Exploring Magnets Class 6 Questions and Answers NCERT Solutions
Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets Question Answer
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Question 1.
Fill in the blanks.
(i) Unlike poles of two magnets ________ each other, whereas like poles ________ each other.
Answer:
attract, repel
(ii) The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called ________.
Answer:
magnetic materials
(iii) The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the ________ direction.
Answer:
north-south
(iv) A magnet always has ________ poles.
Answer:
two
Question 2.
State whether the following statements are true or false.
(i) A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole. [ ]
Answer:
False
(ii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other. [ ]
Answer:
True
(iii) Iron filings mostly stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them. [ ]
Answer:
False
(iv) A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the north-south direction. [ ]
Answer:
True
Question 3.
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,
Answer:
As we know that, like poles of two magnets repel each other and unlike poles attract each other.
Thus, the complete table is shown as below.
| Column I | Column II |
| N-N | Repulsion |
| N-S | Attraction |
| S-N | Attraction |
| S-S | Repulsion |
Question 4.
Atharv performed an experiment in which he took a bar magnet and rolled it over a heap of steel U-clips. According to you, which of the options given in table is likely to be his observation?
Table: Number of pins attracted by the magnet at its various positions
Answer:
(i) Magnetic strength is maximum and equal at poles.
Question 5.
Reshma bought three identical metal bars from the market. Out of theserbars, 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)?
Answer:
Label the bars as A, B, and C for convenience.
Possibility 1- If bar A and bar B attract each other at one end and repel at the other end, then both are magnets and C is the iron bar.
Possibility 2- If they attract each other regardless of the ends, then one is a magnet and the other is an iron bar which concludes that C is also a magnet.
If A and B attract each other regardless of the ends, then test bar A with bar C.
If they attract each other at one end and repel at the other end, then A and C are the magnets and B is the iron bar. But if they attract each other regardless of the ends, then A is the iron rod and B is a magnet.
Question 6.
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?
Answer:
Bring the north pole of the marked magnet close to one end of the unmarked magnet. If the end of the unmarked magnet is repelled, it is also a north pole (like poles repel). If the end of the unmarked magnet is attracted, it is a south pole (opposite poles attract). And the other end of the unmarked magnet will be the opposite pole of the one you just identified.
Question 7.
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?
Answer:
The bar magnet can be tied with a string and suspended in the air till it comes to rest. The freely suspended bar magnet would come to rest in the north-south direction.
Therefore, the pole that points in the north direction would be the north pole of the magnet.
Question 8.
If the earth is itself a magnet, can you guess the poles of the earth’s the magnet by looking at the direction of the magnetic compass?
Answer:
The north pole of a compass needle points towards the earth’s geographic north pole. Since, opposite poles attract, the earth’s geographic north pole is actually the magnetic south pole of the earth’s magnet. And the earth’s geographic south pole is the magnetic north pole of the earth’s magnet.
Question 9.
While a mechanic was repairing a gadget using a screwdriver, 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.
Answer:
To solve the problem of steel screws falling down while using a screwdriver, mechanic can magnetize the screwdriver. This way, the screwdriver will attract and hold the screws, preventing them from falling.
How to magnetize the screwdriver? (Refer to text 4.5, making your own magnet).
Question 10.
Two ring magnets X and Y are arranged as shown in figure. It is observed that the magnet X does not move down further. What could be the possible reason? Suggest a way to bring the magnet X in contact with magnet Y, without pushing either of the magnets.
Answer:
If two magnets are brought closer to each other, then they either attract each other or repel each other. If the unlike poles are kept in front of each other then they will attract each other.
And if the like poles are kept in front of each other then they will repel each other. In the given figure, we see that the magnet X is floating above the magnet Y.
It must be because the like poles of both the magnets are facing each other, resulting in a repulsive force between them.
In order to bring the magnet X in contact with magnet Y, flip either of the two magnets so that their unlike poles face each other now. As we know, unlike poles attract each other, this will make both the magnets to come in contact with each other.
Question 11.
Three magnets are arranged on a table in the form of the shape as shown in figure. 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.
Answer:
Polarity of end 5 is given as North, then the other end of this magnet will have a south polarity, i.e. polarity of end 6 is south. Vertically placed magnet is attracted towards end 5 (north polarity), therefore polarity of end 4 must be south (unlike poles attract each other). Then the other end of this magnet will possess north polarity, i.e. end 3 represents north pole.
