TEACHGYAN • CLASS 6 SCIENCE • CURIOSITY
Chapter 4 – Exploring Magnets
Detailed notes • Magnetic materials • Poles • Attraction & repulsion • Compass • Activities • MCQs • Worksheet
Chapter focus: Magnets attract certain materials, have two poles and show predictable attraction and repulsion. Their directional property makes the magnetic compass useful for finding directions.
🎯 Learning Goals
- Distinguish natural and artificial magnets.
- Identify magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
- Understand poles and the strength of magnetic effect near them.
- Explain attraction and repulsion between poles.
- Understand how a freely suspended magnet indicates direction.
- Explain the basic working of a magnetic compass.
- Use safe observation-based activities to investigate magnets.
🧲 1. What Is a Magnet?
A magnet is an object that attracts certain materials and interacts with other magnets. Naturally occurring magnetic rocks called lodestones were known in ancient times. Modern magnets are usually made artificially in different shapes.
Common shapes
- Bar magnet
- U-shaped or horseshoe magnet
- Ring magnet
- Disc and cylindrical magnets
🔩 2. Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Materials
Materials attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. Iron is a familiar example. Not all metals are magnetic: objects made from materials such as copper and aluminium are not attracted to an ordinary magnet in the same way.
| Usually attracted | Usually not attracted |
|---|---|
| Iron and many iron-containing objects | Wood |
| Steel objects, depending on composition | Paper |
| Some nickel/cobalt-containing materials | Plastic |
🧭 3. Poles of a Magnet
Every magnet has two poles, called north (N) and south (S). The magnetic effect is strongest near the poles.
If a magnet is freely suspended, it tends to settle approximately in the north–south direction. This directional property is the basis of the magnetic compass.
↔️ 4. Attraction and Repulsion
| Poles brought together | Result |
|---|---|
| North + North | Repulsion |
| South + South | Repulsion |
| North + South | Attraction |
Remember: Like poles repel; unlike poles attract. Repulsion is a useful test for distinguishing magnetic poles.
🧵 5. Freely Suspended Magnet
When a magnet is suspended so that it can rotate freely and is away from strong magnetic objects, it settles roughly along the north–south direction. Repeating the activity helps students notice the directional property reliably.
🧭 6. Magnetic Compass
A compass contains a small magnetised needle that can rotate freely. The needle settles approximately along the north–south direction, allowing us to identify directions. Keep a compass away from strong magnets and magnetic objects while taking a reading.
🛠️ 7. Making a Magnet
A piece of suitable magnetic material can be magnetised using an appropriate method, such as repeatedly stroking it in one direction with a magnet. Classroom demonstrations should follow the teacher’s instructions. The result can be tested by checking whether the object shows magnetic behaviour.
🔬 8. Explore with Magnets
- Collect safe classroom objects made from different materials.
- Predict which objects will be attracted.
- Bring a magnet near each object without touching it.
- Record attraction or no attraction.
- Group the observations into magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
- Repeat with another magnet or object and compare.
📋 Worked Examples
Example 1 – Unknown Material
An object is attracted strongly by a magnet. The observation supports classifying it as magnetic, but the observation alone does not tell you its exact material or composition.
Example 2 – Pole Interaction
Two marked ends push apart when brought together. Repulsion indicates that the two ends are like poles.
Example 3 – Finding Direction
A freely suspended magnet settles approximately north–south. The end pointing towards north is identified as the north-seeking pole.
🧠 Think Like a Scientist
- Why is repulsion a better test for identifying a pole than attraction?
- Why should a compass be kept away from strong magnets during use?
- Why should we not say that every metal is magnetic?
- What evidence would show that a material is magnetic?
- What might happen if a magnet is suspended near another strong magnet?
📝 Important Practice Questions
- What is a magnet?
- What are natural magnets?
- Name three shapes of artificial magnets.
- What are magnetic materials?
- Name the two poles of a magnet.
- What happens when like poles are brought together?
- What happens when unlike poles are brought together?
- Why does a freely suspended magnet indicate direction?
- What is a magnetic compass?
- Why should a compass be kept away from strong magnets?
🔥 Competency / HOTS
- You have two identical-looking magnets with unmarked ends. Design a safe test to identify their poles.
- A student says, “This object is metal, so a magnet must attract it.” Explain why this reasoning is not always correct.
- How could you test whether a freely suspended object is behaving like a magnet?
- Why can a compass reading change when placed close to a large magnet?
- Explain why attraction alone cannot always prove that two ends are opposite poles.
🧩 MCQ Practice
- A naturally occurring magnet is called a — A. lodestone B. thermometer C. prism D. pulley
- A magnet has — A. one pole B. two poles C. three poles D. no poles
- Like poles — A. attract B. repel C. disappear D. melt
- Unlike poles — A. repel B. attract C. become neutral always D. stop moving
- The magnetic effect of a bar magnet is strongest near its — A. poles B. centre only C. label D. handle
- A freely suspended magnet tends to settle approximately in the — A. east-west direction B. north-south direction C. up-down direction D. random direction
- A magnetic compass contains a — A. freely rotating magnetised needle B. glass rod C. rubber strip D. wooden pointer
- Which is generally non-magnetic? A. plastic B. iron C. steel pin D. iron nail
Answer Key: 1-A, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-A, 6-B, 7-A, 8-A
📄 Printable Worksheet
- Define magnet.
- List three magnetic and three non-magnetic materials.
- Draw a bar magnet and label N and S.
- Write the rule for like and unlike poles.
- Explain the directional property of a freely suspended magnet.
- Describe the basic parts and use of a compass.
- Design a simple magnetic/non-magnetic classification activity.
- Explain why attraction alone is not always enough to identify a pole.
- Write two precautions while using magnets and a compass.
- Give five uses of magnets in daily life.
🔁 Quick Revision
| Concept | Remember |
|---|---|
| Magnet | Attracts certain materials and interacts with other magnets. |
| Poles | Every magnet has north and south poles. |
| Like poles | Repel. |
| Unlike poles | Attract. |
| Compass | Uses a freely rotating magnetised needle to indicate direction. |
| Lodestone | A naturally occurring magnetic rock. |
✅ Mastery Checklist
- ☐ I can distinguish magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
- ☐ I can identify the two poles of a magnet.
- ☐ I can predict attraction and repulsion.
- ☐ I can explain the north–south directional property.
- ☐ I can explain how a compass works.
- ☐ I can design a simple magnet investigation.