Unlike poles of magnets attract each other. What happens to the gap between the magnets?

The magnets move closer and stick together

A compass needle always points North-South. Why is this useful?

It helps travellers find their direction without any external power source

Why does Earth behave like a giant magnet?

Due to the flow of molten iron and nickel in its outer core creating a magnetic field

Because of sunlight falling on Earth

Due to the rotation of Earth around the Sun

How can a steel needle be made into a temporary magnet?

By rubbing it in one direction against a bar magnet several times

By placing it near a light source

Magnetic field lines always travel from which pole to which pole outside the magnet?

They travel in all directions randomly

They do not travel outside the magnet

Why do compasses fail to show accurate direction near large iron structures?

Because iron structures create their own magnetic fields that interfere with Earth's magnetic field

Because compasses are not accurate

What does demagnetisation mean?

A magnet losing its magnetic property

How were ancient sailors able to navigate using magnets?

They used lodestones suspended in water that aligned North-South to find direction

They used compasses with batteries

A bar magnet is cut into two equal pieces. What happens to the poles?

Each piece becomes a complete magnet with its own North and South poles

The magnet loses its magnetic property

Why is it said that magnetic poles always exist in pairs (North and South together)?

Because magnetism arises from the alignment of tiny magnetic domains, which always produce both poles

Because magnets are always bar-shaped

Because all materials have two sides

A student is given three iron rods and told one is a magnet. How can the student identify the magnet without using any other instrument?

By testing if each rod attracts the same end of the other two rods – a magnet attracts from both ends while an unmagnetised rod is attracted only at the ends

How do MRI machines in hospitals use magnets?

Strong magnetic fields cause atoms in the body to align, producing detailed images of internal organs

Magnets heat the body for treatment

MRIs use sound waves, not magnets

Magnets are used to hold the patient still

Why do magnets lose their magnetic property when dropped repeatedly or heated?

The vibration or heat disrupts the alignment of magnetic domains inside the material

The material changes composition

How does knowing about the Earth's magnetic field help geologists study the planet's history?

Rocks formed at different times recorded the direction of Earth's magnetic field, allowing scientists to trace changes

Geologists use magnets to dig rocks

Magnetic fields only affect living organisms

Rocks near magnets are always iron

Why is it important for a compass needle to be balanced and free to rotate?

So it can align freely with Earth's magnetic field to show the correct direction

So children can play with it safely

How can you test whether a material is magnetic without using another magnet?

Try to pick it up with a known magnet; if it is attracted, it is a magnetic material

What is electromagnetic induction, and how does it relate to magnets?

Moving a magnet near a coil of wire generates electricity, showing the link between magnetism and electricity

Electromagnetism is unrelated to magnets

Coils only generate heat when near magnets

Which of the following are properties of magnets?

They attract magnetic materials like iron

They can attract all metals equally

Their force is strongest at the poles

Which of the following are uses of magnets in daily life?

In electric motors and generators

A sailor uses a compass to navigate at sea. If a large iron ship is nearby, how might it affect the compass reading and what should the sailor do?

The iron ship creates its own magnetic field, interfering with the compass; the sailor should use GPS or other navigation aids or move away from iron structures before taking a reading

The iron ship makes the compass more accurate

The compass should be placed on the iron ship for best accuracy

Iron ships have no effect on compasses

Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to float above the track. What magnetic principle allows this?

Like poles repel each other, so the magnets in the train and track are arranged to push the train upward

Unlike poles attract, lifting the train

The train uses gravity to float

Maglev trains do not use magnetic principles

If Earth's magnetic field suddenly reversed, how might it affect navigation systems?

Compass needles would point south instead of north, disrupting navigation until instruments are recalibrated

All electronic devices would stop working

Earth's magnetic field never reverses

Why is an electromagnet more useful than a permanent magnet in many industrial applications?

An electromagnet can be switched on and off and its strength can be controlled, making it more versatile

Electromagnets are stronger in all situations

Permanent magnets can be switched off

Electromagnets do not use electricity

A student wants to store magnets. What precautions should they take?

Store bar magnets in pairs with unlike poles facing each other and use keeper bars, away from heat and electronic devices

Store them near electrical appliances

Drop them repeatedly to maintain strength

Which of the following are correct about the Earth's magnetic field?

It protects Earth from harmful solar radiation

It helps migrating animals find direction

It causes compasses to point North

It changes direction over very long periods of time

Which of the following correctly describe electromagnets?

They are made by passing electric current through a coil of wire around an iron core

Their strength can be increased by increasing the current

They can be turned off by switching off the current

They are weaker than all natural magnets

Which of the following show applications of magnetism in technology?

Electric generators converting mechanical energy to electricity

Speakers converting electrical signals to sound

Trains using magnetic levitation

Which of the following are true about magnetic field lines?