End 2 is attracted towards end 3, hence possessing south polarity and then end 1 must be having north polarity.
End 1 – North polarity, End 4- South polarity,
End 2-South polarity, End 6-South polarity,
End 3- North polarity
NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets
Intext Questions
Question 1.
Do magnets stick to objects made of certain materials only? (Page 62)
Answer:
Yes, mignets only stick to certain materials which are known as magnetic materials. For example, iron, nickel, cobalt, etc. Objects made up of only these materials get attracted towards a magnet.
Question 2.
Do all parts of a magnet attract magnetic materials equally? (Page 64)
Answer:
No, magnetic attraction is maximum at the two ends of a magnet, i.e. near to the north pole and the south pole.
Question 3.
Can we find a magnet with a single pole? (Page 65)
Answer:
No, it is not possible to obtain a magnet with a single pole.
Question 4.
What happens when we bring two magnets closer to each other? (Page 67)
Answer:
If like poles of the two magnets are brought closer, then they repel each other while unlike poles attract each other when brought closer.
Question 5.
The compass needle is also a magnet. Will it show the same behaviour, if a magnet is brought closer to it? (Page 69)
Answer:
Yes, the compass needle shows the same behaviour when a bar magnet is brought closer to it. When the north pole of a magnet is brought closer to the north pole of the compass needle, it moves away. When the south pole of a magnet is brought closer to the north pole of the compass needle, it moves closer.
Question 6.
Suppose, we place a piece of wood between the compass needle and the magnet. Will this affect the deflection of the compass needle? (Page 70)
Answer:
No change can be seen in the deflection of the compass needle on inserting a piece of wood between the compass needle and the magnet.
Let’s Investigate
Activity 1 (Page 62)
Aim To identify magnetic and non-magnetic materials by using a magnet.
Materials Required A magnet, different types of materials (paper clip, eraser, plastic scale, iron nail, etc.)
Procedure and Observations
1. Firstly, predict which of the collected objects will stick to the magnet and write your observations in the table given below.
2. Hold a magnet and bring it close to the objects that you’ve collected one by one.
3. Observe which objects get attracted towards the magnet:
4. Prepare a table showing if the object is attracted towards a magnet or not and compare it with your predictions.
Conclusion : We can conclude that objects made up of iron, copper, etc. are attracted towards the magnet, hence classified as magnetic materials. Whereas, objects made up of plastic, rubber, etc. are considered as non-magnetic materials as they are not attracted towards the magnet.
Viva Questions :
1. Is stainless steel a magnetic or non-magnetic material?
2. Can magnetic materials be repelled by a magnet?
Activity 2 (Page 64)
Aim : To identify the poles of a bar magnet.
Materials required A magnet, some iron fillings.
Procedure and Observations :
1. Spread some iron filings (very small pieces of iron) on a sheet of paper.
2. Place a bar magnet over them.
3. Tap the paper and observe carefully what happens to the iron filings.
4. You will observe that maximum number of Iron fillings are attracted towards the two free ends of the bar magnet.
5. These ends of the magnet are called the two poles of the magnet-the North pole and the South pole.
Conclusion : We can conclude that the two ends where the strength of a magnet is maximum arethe two poles of the magnet.
Viva Questions :
1. Which part of the magnet has less magnetic strength?
2. How many poles will be there in total, if a magnet is broken into two pieces?
Activity 3 (Page 65)
Aim : To show the directive property of a magnet.
Materials required A magnet, a thread and a study table (serves as a stand).
Procedure and Observations :
1. Suspend a bar magnet with a thread tied to the middle of the magnet as shown in the figure given.
2. Now, rotate the magnet gently in the horizontal direction and let it come to rest.
3. When it comes to rest, mark the position corresponding to the ends of the magnet on the ground (or on a piece of paper stuck to the ground).
4. Join these two points on the ground with a line. This line indicates the direction along which the magnet comes to rest.
5. Repeat 2 nd and 3rd step again and you will observe that the magnet rests along the same line, i.e. north-south direction.
6. Repeat this activity with a small iron bar in place of the bar magnet.
7. You will notice that it can rest along any direction.
Conclusion : We can conclude that only magnets possess a directive property, i.e. it is always directed to the north-south direction because our earth behaves like a giant magnet.
