INTERNATION INDIAN SCHOOL, AL- JUBAIL
Class: VI Subject: Science May 2025
Ch # 4. EXPLORING MAGNETS
I. Define the following:
1. Natural Magnet: The magnets which are found naturally are called natural magnets.
E.g.: Magnetite or lodestone
2. Artificial Magnet: The magnets which are made from iron pieces are known as
artificial magnets. E.g.: Bar magnet, Horse-shoe magnet etc
3. Magnetic Compass: A magnetic compass is a device with a magnetized needle pivoted
inside a box covered by glass, which is used to find directions.
II. Answer the following:
1. List few properties of magnets?
a. Magnets have two poles: North and South.
b. The poles cannot exist as single poles, but always exist in pairs.
c. Opposite poles of two magnets attract each other while similar poles repel one another.
d. The magnetic strength is maximum at its poles.
e. A freely suspended bar magnet always align in the North-South direction.
f. Magnetic effect can act through non-magnetic materials too.
2. You are given an iron strip. How will you make it into a magnet?
i. Take a rectangular strip of [Link] an iron needle and place it on a wooden
table.
ii. Take a bar magnet and place one of its poles near one edge of the strip of iron.
iii. Without lifting the bar magnet move it along the length of iron strip till it
reaches the other end.
iv. Lift the magnet and bring the pole to the same point of the iron strip from
which we began.
v. Move the magnet along the iron strip in the same direction.
vi. Repeat this process about 30 – 40 times. The iron strip has become a magnet.
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3. List any three uses of magnet?
It is used
(i) in compass to find the direction
(ii) in lifting heavy masses of iron.
(iii) in electric bells, doors or refrigerators, pencil boxes, etc.
(iv) in toys to stick together or to move in fun ways, like magnetic building
blocks, matchbox magnet cars etc.
4. How is a magnetic compass used to find directions.
A magnetic compass has a magnetic needle with directions marked on it, which
can rotate freely. When the compass is kept at rest position, the magnetic needle points
the north - south direction. This property is used in finding directions. The compass is
kept at the place where we want to know the directions. The magnetic needle will show
the north – south direction and hence we can find the directions easily.
5. What are the ways by which magnets tend to lose their properties?
i. Magnets tend to lose their properties if they are heated, hammered, or
dropped from some height.
ii. A magnet also loses its magnetic property if it is not stored properly.
6. How should we store a bar magnet or a horse shoe magnet?
i. Bar magnets should be kept in pairs with their unlike poles on the same side.
They must be separated by a piece of wood while two pieces of soft iron should
be placed across their ends.
ii. For a horse-shoe magnet, we should keep a piece of iron across the poles.
7. Draw a neat figure to show how iron filings stick to a bar magnet.
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III. Differentiate between magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
Magnetic materials Non – magnetic materials
The materials which are attracted The materials which are not attracted
towards a magnet are called magnetic towards a magnet are called non
materials. magnetic materials.
Eg: Iron, nickel, cobalt Eg: Wood, rubber, aluminium
IV. Give Reasons:
1. Why magnets should be kept away from computers and television monitors?
Television, mobiles, and computers are made up of magnetic materials and have
magnets in it. If we bring a magnet closer to it then it will spoil these devices.
2. A magnetic compass kept near a bar magnet deflects even when a piece of
wood is placed between them.
Magnetic effect can act through non-magnetic materials.
V. Assertion and Reason Questions:
a) Assertion and reason both are correct statement and reason is correct
explanation for assertion.
b) Assertion and reason both are correct statement and reason is not correct
explanation for assertion.
c) Assertion is correct statement but reason is wrong statement.
d) Assertion is wrong statement but reason is correct statement.
(1) Assertion –A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole..
Reason – Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
Ans: Option d
(2) Assertion –We can identify the poles of an unmarked bar magnet
using another magnet, which has its poles marked.
Reason – The strength of a magnet is maximum at its poles.
Ans- Option b
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VI. Case study:
Reshma bought three identical metal bars from the market. Out of these bars, two were
magnets and one was just a piece of iron.
i) How will she identify which two amongst the three could be magnets (without
using any other material)?
Ans: Reshma can identify the magnets through the property of repulsion of like poles.
Magnets repel other magnets when like poles are brought close. Whereas the iron bar will
only be attracted, helping her identify the magnets.
ii) As the bar magnets have no markings to indicate the poles, how will she find out on
which end is their North pole?
Ans: She should suspend the magnet freely, and it will align itself in the north-south
direction. The end pointing towards the north is the North Pole, and the end pointing
towards the south is the South Pole.
Prepared by
Sajida Hamid
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