📘 NCERT Intext Questions — Exploring Magnets (Class 6)
Answers with small experiments to try.
Q1. 🧲 Do magnets stick to objects made of certain materials only?
(Page No. 62)
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Q1. 🧲 Do magnets stick to objects made of certain materials only?
(Page No. 62)
Answer: Yes! Magnets stick only to some special materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt.
They do not stick to things made of wood, plastic, paper, or rubber.
✨ Did you know? Magnets pull only a few metals like iron.
🧪 Try it: Test a magnet on a spoon, coin, and pencil to see which it sticks to.
Q2. 🧲 Do all parts of a magnet attract magnetic materials equally?
(Page No. 64)
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Q2. 🧲 Do all parts of a magnet attract magnetic materials equally?
(Page No. 64)
Answer: No! The ends of a magnet attract more strongly than the middle.
These ends are called the north and south poles.
✨ Did you know? The poles are the strongest parts of a magnet.
🧪 Try it: Sprinkle iron filings around a magnet and tap gently — they move to the ends.
Q3. 🧲 Can we find a magnet with a single pole?
(Page No. 65)
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Q3. 🧲 Can we find a magnet with a single pole?
(Page No. 65)
Answer: No! Every magnet has two poles — north and south.
Even if you cut a magnet into pieces, each piece will still have both poles.
✨ Did you know? Scientists have not found a magnet with only one pole.
🧪 Try it: (With adult help) cut a small magnet and test both pieces — both attract from both ends.
Let us enhance our learning
Q.1. 🧲 Fill in the blanks
(Intext practice)
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Let us enhance our learning
Q.1. 🧲 Fill in the blanks(Intext practice)
Answer:
(i) attract, repel
(ii) magnetic materials
(iii) north–south
(iv) two
💡 Did You Know? The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet with its own north and south poles — that’s why a compass always points north–south!
Q.2. 🧲 State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(Intext practice)
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Q.2. 🧲 State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(Intext practice)
(i) A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole.
✅ Answer: ❌ False
💡 Did You Know? Even if you break a magnet into many pieces, each piece becomes a small magnet with both a north 🧭 and a south pole!
(ii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other.
✅ Answer: ✅ True
💡 Did You Know? When two north poles (🧭N–N) or two south poles (S–S) face each other, they push away because of magnetic repulsion.
(iii) Iron filings mostly stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them.
✅ Answer: ❌ False
💡 Did You Know? Iron filings mostly stick to the ends (poles) of a magnet because the magnetic force is strongest there.
(iv) A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the north-south direction.
✅ Answer: ✅ True
💡 Did You Know? The Earth acts like a giant magnet, so a hanging magnet or compass needle always points north–south!
Q3. 🧲 Column I and Column II — Fill in the blanks
(Intext practice)
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Q3. 🧲 Column I and Column II — Fill in the blanks
(Intext practice)
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| N – N | Repulsion |
| N – S | Attraction |
| S – N | Attraction |
| S – S | Repulsion |
✨ Answer Explanation:
✅ Like poles (N–N or S–S) repel each other.
✅ Unlike poles (N–S or S–N) attract each other.
Q4. 🧲 Atharv's experiment with a bar magnet and U-clips — choose the observation
(Table 4.3)
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Q4. 🧲 Atharv's experiment with a bar magnet and U-clips — choose the observation
(Table 4.3)
Table 4.3: Number of pins attracted by the magnet at its various positions
| Options | Position A (North Pole) | Position B (Middle) | Position C (South Pole) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | 10 | 2 | 10 |
| (ii) | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| (iii) | 2 | 10 | 10 |
| (iv) | 10 | 10 | 10 |
✅ Correct Option: (i)
Answer: At positions A and C (the two ends of the bar magnet), the number of pins attracted is more (10), and at B (the middle), it is less (2).
Explanation: The magnetic strength of a bar magnet is strongest at its ends (poles) and weakest in the middle. That’s why more U-clips get attracted to the ends and fewer to the middle.
💡 Did You Know? If you sprinkle iron filings around a bar magnet, you’ll see a pattern called magnetic field lines — these lines are denser near the poles, showing where the magnet is strongest!
Q5. 🧲 Identifying two magnets among three metal bars
(Intext practice)
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Q5. 🧲 Identifying two magnets among three metal bars
(Intext practice)
Answer: Reshma can identify the magnets by bringing the bars close to each other.
• If two bars repel each other, then both are magnets (because only magnets can repel).
• If one bar only attracts but never repels, that bar is iron — not a magnet.
Example: Magnets can both attract and repel, but a simple piece of iron can only attract and never repel.
