Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers Science Curiosity

Exploring Magnets Class 6 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What is a magnetic compass used for?

a) Finding directions ✅
b) Measuring weight
c) Telling time
d) Measuring temperature

2. Which shape of magnet is commonly used in a magnetic compass?

a) Bar magnet
b) Ring magnet
c) Horseshoe magnet
d) Needle-shaped magnet ✅

3. Which of the following is a non-magnetic material?

a) Cobalt
b) Nickel
c) Rubber ✅
d) Iron

4. When a bar magnet is brought near iron dust, most of the dust sticks:

a) Near the middle
b) Equally everywhere
c) Near two ends ✅
d) At the middle and ends

5. What happens when two North poles of magnets are brought together?

a) They attract each other
b) They repel each other ✅
c) They stick together
d) Nothing happens

6. Which of the following materials is magnetic?

a) Wood
b) Plastic
c) Iron ✅
d) Glass

7. What are the two poles of a magnet?

a) North and South ✅
b) East and West
c) Up and Down
d) Left and Right

8. Which materials are attracted to a magnet?

a) Magnetic materials ✅
b) Non-magnetic materials
c) Both
d) None

9. Which of the following is a use of magnets?

a) In electric motors ✅
b) In food processing
c) In paper production
d) In glass manufacturing

10. What kind of magnets were used by sailors in the olden days?

a) Artificial magnets
b) Lodestones ✅
c) Electromagnets
d) Temporary magnets

11. The ancient Indian device similar to a compass was called:

a) Magnetometer
b) Matsya-Yantra ✅
c) Pole-Finder
d) Magnetic dial

12. What happens when like poles of two magnets are brought close together?

a) They attract
b) They repel ✅
c) No effect
d) They rotate

13. Which is an example of a magnetic substance?

a) Iron
b) Nickel
c) Cobalt
d) All of these ✅

14. In which device is a magnetized needle used to find directions?

a) Barometer
b) Thermometer
c) Compass ✅
d) Altimeter

15. Where is the magnetic force of a bar magnet the strongest?

a) At its centre
b) Near its poles ✅
c) Equally everywhere
d) On its sides

16. What happens when a magnet is broken into two pieces?

a) Each piece has only one pole
b) Magnet loses its property
c) Each piece becomes a smaller magnet ✅
d) Magnetic property disappears

17. Magnets should be stored carefully because:

a) They attract dust
b) They can melt easily
c) They lose magnetism if dropped or heated ✅
d) They become heavier with time

18. Can a magnet with a single pole exist?

a) Yes, it can exist
b) No, poles always exist in pairs ✅
c) Only South pole can exist alone
d) Only North pole can exist alone

19. Where do most of the iron filings stick on a bar magnet?

a) In the middle of the magnet
b) Near the poles or ends of the magnet ✅
c) Equally all over the magnet
d) Only on one side of the magnet

20. Which of the following is a correct way to keep magnets safe?

a) Keep them near mobile phones and computers
b) Heat them regularly
c) Store them in pairs with wooden separators and soft iron keepers ✅
d) Drop them from height to increase strength

Exploring Magnets Class 6 Fill in the Blanks (Fill ups)

  1. The sailors used lodestone to find directions at night.
  2. Similar poles of two magnets repel one another.
  3. Unlike poles of two magnets attract each other.
  4. A magnet has two magnetic poles.
  5. Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
  6. The poles of a magnet are the places where the magnetic force is strongest.
  7. The strength of a magnet is maximum at its poles.
  8. The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials.
  9. The materials that are not attracted towards a magnet are called non-magnetic materials.
  10. A freely suspended magnet comes to rest along the north–south direction.
  11. The end of a magnet that points towards north direction is called the north pole.
  12. The end of a magnet that points towards south direction is called the south pole.
  13. The magnetic effect can act through non-magnetic materials.
  14. The Earth itself acts like a huge magnet.
  15. A magnet which occurs in nature is called a lodestone.
  16. Magnets made by humans are called artificial magnets.
  17. The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the north–south direction.
  18. A magnetic compass is usually a small magnetic device with a transparent cover.
  19. The magnetic properties can be preserved by storing magnets properly.
  20. We should not drop the magnet, shouldn’t heat it, shouldn’t hammer it.
  21. South pole of a magnet is painted blue.
  22. Device used to find direction – magnetic compass.
  23. Loss of magnetism over time – demagnetisation.
  24. Ancient Indian navigation tool – Matsya Yantra.
  25. A magnet always has two poles.
  26. Magnets should be stored in pairs with unlike poles facing each other.
  27. A magnet loses its magnetism when it is heated or dropped.
  28. A magnet should be kept with a soft iron keeper placed between unlike poles when stored.
  29. The region around a magnet where its effect can be felt is called its magnetic field.
  30. The sure test of magnetism is repulsion.
  31. Lodestone is a natural magnet made of magnetite ore.
  32. Magnetic substances like iron are attracted by magnets.
  33. A magnet made by rubbing a magnetic material with another magnet is called an artificial magnet.
  34. The bar magnet when freely suspended always points in north–south direction.
  35. The repulsion between like poles of magnets proves that both are magnets.

