Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Extra Questions and Answers – Exploring Magnets
Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Extra Questions and Answers for “Exploring Magnets” (based on NCERT textbook Curiosity ).
EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS – Chapter 4 – Exploring Magnets
This includes All types of Questions normally asked in school exams, tests, and NCERT exercises.
EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Class 6 – Science
Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets
A. Fill in the Blanks – Exploring Magnets
- Fill in the blank: Magnets made from natural magnetic stones are called __________.
Answer: lodestones - Fill in the blank: The end of a magnet that points towards the north is called the __________ pole.
Answer: North pole - Fill in the blank: The force of a magnet is strongest at its __________.
Answer: poles - Fill in the blank: Materials that do not get attracted towards magnets are called __________ materials.
Answer: non-magnetic - Fill in the blank: A magnetic compass contains a freely rotating __________.
Answer: magnetized needle - Fill in the blank: A needle becomes a magnet when rubbed repeatedly with __________.
Answer: a bar magnet - Fill in the blank: The Earth behaves like a giant __________.
Answer: magnet - Fill in the blank: Like poles of a magnet __________ each other.
Answer: repel - Fill in the blank: A magnet can be identified by its property of __________.
Answer: repulsion - Fill in the blank: Magnetic force can act through __________ materials as well.
Answer: non-magnetic
B. True/False – Exploring Magnets
- A broken piece of a magnet can have only one pole.
Answer: False - Iron, nickel, and cobalt are magnetic materials.
Answer: True - A freely suspended iron bar always rests in the north-south direction.
Answer: False - A compass needle shows directions because it behaves like a magnet.
Answer: True - Magnetic force cannot pass through cardboard or plastic.
Answer: False - Lodestones are natural magnets.
Answer: True - Repulsion between two bars always indicates that both are magnets.
Answer: True - An iron bar repels the north pole of a magnet.
Answer: False - The poles of a magnet can exist alone if the magnet is cut into many pieces.
Answer: False - A magnetic compass was used by sailors in olden times to find directions.
Answer: True
C. Very Short Answer Questions – Exploring Magnets
- Name two artificial magnets commonly found in homes.
Answer: Refrigerator magnets, magnetic pencil-box locks - What are magnetic materials?
Answer: Materials that get attracted to magnets, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. - Which activity shows that magnetism is strongest at the poles?
Answer: Activity with iron filings sticking more to the ends of a bar magnet. - What is a lodestone?
Answer: A naturally occurring magnetic stone. - What happens when a south pole of a magnet is brought near the north pole of another magnet?
Answer: They attract each other. - State one use of a magnetic compass.
Answer: It is used to find directions. - What is the colour generally used to mark the north pole of a magnet?
Answer: Red - Name any two shapes of magnets.
Answer: Bar magnet, U-shaped magnet - Which part of a bar magnet attracts the most iron filings?
Answer: Its poles - Why is nickel classified as a magnetic material?
Answer: Because it gets attracted towards a magnet.
D. Short Answer Questions – Exploring Magnets
- What is the difference between magnetic and non-magnetic materials? Give examples.
Answer:
Magnetic materials are attracted to magnets (e.g., iron, nickel).
Non-magnetic materials are not attracted (e.g., wood, plastic). - Why do sailors use a magnetic compass even today?
Answer: Because it always shows the north-south direction, helping in navigation. - Explain why a freely suspended magnet always aligns itself in the north–south direction.
Answer:
Because the Earth behaves like a giant magnet and the magnet aligns with Earth’s magnetic field. - How can you make a magnetic compass using a needle, cork and water?
Answer:
Magnetize the needle by rubbing it with a magnet, fix it through a cork, float it on water; it aligns north–south. - Why can repulsion be used to identify a magnet but attraction cannot?
Answer:
Because both magnets and some metals show attraction, but only magnets show repulsion. - Describe what happens when:
(a) N pole is brought near N pole
Answer: They repel.
(b) N pole is brought near S pole
Answer: They attract. - Why are magnets available in many shapes?
Answer:
For different uses such as in compasses, speakers, toys, door locks, etc. - How does the magnetic compass work?
Answer:
It contains a tiny magnetized needle that freely rotates and aligns itself north–south. - What are the precautions to follow while storing magnets?