They never intersect each other

They go from North to South outside the magnet

They show the direction and strength of the magnetic field

NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 4 – Exploring Magnets

Name: Exploring Magnets – Class 6 Science
Uploaded: 2026-09-11T02:51:19+00:00
Description: Magnets help us explore materials, directions, and forces like attraction and repulsion. From ancient lodestones to modern compasses, magnets play a vital role in science and daily life — and can be used for learning and fun too!

Class 6 Science

Last Updated: 11 September 2026

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Chapter Introduction

Magnets help us explore materials, directions, and forces like attraction and repulsion. From ancient lodestones to modern compasses, magnets play a vital role in science and daily life — and can be used for learning and fun too!

हिंदी में (Hindi)

चुम्बक हमें पदार्थों, दिशाओं और आकर्षण तथा प्रतिकर्षण जैसी शक्तियों का पता लगाने में मदद करते हैं। प्राचीन चुंबकीय पत्थरों से लेकर आधुनिक कम्पास तक, चुम्बक विज्ञान और दैनिक जीवन में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं - और इनका उपयोग सीखने और मनोरंजन के लिए भी किया जा सकता है!

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Important Points

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Practice MCQ Questions (40 questions)

Q1. What materials are attracted by a magnet?

Q2. What are the two poles of a magnet called?

Q3. What happens when two like poles of magnets are brought together?

Q4. What is a natural magnet called?

Q5. What is the region around a magnet where its force acts called?

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Tough Words (Glossary)

Coastal

Meaning: Near the sea or ocean

अर्थ: समुद्रतटीय

"Reshma lives in a coastal town."

Sailors

Meaning: People who work on a ship

अर्थ: नाविक

"The sailors used stars to find directions."

Overcast

Meaning: Covered with clouds

अर्थ: बादलों से ढका हुआ

"The sky was overcast during the storm."

Compass

Meaning: A device for finding direction

अर्थ: दिशा सूचक यंत्र

"The sailor used a compass to find direction."

Lodestone

Meaning: A naturally magnetized mineral

अर्थ: चुंबकीय पत्थर

"Ancient sailors used lodestone for navigation."

Artificial

Meaning: Made by humans, not natural

अर्थ: कृत्रिम

"Artificial magnets are used in toys."

Magnetic

Meaning: Attracted to a magnet

अर्थ: चुंबकीय

"Iron is a magnetic material."

Non-magnetic

Meaning: Not attracted to a magnet

अर्थ: अचुंबकीय

"Wood is a non-magnetic material."

Filings

Meaning: Small particles of metal

अर्थ: बुरादे

"Iron filings stick to the poles of a magnet."

Poles

Meaning: The two ends of a magnet

अर्थ: ध्रुव

"A magnet has North and South poles."

Suspend

Meaning: To hang freely

अर्थ: लटकाना

"The magnet was suspended with a thread."

Rotate

Meaning: To turn around a point

अर्थ: घूमना

"The compass needle rotates freely."

Deflection

Meaning: Change in direction

अर्थ: झुकाव

"The compass needle showed deflection."

Navigation

Meaning: The process of finding direction

अर्थ: नेविगेशन/दिशा ज्ञान

"Magnets were used for sea navigation."

Matsya-yantra

Meaning: Ancient Indian magnetic device

अर्थ: मत्स्य-यंत्र

"Sailors used matsya-yantra for direction."

Attraction

Meaning: Pulling force between objects

अर्थ: आकर्षण

"There is attraction between opposite poles."

Repulsion

Meaning: Pushing force between objects

अर्थ: विकर्षण

"Like poles show repulsion."

Transparent

Meaning: See-through

अर्थ: पारदर्शी

"The compass box has a transparent cover."

Magnetised

Meaning: Turned into a magnet

अर्थ: चुंबकित

"The iron piece was magnetised."

Effect

Meaning: A result or impact

अर्थ: प्रभाव

"Magnets have effect through materials."

Soft iron

Meaning: A type of iron used with magnets

अर्थ: मृदु लोहा

"Soft iron pieces keep magnets safe."

Store

Meaning: To keep for later use

अर्थ: संग्रह करना

"Store the magnets properly."

Hammer

Meaning: A tool for hitting

अर्थ: हथौड़ा

"Do not hammer the magnet."

Remote

Meaning: A device for controlling machines

अर्थ: रिमोट

"Do not keep magnets near remote controls."

Meaning: A thin pointed piece of metal

अर्थ: पिन

"The compass needle is fixed on a pin."

Needle

Meaning: Thin pointed part

अर्थ: सुई

"The compass needle shows north direction."

Painted

Meaning: Covered with color

अर्थ: रंगा हुआ

"The north end of the needle is painted red."

Uniformly

Meaning: In the same way everywhere

अर्थ: समान रूप से

"Iron filings did not stick uniformly."

Conclude

Meaning: To decide after thinking

अर्थ: निष्कर्ष निकालना

"We conclude that only magnets show poles."

Shape

Meaning: Form or outline

अर्थ: आकार

"Magnets can be of different shapes."

Experiment

Meaning: A test to discover something

अर्थ: प्रयोग

"We did an experiment with magnets."