Exploring Magnets Class 6 True or False

1. All materials are magnetic. False

2. Magnetic materials are attracted to a magnet. True

3. Non-magnetic materials are not attracted to a magnet. True

4. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are magnetic materials. True

5. Wood, plastic, and rubber are non-magnetic materials. True

6. A magnet always has two poles. True

7. A magnet has only one pole. False

8. When a bar magnet is broken into two pieces, each piece has both poles. True

9. Magnetic poles always exist in pairs. True

10. The poles of a magnet are the places where the magnetic force is strongest. True

11. The middle of a bar magnet shows the weakest magnetic force. True

12. Like poles of two magnets repel each other. True

13. Unlike poles of two magnets attract each other. True

14. Like poles of two magnets attract each other. False

15. The force of a magnet is the same at all parts of the magnet. False

16. A freely suspended magnet always aligns in the north–south direction. True

17. A freely suspended bar magnet always points in the east–west direction. False

18. The Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. True

19. The Earth behaves like a magnet because it has a magnetic field. True

20. The Earth’s magnetic south pole lies near its geographic north pole. True

21. The south pole of a magnet points towards the geographic south of the Earth. True

22. Lodestone is a natural magnet. True

23. Artificial magnets are made by humans. True

24. Magnets can have different shapes such as bar, horseshoe, and ring. True

25. The north pole of a magnet points towards the geographic north of the Earth. True

26. Magnets attract only magnetic materials. True

27. Magnetic materials can become magnets when rubbed with another magnet. True

28. The magnetic effect of a magnet can act through non-magnetic materials. True

29. The area around a magnet where its force can be felt is called the magnetic field. True

30. The magnetic field is strongest at the poles. True

31. The magnetic compass is used to find directions. True

32. A magnetic compass contains a freely movable magnetic needle. True

33. A magnetic needle always rests along the north–south direction. True

34. The compass needle always points in a fixed north–south direction. True

35. The magnetic compass needle is fixed and cannot move. False

36. The north pole of a magnet is usually painted blue. True

37. The south pole of a magnet is usually painted red. True

38. The ends of a magnet where most iron filings stick are called poles. True

39. Iron filings mostly stick at the poles of a magnet. True

40. Plastic and wood are magnetic materials. False

41. A compass needle is made of a non-magnetic material. False

42. The magnetic force is strongest at the poles. True

43. Magnets should be stored carefully to preserve their strength. True

44. Magnets should be stored in pairs with opposite poles facing each other. True

45. Keep magnets in pairs with unlike poles on the same side. True

46. Magnets should not be heated or hammered. True

47. Dropping or hammering a magnet can make it lose magnetism. True

48. A magnet will lose its magnetism if heated or dropped. True

49. Magnets lose their strength when kept carelessly. True

50. We should store magnets with opposite poles facing each other. True

51. Magnets should be stored separately without using keepers. False

52. Magnets should be kept away from electronic devices. True

53. A magnet can attract objects even through a sheet of paper or cloth. True

54. The sure test of magnetism is attraction. False

55. The sure test of magnetism is repulsion. True

56. Repulsion is the sure test of magnetism. True

57. Attraction but not repulsion is the sure test of magnetism. False

58. Heat can destroy the magnetic properties of a magnet. True

59. A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole. False

60. A magnet is weakest at its poles. False

Exploring Magnets Class 6 Extra Questions Answers

Q1. What are magnets?
Ans. Magnets are materials that attract iron and other magnetic substances.

Q2. Name a naturally occurring magnet.
Ans. Lodestone.

Q3. In which different shapes can magnets be made?

Ans. The magnets can be of various shapes, some of which are Bar magnet, U-shaped magnet and Ring magnet.

Q4. What are the different types of magnets?
Ans. There are natural magnets (lodestone) and artificial magnets (bar, horseshoe, ring, and electromagnets). Artificial magnets are made from materials like steel or iron.

Q5. What are magnetic materials?
Ans. The materials which are attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials. Such as Iron, nickel, and cobalt.

Q6. Name some materials that are attracted to magnets?
Ans. Magnetic materials like – Iron, nickel, and cobalt. (Some of their combinations with other metals are also attracted towards magnets.)

Q7. What is non-magnetic materials?

Ans: The materials which are not attracted towards a magnet are called non-magnetic materials. Such as wood, plastic and paper etc.

Q8. What are the two poles of a magnet called?
Ans. North Pole and South Pole.

Q9. At which place on a magnet is its magnetic force maximum?
Ans. At the poles.