Viva Questions :
1. Can we observe this directive property in magnetic materials?
2. Why does a freely suspended magnet rest itself in north-south direction?
Activity 4 (Page 67)
Aim : To make your own magnetic compass.
Materials required A cork, a magnetized needle and a bowl filled with water.
Procedure and Observations :
1. Place the iron sewing needle on a wooden table, then keep any one pole of the magnet at one end of the needle. Move the magnet over the needle along its length as shown in figure below. When it reaches the other end of the needle, lift it up and repeat this process at least 30 to 40 times.
2. Pass a magnetized needle through the cork horizontally.
3. Float the cork in a glass bowl filled with water, such that the needle always remains above the level of water as shown in the given figure.
4. When the needle comes to rest, your magnetic compass is ready for use.
5. Note the direction in which either side of the needle points.
6. Rotate the cork again in different directions and note the direction in which the needle points. It should always point in the same direction.
Conclusion : We can conclude that the needle of a magnetic compass is nothing but a piece of magnet which aligns itself in the north-south direction similar to a freely suspended magnet.
Viva Questions :
1. How can you magnetize a sewing needle?
2. What will happen, when we rotate cork again in different direction?
Activity 5 (Page 68)
Aim : To observe attraction and repulsion between magnets.
Materials required Two bar magnets, a few pencils and a plane surface.
Procedure and Observations :
1. Take a pair of bar magnets on which north and south poles are marked. Name them as magnet A and magnet B.
2. Place the longer side of magnet A over a few round-shaped pencils (acting as wooden rollers). Ensure that the magnet is stable.
3. Now bring the opposite pole of magnet B near the end of magnet A placed on the pencils. Make sure that the two magnets do not touch each other.
4. You must have observed a movement in magnet A towards magnet B.
5. Now, bring the other pole of magnet B near the same end of magnet A.
6. This time you will observe that magnet A moves away from magnet B,
Conclusion : We can conclude that unlike poles of two magnets, i.e. the north pole of one magnet and the south pole of another magnet, attract each other. The like poles, i.e. either the north poles or the south poles of both magnets, repel each other.
Viva Questions :
1. What do we observe when opposite poles come towards each other?
2. Which property of magnets cannot be studied if we take an iron bar instead of magnet B ?
Activity 6 (Page 69)
Aim : To observe the deflection of a compass needle when a bar magnet is around.
Materials required A magnetic compass, a bar magnet and a plane surface.
Procedure and Observations :
1. Place the magnetic compass over a horizontal plane surface and wait for its needle to come to rest.
2. Now, slowly bring the north pole of a bar magnet close to the north pole of the compass needle.
3. You must observe the deflection in the needle away from the bar magnet or towards north-west direction as shown in the figure given.
4. Now repeat step 2 by bringing the south pole of the bar magnet close to the compass needle.
5. This time the needle must deflect towards the bar magnet or in the north-east direction.
Conclusion : We can conclude that a compass needle behaves similar to a bar magnet when it is brought closer to another bar magnet. When the north pole of a magnet is brought closer to the north pole of the compass needle, it moves away. When the south pole of the magnet is brought closer to the north pole of the compass needle, it moves closer.
Viva Questions :
1. Does the compass needle always deflect towards the north-west direction when the north pole of the bar magnet is brought closer to it?
2. Why does a compass needle show deflection when a bar magnet is around?
Activity 7 (Page 70)
Aim : To observe the deflection of a compass needle when a non-magnetic material is placed between the compass needle and the bar magnet.
Materials required A bar magnet, a compass needle, a wooden block, cardboard, plastic glass sheet and a plane surface.
Procedure and Observations :
1. Repeat step 1 and 2 of activity 6.
2. Without disturt ing the bar magnet and magnetic compass, place a piece of wood between them, as shown in the figure.
3. You would observe that there is no appreciable change in the deflection of the needle when a wooden block is inserted between the two.
4. Repeat the process by replacing the piece of wood by a cardboard sheet, thin plastic sheet and a thin glass sheet.
5. Record your observations in the table given below.
Conclusion : We can conclude that the magnetic effect can act through non-magnetic materials.
Oral questions :
1. How does the compass needle behave, if a metal scale is placed between the compass and a bar magnet?
2. Is compass needle necessarily a magnet?
Do it yourself (DIY)
To show that magnetism is induced in magnetic materials with the help of a magnet.