Earth's magnet. This seems surprising, but it is because the Earth's geographic North Pole region acts as a magnetic South Pole, attracting the North-seeking pole of the compass needle.

Q Q9short

While a mechanic was repairing a gadget using a screw driver, the steel screws kept falling down. Suggest a way to solve the problem of the mechanic on the basis of what you have learnt in this chapter.

Solution

The mechanic can magnetise the screwdriver by rubbing one pole of a magnet along the tip of the screwdriver several times in the same direction (as done in Activity 4.4 with the iron needle). Once the screwdriver tip becomes magnetised, it will attract and hold the steel screws so they do not fall down. This makes the work easier and faster.

Q Q10short

Two ring magnets X and Y are arranged as shown in Fig. 4.16. It is observed that the magnet X does not move down further. Y What could be the possible reason? Suggest a way to bring the magnet X in Fig. 4.16: Two ring magnets contact with magnet Y, without pushing either of the magnets.

4.16

Solution

Reason: The two ring magnets X and Y are arranged with their like poles facing each other (either N-N or S-S). Like poles repel each other, so magnet X is pushed upward and floats above magnet Y — it cannot move down further because of this repulsive force.

How to bring X in contact with Y: Simply flip (turn over) magnet X so that its opposite pole now faces magnet Y. The poles will then be unlike (N-S), causing attraction, and magnet X will move down and come in contact with magnet Y.

Q Q11short

Three magnets are arranged on a table in the form of the shape shown in Fig. 4.17. What is the polarity, N or S, at the ends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the magnets? Polarity of one end (5) is given for you.

4.17

Solution

Using the rule that like poles repel and unlike poles attract, and that the ends of magnets placed close together must have opposite polarities (they attract, so they are unlike poles), we can work out each end:

End 5 = N (given)
End 6 = S (opposite end of the same magnet as end 5, so opposite pole)
End 4 = N (facing end 5 which is N — but they are the touching/adjacent ends of two different magnets; since magnets arrange by attraction, end 4 must be S)

Let me apply the correct logic based on the figure description where magnets are arranged in a chain:

End 5 = N (given)
End 6 = S (other pole of same magnet)
End 4 = S (adjacent to end 5=N; unlike poles face each other, so end 4 = S... wait — ends 4 and 5 are of different magnets placed close; they attract so end 4 = S)
End 3 = N (other pole of same magnet as end 4=S)
End 2 = S (adjacent to end 3=N; unlike poles attract, so end 2 = S... end 2 is of a third magnet)
End 1 = N (other pole of same magnet as end 2=S)