Q10. Why do iron filings stick more at the poles of a magnet?
Ans. The magnetic force is strongest at the poles, so more iron filings collect there.

Q11. Where do few or no iron filings stick on a magnet?
Ans. Few or no iron filings stick to the middle part of the magnet because the magnetic force is weakest there.

Q12. What happens when a magnet is broken into smaller pieces?
Ans. Each piece becomes a new separate magnet with its own North and South poles. Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.

Q13. Do magnetic poles exist separately like charges? Explain.
Ans. No, magnetic poles always exist in pairs. When a magnet is cut into two or more pieces, each piece forms a new magnet with both north and south poles. Even the smallest fragment has both poles, showing that magnetic poles cannot be isolated.

Q14. In what direction does a freely suspended magnet point?
Ans. North–South direction.

Q15. Why does a freely suspended magnet always align itself in the north–south direction?
Ans. The Earth acts like a giant magnet, so the suspended magnet aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field. The north pole of the magnet is attracted to Earth’s magnetic south pole, and the south pole to Earth’s magnetic north, aligning the magnet along the north–south axis.

Q16. Write an activity to show that a freely suspended magnet comes to rest in the north–south direction.
Ans. Take a bar magnet and tie it at the centre with a thread.

  • Suspend it freely from a stand.
  • After rotating it, allow it to come to rest.
  • The magnet will align itself in the north–south direction, showing the directive property.

Q17. How do shipmen find directions when the Pole Star is not visible?
Ans. Sailors use a magnetic compass whose needle points north–south to find directions even at night or during cloudy weather.

Q18. Which device helps find directions using a magnet?
Ans. Magnetic compass.

Q19. What is a magnetic compass and how does it work?
Ans. A magnetic compass has a small, freely movable magnetized needle that always points north–south. It helps in navigation by showing direction based on Earth’s magnetic field.

Q20. What does the red-painted end of a compass needle indicate?
Ans. It indicates the North direction.

Q21. How can a magnet be made using an iron nail and a bar magnet? Explain the steps.
Ans. Place the iron strip on a table. Rub one pole of a bar magnet along it from one end to the other in a single direction without lifting. Repeat this for 30–40 strokes. The strip becomes magnetised with opposite poles at its ends.

Q22. How can you make a simple magnetic compass?

Ans. Take a sewing needle and rub it with one pole of a bar magnet in one direction about 30–40 times to magnetise it. Now place the magnetised needle through a small piece of cork or keep it on a small piece of paper and float it on water in a bowl.

The needle slowly rotates and finally comes to rest along the north–south direction. This arrangement works as a simple magnetic compass and helps in finding directions.

Q23. What is the Matsya-Yantra?
Ans. Matsya-Yantra was an ancient Indian navigation tool used to find directions at sea, similar to a magnetic compass.

Q24. What happens when like (same) poles of magnets are brought near each other?
Ans. They repel each other.

Q25. What happens when unlike (opposite) poles of two magnets are brought close together?
Ans. They attract each other.

Q26. How can you identify the poles of a bar magnet using another magnet?
Ans. Bring a known magnet near the unknown one; repulsion shows like poles, and attraction shows unlike poles.

Q27. How can you show that unlike poles attract and like poles repel each other?
Ans. Suspend a magnet freely and bring another near it. If the north pole of one magnet is brought near the south pole of another, they attract. If north is brought near north (or south near south), they repel. This proves attraction and repulsion between magnets.

Q28. Why is repulsion a sure test of magnetism?
Ans. Because repulsion occurs only between two magnets, while attraction can occur even between a magnet and magnetic material.

Q29. What type of devices should magnets be kept away from?
Ans. Magnets can damage the data and parts of electronic devices like phones or computers.

Q30. Describe precautions for storing and handling magnets properly.
Ans. Magnets should not be dropped, heated, or hammered.
Bar magnets should be stored in pairs with wooden spacers and soft iron keepers.
U-shaped magnets should have an iron bar across their poles.
They should be kept away from electronic gadgets to avoid demagnetisation.

Q31. What is meant by demagnetisation?
Ans. Demagnetisation means the loss of magnetic properties of a magnet.

Q32. How can we demagnetise a magnet?
Ans. By heating it strongly, hammering it, or placing it in an east–west direction.

Q33. What happens when a magnet is heated?
Ans. It loses its magnetic property.

Q34. Why should magnets be stored in pairs with keepers?
Ans. Keepers connect opposite poles, preventing the loss of magnetic strength.

Q35. Why should we not hammer a magnet?
Ans. Hammering disturbs the alignment of magnetic domains and weakens or destroys magnetism.

Q36. List the main properties of magnets.
Ans. (i) It attracts magnetic materials like iron.
(ii) A freely suspended magnet always aligns itself north–south.
(iii) Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
(iv) Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
(v) Magnetism is strongest at the poles.

 

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