GRADE-6, SCIENCE (SESSION 2020-2021)
CH-13 FUN WITH MAGNETS
(NOTES)
What are Magnets?
It is said that magnets were discovered after a shepherd named Magnes accidentally got his iron stick
stuck to a rock. It was later discovered that the said rock had magnetic properties and was called
Magnetite, named so after the shepherd.
These days magnets come in different shapes and forms such as: horseshoe magnet, bar magnet,
cylindrical or a ball-ended magnet, etc.
Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Materials
Magnetic Materials: Materials like nickel, cobalt and iron are called magnetic materials. These materials
are attracted to magnets.
Non-Magnetic Materials: Materials like rubber, plastic, cloth, glasses, gold, silver, aluminium,copper etc.
which are not attracted to magnets are referred to as non-magnetic materials.
Poles of Magnet
We can observe a very interesting property about magnets which is that when we try to attract iron
filings or any other magnetic objects to a magnet, they always accumulate at the ends of the magnet.
This is because near the poles the magnetic field of the magnet is very strong.
Properties of Magnets:
1: Poles of a Magnet (Magnetism strongest at poles)
• Materials needed: A bar magnet, iron filings
• Method: Place the bar magnet in the heap of iron filings.
• Observation: Iron filings cling to the magnet. Also, the maximum amount of iron filings cling at the
two ends of the bar magnet. These are the poles of the magnet.
• Inference: The Magnetic property of poles is more than the rest of the magnet. Poles of the magnet
are those regions where the magnetic property is the maximum. The two poles are different. One
pole of the magnet is the North pole and the other is the South Pole. Every magnet whether big or
small has the North Pole and the South Pole.
2- Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other.
• Materials needed: Two bar magnets
• Method: Take two bar magnets. Try to bring them close to each other in such a way that both the
like poles come closer. Now bring North pole of one magnet close to the south pole of another.
• Observation: If the two poles you are trying to bring closer are the same i.e. Both are North poles or
both are south poles, then the two poles will repel each other. If you are trying to bring the opposite
poles together there will be a force of attraction between the two magnets.
• Inference: Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other.
3---A freely suspended magnet always points in north-south direction This can be demonstrated
with the help of a simple activity.
• Materials needed: A bar magnet, a string, a stand
• Method: Take a bar magnet. Tie it with a string from the centre and hang it on the wooden stand
in such a way that it can move freely.
• Observation: The freely suspended magnet points in the north-south direction.
• Explanation: Our planet earth also shows magnetism. The Earth is actually a giant bar magnet with
its magnetic north pole towards the Geographic South Pole and the magnetic South Pole towards
the Geographic North Pole. Hence, we can observe that north pole of a freely suspended magnet
points toward the north pole of the earth and south pole of a freely suspended
magnet points towards the South Pole of the earth.
4. Finding Directions
Another great property of a magnet is that it can prove extremely helpful in navigating directions. This is
because a freely suspended magnet always points in the North-South direction.
This property of magnet is used to make a compass. A magnetic needle is placed inside a box with
directions marked on it. It is allowed to rotate freely so that when the compass is kept at the position of
rest, the needle points towards the north and south direction.
Steps to make your own Magnet
1. Take a rectangular piece of iron. Place it on the table.
2. Take a bar magnet and place one of its poles near one edge of the bar of iron. Without lifting
the bar magnet, move it along the length of the iron bar till it reaches the other end.
3. Lift the magnet and bring the pole (the same pole we started with) to the same point of the iron
bar from which we began. Move the magnet again along the iron bar in the same direction as
we did before.
4. Repeat this process about 30-40 times. The iron piece has become bar magnet.
Precautions while handling Magnets
• When heated, hammered or dropped from a height, magnets tend to lose their properties.
• They become weak if they are not stored properly and hence- Bar magnets should be stored in
pairs separated by a small block of wood and their unlike poles facing the same side with a soft
iron across their ends.
• A piece of iron should be kept across the poles in case of a horseshoe magnet.
• Magnets should be kept away from computers, mobiles, televisions etc.