Answer:
Keep in pairs with opposite poles together, store with wooden separators and soft iron keepers; avoid heating and dropping. - Why do we find maximum iron filings at the ends of a magnet in Activity 4.2?
Answer:
Because magnetic force is strongest at the poles.
E. Long Answer Questions – Exploring Magnets
- Describe the steps of Activity 4.4 to make a magnet from a sewing needle. Why must the magnet be rubbed in one direction only?
Answer:
Rub one pole of a magnet across the needle in one direction repeatedly 30–40 times.
Test with iron filings and float it on cork.
Rubbing in one direction arranges the iron particles in one orientation, making the needle magnetic. - Explain magnetic attraction and repulsion with examples.
Answer:
Unlike poles (N–S) attract; like poles (N–N or S–S) repel.
Example: Two bar magnets show both behaviours. - Describe how sailors in olden days used magnets to find directions.
Answer:
They used magnetic compasses whose needles pointed north–south even when stars were not visible. - What is meant by magnetic effect through non-magnetic materials? Explain Activity 4.7.
Answer:
Magnetic force can pass through materials like paper, glass, wood, plastic.
Compass needle still deflects when these materials are placed between it and a magnet. - Three bars look identical but only two are magnets. Explain how to identify the magnets.
Answer:
Bring one bar close to another:
If repulsion occurs, both are magnets.
Attraction alone is not enough. - How do ring magnets behave when their like poles face each other?
Answer:
They repel, and the top ring magnet floats without touching the lower one.
Repulsion prevents it from moving downward. - How can the Earth be considered a giant magnet?
Answer:
Because a magnet always aligns north–south due to Earth’s magnetic field. - Describe the use of magnets in toys and daily life.
Answer:
Used in magnetic garlands, maze games, magnetic cars, pencil boxes, doors, speakers, and compasses. - Explain why the compass needle deflects when another magnet is brought near it.
Answer:
Because the poles of the external magnet interact with the needle’s poles, causing attraction or repulsion. - How does the ‘Hopping Frog’ toy use magnetic repulsion?
Answer:
Ring magnets fixed in alternating poles repel the frog magnet, causing it to hop forward as the strip moves.
F. HOTS Questions (With Answers)
- A student brings a metal rod near a magnet and it gets attracted. Can we conclude it is a magnet?
Answer: No, because iron also gets attracted. Only repulsion confirms a magnet. - A compass needle stops showing correct direction when kept near a mobile phone. Why?
Answer: Magnetic fields from electronic devices disturb the compass needle. - Why is the property of repulsion considered a sure test for magnetism?
Answer: Because only magnets show repulsion; metals cannot. - What is the actual magnetic nature of the Earth’s geographical north?
Answer: It acts like a magnetic south pole. - Suggest a way to magnetize a steel screwdriver.
Answer: Rub one pole of a magnet along the screwdriver repeatedly in one direction.
G. Assertion–Reason (With Answers)
- Assertion: The Earth acts like a giant magnet.
Reason: A freely suspended magnet always points in the north–south direction.
Answer: Both assertion and reason are true; reason explains assertion. - Assertion: Iron filings stick more at the ends of a magnet.
Reason: The poles have the strongest magnetic field.
Answer: Both are true; reason is correct explanation. - Assertion: A compass needle is painted red at one end.
Reason: The red end always points towards the south.
Answer: Assertion true; reason false. - Assertion: Cardboard does not stop magnetic force.
Reason: Magnetic force can pass through non-magnetic materials.
Answer: Both true and reason explains assertion. - Assertion: Two north poles repel each other.
Reason: Like poles repel.
Answer: Both true and reason explains assertion.
H. Diagram-Based Questions (With Answers)
(Answers describe what must be drawn)
- Draw a bar magnet with poles.
Answer: A rectangle labelled N on one end and S on the other. - Draw how a suspended magnet aligns.
Answer: A bar magnet hanging horizontally pointing north–south. - Draw a magnetic compass.
Answer: A circular box with a needle labelled N (red end) and S. - Attraction and repulsion diagram.
Answer: N–S attracts; N–N repels. - Draw needle–cork–water compass.
Answer: Cork floating with needle aligned north–south.