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Std 6 General Science · Chapter 10

10. Into the Magical World of Magnets

Complete solutions to the Exercises, with labelled diagrams for the cut bar magnet and the horseshoe magnet, and the full word-search answer grid. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six General Science.

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About the chapter

A magnet attracts things made of iron. This chapter tells us about magnetic and non-magnetic substances. We learn about the poles of a magnet. We also learn how a magnetic compass shows direction.

Key points

  • Iron, cobalt and nickel are magnetic substances.
  • A magnet has two poles, north and south.
  • The magnetic force is strongest at the poles.
  • Like poles repel. Unlike poles attract.
  • A freely suspended magnet always rests in the north–south direction.
  • Magnetite is a natural magnet.

Words to remember

  • magnetic substance – a substance that is attracted by a magnet
  • pole – an end of a magnet where its force is strongest
  • attraction – pulling towards each other
  • repulsion – pushing away from each other
  • magnetic compass – an instrument with a magnetic needle that shows directions

Exercises

1Think and choose the correct option.

(1) Which of the following is a magnetic substance?

  • (a) Copper
  • (b) Iron  — correct
  • (c) Aluminium
  • (d) Silver

(2) If a bar magnet is taken near iron fillings, then most of the iron fillings stick to … of the magnet.

  • (a) middle
  • (b) all the parts equally
  • (c) both the ends and middle
  • (d) ends  — correct

(3) A suspended magnet settles in … direction of the magnet.

  • (a) north - south  — correct
  • (b) east - west
  • (c) west - south
  • (d) north - east

(4) Out of the following, which poles of magnet show attraction?   (a) N – S   (b) S – S   (c) N – N   (d) S – N

  • (1) Only option ‘a’ is correct
  • (2) Only option ‘b’ is correct
  • (3) Option ‘b’ and ‘c’ are correct
  • (4) Option ‘a’ and ‘d’ are correct  — correct

(5) A bar magnet is cut in three pieces. Which of the following is the correct position?

  • (a) N S  |  S N  |  S N
  • (b) N  |  (no poles)  |  N
  • (c) N S  |  N S  |  N S  — correct
  • (d) None of the above
Original bar magnetNScutcutNSNSNSEach piece is again a complete magnet

Each piece becomes a complete magnet with N and S poles.

(6) If the magnet shown below is moved above the iron fillings, then at which part most of the iron fillings will stick? Give a reason.

  • (a) only A
  • (b) only B
  • (c) C and D
  • (d) A and B  — correct
ABDCIron fillings collectat the two endsHardly any fillingsstick along the bend

A and B are the poles of the horseshoe magnet.

Reason: A and B are the poles of the magnet. The magnetic force is strongest at the poles.

2Write whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statement.

(1) Stainless steel is a magnetic substance.

False. Stainless steel is a non-magnetic substance.

(2) Magnetite is a natural magnet.

True.

3Identify whether I am magnetic or non-magnetic.

Magnetic: One kilogram weight, safety pin, iron chair

Non-magnetic: Shoes, bangles, football, glass tumbler, pencil

4There are a few alphabets in the boxes below. If you make a group of a few alphabets, you will find words related to magnet. A circle is shown around one such word. Find other words and write them in a notebook.

The words are shown shaded below.

ascompass
ttpcqndxh
teigtiron
repelcbja
alostkvnt
crpgneoku
tcobaltcr
ftlgycvua
lpesbdeil
magnetcon

Across: magnet, compass, iron, repel, cobalt

Down: attract, steel, pole, nickel, natural

5Form questions in such a way that the given information will be used to answer them.
  1. How many poles does a magnet have? – Two, north and south.
  2. What happens when like poles come near each other? – They repel.
  3. What happens when unlike poles come near each other? – They attract.
  4. What is a magnetic field? – The area around a magnet where its force acts.
  5. Which substances are used to make magnets? – Iron, cobalt and nickel.
  6. Give two uses of magnets. – To find directions and in loudspeakers.
6This toy car is made up of iron. Using a magnet how will you make it move? Write the method and try it.
  1. Keep the toy car on a smooth table.
  2. Hold a magnet in front of the car without touching it.
  3. The car is attracted and moves towards the magnet.
  4. Move the magnet slowly. The car follows it.
7Ramesh took a magnetic compass to an open field. It showed the north direction correctly. He came into a room with the same compass. There was one iron cupboard in one corner of the room. Will the compass show the exact direction in that room?

No. The iron cupboard attracts the compass needle. So the needle does not point exactly to the north.

8You are given a magnet. The colour or dot is not marked as the pole. How can you identify poles of the magnet using another magnet?
  1. Hang the unmarked magnet freely with a thread.
  2. Bring the north pole of the marked magnet near one end.
  3. If that end is pushed away, it is the north pole.
  4. If that end is pulled closer, it is the south pole.

This works because like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

9Keep an iron nail on a table. Slowly bring it near the bar magnet from the distances of 50 cm, 30 cm, 10 cm, 8 cm. Observe what happens. What can you conclude about the effect of a magnet on an iron nail?

Observation:

  1. 50 cm – the nail does not move.
  2. 30 cm – the nail does not move.
  3. 10 cm – the nail moves slightly.
  4. 8 cm – the nail is pulled and sticks to the magnet.

Conclusion: The magnetic force becomes stronger as the distance decreases.

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