💡 Did You Know? 🧲 The repulsion test is the most reliable way to check if an object is a magnet — because repulsion happens only between two magnets, never between a magnet and ordinary iron!
Q6. 🧲 Find poles of an unmarked magnet using a marked magnet
(Intext practice)
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Q6. 🧲 Find poles of an unmarked magnet using a marked magnet
(Intext practice)
Answer: To find the poles of the unmarked magnet, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Bring the marked magnet close to one end of the unmarked magnet.
2️⃣ If they attract, the poles are opposite (North attracts South).
3️⃣ If they repel, the poles are same (North–North or South–South).
Example: If the North pole of the marked magnet attracts one end of the unmarked magnet, that end is the South pole.
💡 Did You Know? 🧭 The rule “Like poles repel, unlike poles attract” is the basic principle behind magnetic compasses and even electric motors!
Q7. 🧭 Find North pole of a bar magnet without another magnet
(Intext practice)
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Q7. 🧭 Find North pole of a bar magnet without another magnet
(Intext practice)
Answer: Suspend the magnet freely with a thin thread so that it can rotate. After a while, it will settle in the north–south direction.
• The end pointing towards the north is the North Pole.
• The other end pointing towards the south is the South Pole.
Example: A compass needle works on the same rule — it always aligns in the north–south direction.
💡 Did You Know? 🌍 The Earth acts like a giant magnet, and that’s why every freely suspended magnet points north–south.
Q8. 🌎 If Earth is a magnet, can you guess its poles using a compass?
(Intext practice)
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Q8. 🌎 If Earth is a magnet, can you guess its poles using a compass?
(Intext practice)
Answer: Yes! The north-seeking end of a compass needle points towards the geographic North Pole of the Earth. This means the Earth’s magnetic south pole lies near the geographic North Pole.
Example: The compass needle always points north–south because it aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field.
💡 Did You Know? 🧭 The magnetic field of Earth helps birds, whales, and even turtles navigate during migration!
Q9. 🔩 Mechanic losing screws — how to solve?
(Practical)
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Q9. 🔩 Mechanic losing screws — how to solve?
(Practical)
Answer: The mechanic can magnetize his screwdriver so it attracts and holds screws.
How to magnetize: 1️⃣ Place the screwdriver on a wooden table. 2️⃣ Rub one pole of a magnet along the metal part of the screwdriver in one direction only. 3️⃣ Repeat about 30 times. The screwdriver will become magnetic and can now hold screws!
💡 Did You Know? ⚙️ Magnetized tools are used in electronics, watches, and even in car workshops to hold tiny parts easily.
Q10. 🧲 Two ring magnets X and Y — X floats, why? How to bring X to Y?
(Fig. 4.16)
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Q10. 🧲 Two ring magnets X and Y — X floats, why? How to bring X to Y?
(Fig. 4.16)
Answer: Magnet X is floating because the like poles of both magnets face each other — and like poles repel.
To make X and Y attract each other, turn magnet X upside down so that unlike poles face each other.
Example: If both have North poles facing each other, they repel. If one North faces one South, they attract!
💡 Did You Know? ✨ Floating magnets are used in maglev trains, where powerful magnetic repulsion lifts the train off the track — allowing super-fast travel!
Q11. 🧩 Polarity at ends 1,2,3,4,6 (Fig. 4.17) — one end (5) is given
(Intext practice)
Show Answer
Q11. 🧩 Polarity at ends 1,2,3,4,6 (Fig. 4.17) — one end (5) is given
(Intext practice)
🔢 Point — Polarity
| 1 | N |
| 2 | S |
| 3 | N |
| 4 | S |
| 5 | N |
| 6 | S |
Explanation: The poles of magnets always appear in pairs — North and South alternate. So, if one end is North, the opposite end must be South.
💡 Did You Know? 📏 No matter how small you cut a magnet, each piece will always have two poles — one North and one South!
📚 Explore More Class 6 Chapters (Questions and Answers)
🌍Chapter 1 – The Wonderful World of Science
🦁Chapter 2 – Diversity in the Living World
🥗Chapter 3 – Mindful Eating
🧲Chapter 4 – Exploring Magnets
📏Chapter 5 – Measurement of Length & Motion
🧱Chapter 6 – Materials Around Us
🌡️Chapter 7 – Temperature & Measurement
💧Chapter 8 – States of Water
⚗️Chapter 9 – Methods of Separation
🐾Chapter 10 – Living Creatures
🌿Chapter 11 – Nature's Treasures
🚀Chapter 12 – Beyond Earth