Material

Meaning: Substance from which things are made

अर्थ: सामग्री/पदार्थ

"Wood is a non-magnetic material."

Suspend freely

Meaning: Hang without restriction

अर्थ: स्वतंत्र रूप से लटकाना

"A magnet was suspended freely with a thread."

Device

Meaning: A tool or instrument

अर्थ: यंत्र

"Compass is a device to find directions."

Rest

Meaning: To stop moving

अर्थ: स्थिर होना

"The compass needle came to rest."

Marked

Meaning: Indicated clearly

अर्थ: चिह्नित

"The poles were marked as N and S."

Across

Meaning: From one side to the other

अर्थ: पार

"Soft iron was placed across the poles."

Closer

Meaning: Nearer in distance

अर्थ: निकट

"The magnet was brought closer to the compass."

Rotate freely

Meaning: Turn without restriction

अर्थ: स्वतंत्र रूप से घूमना

"The needle rotates freely on the pin."

Maze

Meaning: A puzzle with many paths

अर्थ: भूलभुलैया

"We used magnets to move steel balls in a maze."

Clip

Meaning: A small device for holding things together

अर्थ: क्लिप

"A magnet picked the paper clip from water."

Speed

Meaning: To move quickly

अर्थ: तेज़ गति

"The cars speed towards each other."

Fun

Meaning: Enjoyment or play

अर्थ: मज़ा/आनंद

"We had fun with magnets at the fair."

Pairs

Meaning: Two things together

अर्थ: जोड़े

"Store magnets in pairs."

Properly

Meaning: In the right way

अर्थ: सही तरीके से

"Store magnets properly for safety."

Heat

Meaning: High temperature

अर्थ: गर्मी

"Do not heat the magnet."

Effect through

Meaning: Working across

अर्थ: माध्यम से प्रभाव

"Magnetic effect works through materials."

Laboratory

Meaning: Place for scientific experiments

अर्थ: प्रयोगशाला

"The school laboratory has magnets."

Duster

Meaning: A tool for cleaning a board

अर्थ: डस्टर

"The board duster had a magnet."

Pencil box

Meaning: A box for keeping pencils

अर्थ: पेंसिल बॉक्स

"Her pencil box had a magnet lock."

← Previous

Ch 3: Mindful Eating

Ch 5: Measurement of Length and Motion

NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Chapter 4 – Exploring Magnets

Chapter Introduction

Watch Video Lecture

Important Points

Practice MCQ Questions (40 questions)

Q1. What materials are attracted by a magnet?

Q2. What are the two poles of a magnet called?

Q3. What happens when two like poles of magnets are brought together?

Q4. What is a natural magnet called?

Q5. What is the region around a magnet where its force acts called?

Q6. Which direction does the North pole of a freely suspended magnet point?

Q7. What instrument uses the Earth's magnetic field to show direction?

Q8. What type of magnet is made by humans?

Q9. Where is the magnetic force of a magnet the strongest?

Q10. A magnet is shaped like the letter U. What is this type of magnet called?

Q11. Unlike poles of magnets attract each other. What happens to the gap between the magnets?

Q12. A compass needle always points North-South. Why is this useful?

Q13. Why does Earth behave like a giant magnet?

Q14. How can a steel needle be made into a temporary magnet?

Q15. Which of the following materials would be attracted to a magnet?

Q16. Magnetic field lines always travel from which pole to which pole outside the magnet?

Q17. Why do compasses fail to show accurate direction near large iron structures?

Q18. What does demagnetisation mean?

Q19. How were ancient sailors able to navigate using magnets?

Q20. A bar magnet is cut into two equal pieces. What happens to the poles?

Q21. Why is it said that magnetic poles always exist in pairs (North and South together)?

Q22. A student is given three iron rods and told one is a magnet. How can the student identify the magnet without using any other instrument?

Q23. How do MRI machines in hospitals use magnets?

Q24. Why do magnets lose their magnetic property when dropped repeatedly or heated?

Q25. How does knowing about the Earth's magnetic field help geologists study the planet's history?

Q26. Why is it important for a compass needle to be balanced and free to rotate?

Q27. How can you test whether a material is magnetic without using another magnet?

Q28. What is electromagnetic induction, and how does it relate to magnets?

Q29. Which of the following are properties of magnets?

Q30. Which of the following are uses of magnets in daily life?

Q31. Which of the following materials are NOT attracted to a magnet?

Q32. A sailor uses a compass to navigate at sea. If a large iron ship is nearby, how might it affect the compass reading and what should the sailor do?

Q33. Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to float above the track. What magnetic principle allows this?

Q34. If Earth's magnetic field suddenly reversed, how might it affect navigation systems?

Q35. Why is an electromagnet more useful than a permanent magnet in many industrial applications?

Q36. A student wants to store magnets. What precautions should they take?

Q37. Which of the following are correct about the Earth's magnetic field?

Q38. Which of the following correctly describe electromagnets?

Q39. Which of the following show applications of magnetism in technology?

Q40. Which of the following are true about magnetic field lines?