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NCERT Solutions · Class 6 Science · Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets (Physics)

Answers to all "Let us enhance our learning" questions of Chapter 4, Exploring Magnets (NCERT Class 6 Science, Curiosity, 2026-27): magnetic and non-magnetic materials, poles of a magnet, attraction and repulsion, the magnetic compass, and finding the poles of a magnet, with a diagram. All 11 questions are answered, with the key answer highlighted.

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Fill in the blanks: (i) Unlike poles of two magnets ___ each other, whereas like poles ___ each other. (ii) The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called ___. (iii) The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the ___ direction. (iv) A magnet always has ___ poles.

Solution

(i) attract; repel (ii) magnetic materials (iii) north–south (iv) two

(i) attract, repel (ii) magnetic (iii) north–south (iv) two

State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F). (i) A magnet can be broken into pieces to obtain a single pole. (ii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other. (iii) Iron filings mostly stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them. (iv) A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the north-south direction.

Solution

(i) F: every piece of a broken magnet becomes a complete magnet with two poles, N and S.

(ii) T

(iii) F: iron filings stick mostly at the ends (poles), where the magnet is strongest; very few stick in the middle.

(iv) T

(i) F (ii) T (iii) F (iv) T

Fill in the blanks in the table showing which pole is placed near which, and the result: N–N: ___; N–___: Attraction; S–N: ___; ___–S: Repulsion.

Solution

Column I	Column II
N – N	Repulsion
N – S	Attraction
S – N	Attraction
S – S	Repulsion

N–N: repulsion; N–S: attraction; S–N: attraction; S–S: repulsion.

Atharv rolled a bar magnet over a heap of steel U-clips. Which option in Table 4.3 (number of pins attracted at positions A, B and C, i.e. the two ends and the middle) is likely to be his observation? (i) 10, 2, 10 (ii) 10, 10, 2 (iii) 2, 10, 10 (iv) 10, 10, 10

Solution

(i): A = 10, B = 2, C = 10. A and C are the two ends (poles) of the magnet, where its attraction is strongest, so most clips stick there; B is the middle, where very few clips stick.

(i) 10, 2, 10: most clips at the poles (ends), fewest in the middle.

Reshma bought three identical metal bars. Two were magnets and one was just a piece of iron. How will she identify which two could be magnets (without using any other material)?

Solution

She should bring the bars near each other, two at a time, and look for repulsion:

Two magnets will repel each other when like poles face each other (turn one bar around to check both ways).
A magnet and an iron bar will always attract, whichever ends are brought together; they never repel.

So the two bars that repel each other in some position are the magnets, and the third bar is the iron piece. (Repulsion is the sure test of a magnet.)

The two bars that repel each other (in some position) are the magnets; iron never repels, it is only attracted.

You are given a magnet which does not have its poles marked. How can you find its poles with the help of another magnet which has its poles marked?

Solution

Bring the marked N pole of the known magnet near one end of the unmarked magnet:

If that end is repelled, it is also a North pole (like poles repel).
If it is attracted, check whether the other end is repelled; the end that is repelled by the N pole is North, and the other end is South.

(Use repulsion to decide, because attraction can also happen with a piece of iron.)

Bring the known N pole near an end: the end that is repelled is the North pole; the other end is the South pole.

A bar magnet has no markings to indicate its poles. How would you find out near which end its North pole is located without using another magnet?

Solution

Suspend it freely: tie a thread around the middle of the magnet and hang it from a stand, away from iron objects (or float it on a piece of cork in a bowl of water). When it comes to rest, it points in the north–south direction. The end pointing towards the geographic north is its North pole. (Find the north direction using the Sun: at sunrise, if you face the Sun (east), north is on your left.)

Hang it freely by a thread (or float it); when it comes to rest, the end that points north is its North pole.

If the earth is itself a magnet, can you guess the poles of earth's magnet by looking at the direction of the magnetic compass?

Solution

Yes. The north pole of the compass needle points towards the geographic north. Since unlike poles attract, there must be a magnetic South pole of the earth's magnet near the geographic North, and a magnetic North pole near the geographic South.

The compass N pole points north, so the earth's magnetic South pole is near the geographic North (and its magnetic North pole near the geographic South).

While a mechanic was repairing a gadget using a screwdriver, the steel screws kept falling down. Suggest a way to solve the problem on the basis of what you have learnt in this chapter.

Solution

Magnetise the tip of the screwdriver. Rub the steel tip of the screwdriver with one pole of a strong bar magnet, many times, always in the same direction (from the handle end to the tip, lifting the magnet away each time). The screwdriver tip becomes a weak magnet and holds the steel screws, so they do not fall. (Or simply stick a small magnet near the tip.)

Make the screwdriver tip a magnet by rubbing it repeatedly in one direction with a magnet; it will then hold the steel screws.

Two ring magnets X and Y are arranged on a stand. Magnet X does not move down further. What could be the possible reason? Suggest a way to bring magnet X in contact with magnet Y, without pushing either of the magnets.

Solution

Reason: the faces of X and Y that are facing each other are like poles (N facing N, or S facing S), so they repel each other. The repulsion holds X up in the air.

Solution: take X off the stand, turn it upside down (flip it) and put it back. Now unlike poles face each other, they attract, and X comes down and sticks to Y.

Like poles of X and Y face each other and repel; flip magnet X over so unlike poles face each other, and they will attract and touch.

Three magnets are arranged on a table as shown in Fig. 4.17. What is the polarity, N or S, at the ends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the magnets? The polarity of end 5 (N) is given.

Solution

The three magnets stick to each other end to end, so at each joint the touching ends must be opposite poles (unlike poles attract). Each magnet also has one N and one S end.

End 5 is N, so end 6 (the other end of the same magnet) is S.
End 4 touches end 5 (N), so end 4 is S; then end 3 is N.
End 2 touches end 3 (N), so end 2 is S; then end 1 is N.

Touching ends attract, so they are opposite poles: 1 N, 2 S, 3 N, 4 S, 5 N (given), 6 S

1: N, 2: S, 3: N, 4: S, 6: S

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