Selina Textbook Solutions: Magnetism | Physics Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


? Synposis 
? The first natural magnet was discovered in Magnesia, a town in Greece. It was 
called the lodestone. 
? Artificial magnets are made of iron or steel. They are made of different shapes 
namely the bar magnet, cylinderical magnet, U-shaped magnet, horse-shoe 
magnet, magnetic needle and compass. 
? The materials which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. 
Examples: iron, steel, cobalt. 
? The materials which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic 
materials. Examples: paper, wood, brass, plastic, copper aluminium, etc. 
? A magnet has two poles, a north and a south pole. 
? A magnet has the following properties: 
1. A magnet attracts the small pieces of iron. 
2. A magnet always rests in the north-south direction, if it is free to swing. 
3. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. 
4. Poles always exist in pairs, cannot be isolated. 
? Magnets are used to separate iron and steel from their mixture with non-magnetic 
substances. – 
? Magnets are used in many electrical appliances such as electric . bell, loud-
speaker, etc. 
? A magnetic compass is used by sailors and navigators to find the north-south 
direction. 
? Magnetic induction is the process in which a piece of iron temporarily behaves like 
a magnet in the presence of another magnet. 
? When a magnet is placed near an iron piece, the iron piece behaves like a 
magnet. The end of the iron piece near the north pole of the magnet becomes a 
south pole while the farther end becomes a north pole. 
? It is because of magnetic induction that a magnet attracts a piece of iron. 
? An iron piece can be made into a magnet by any of the following methods: 
1. Magnetic induction 
2. Single touch method 
3. Double touch method 
4. Electrical method 
? In the single touch methqd, we need a single magnet, but in the double touch 
method we need two magnets, hi these methods, the end touched last by the 
magnet has the polarity opposite to that of the striking pole. 
? Powerful magnets are made by the electrical method. 
? Electromagnets or temporary magnets are made of soft iron. 
? Permanent magnets are made of steel. 
? Electromagnets are used in devices like electric bell, magnetic toys, telephone etc. 
? Permanent magnets are used in devices like galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter 
etc. 
Page 2


? Synposis 
? The first natural magnet was discovered in Magnesia, a town in Greece. It was 
called the lodestone. 
? Artificial magnets are made of iron or steel. They are made of different shapes 
namely the bar magnet, cylinderical magnet, U-shaped magnet, horse-shoe 
magnet, magnetic needle and compass. 
? The materials which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. 
Examples: iron, steel, cobalt. 
? The materials which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic 
materials. Examples: paper, wood, brass, plastic, copper aluminium, etc. 
? A magnet has two poles, a north and a south pole. 
? A magnet has the following properties: 
1. A magnet attracts the small pieces of iron. 
2. A magnet always rests in the north-south direction, if it is free to swing. 
3. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. 
4. Poles always exist in pairs, cannot be isolated. 
? Magnets are used to separate iron and steel from their mixture with non-magnetic 
substances. – 
? Magnets are used in many electrical appliances such as electric . bell, loud-
speaker, etc. 
? A magnetic compass is used by sailors and navigators to find the north-south 
direction. 
? Magnetic induction is the process in which a piece of iron temporarily behaves like 
a magnet in the presence of another magnet. 
? When a magnet is placed near an iron piece, the iron piece behaves like a 
magnet. The end of the iron piece near the north pole of the magnet becomes a 
south pole while the farther end becomes a north pole. 
? It is because of magnetic induction that a magnet attracts a piece of iron. 
? An iron piece can be made into a magnet by any of the following methods: 
1. Magnetic induction 
2. Single touch method 
3. Double touch method 
4. Electrical method 
? In the single touch methqd, we need a single magnet, but in the double touch 
method we need two magnets, hi these methods, the end touched last by the 
magnet has the polarity opposite to that of the striking pole. 
? Powerful magnets are made by the electrical method. 
? Electromagnets or temporary magnets are made of soft iron. 
? Permanent magnets are made of steel. 
? Electromagnets are used in devices like electric bell, magnetic toys, telephone etc. 
? Permanent magnets are used in devices like galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter 
etc. 
? A magnet can be destroyed by rough handling, by dropping it several tunes, by 
hammering it repeatedly and by heating it. 
? The magnetic field around a magnet is the space in which a magnetic substance 
such as small iron piece experiences a force of attraction. 
? The earth itself behaves like a magnet. It has its own magnetic field. 
? The south polarity of the earth is near the geographic north pole and the north 
polarity of the earth is near the geographic south pole. 
? Magnetic keepers are used to store the magnets. 
? Magnetic keepers are small pieces of soft iron. 
ACTIVITY 1 
? Magnetic objects 
Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Nickel 
Non-magnetic objects 
Wood, Stone Plastic, Rubber Copper, Sand, Gold, Silver, Brass Paper, 
Aluminium 
? Test yourself 
? A. Objective Questions 
? 1. Write true or false for each statement. 
? (a) Artificial magnets are weaker than the natural magnets. 
Answer. False 
Artificial magnets are stronger than the natural magnets. 
? (b) Poles of a magnet cannot be separated. 
Answer. True 
(c) A magnet can attract only a magnetic substance. 
Answer. True 
(d) A magnet has no effect when it is heated to a high tem-perature. 
Answer. False. 
A magnet get demagnetised when it is heated to a very high temperature. 
(e) Permanent magnets get easily demagnetised. 
Answer. False. 
Permanent magnets cannot be demagnetised. 
(f) Magnetic poles occur in pairs. 
Answer. True 
(g) Single touch method is better than the electrical method for making a magnet. 
Answer. False. 
Electrical method is better than single touch method. 
Page 3


? Synposis 
? The first natural magnet was discovered in Magnesia, a town in Greece. It was 
called the lodestone. 
? Artificial magnets are made of iron or steel. They are made of different shapes 
namely the bar magnet, cylinderical magnet, U-shaped magnet, horse-shoe 
magnet, magnetic needle and compass. 
? The materials which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. 
Examples: iron, steel, cobalt. 
? The materials which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic 
materials. Examples: paper, wood, brass, plastic, copper aluminium, etc. 
? A magnet has two poles, a north and a south pole. 
? A magnet has the following properties: 
1. A magnet attracts the small pieces of iron. 
2. A magnet always rests in the north-south direction, if it is free to swing. 
3. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. 
4. Poles always exist in pairs, cannot be isolated. 
? Magnets are used to separate iron and steel from their mixture with non-magnetic 
substances. – 
? Magnets are used in many electrical appliances such as electric . bell, loud-
speaker, etc. 
? A magnetic compass is used by sailors and navigators to find the north-south 
direction. 
? Magnetic induction is the process in which a piece of iron temporarily behaves like 
a magnet in the presence of another magnet. 
? When a magnet is placed near an iron piece, the iron piece behaves like a 
magnet. The end of the iron piece near the north pole of the magnet becomes a 
south pole while the farther end becomes a north pole. 
? It is because of magnetic induction that a magnet attracts a piece of iron. 
? An iron piece can be made into a magnet by any of the following methods: 
1. Magnetic induction 
2. Single touch method 
3. Double touch method 
4. Electrical method 
? In the single touch methqd, we need a single magnet, but in the double touch 
method we need two magnets, hi these methods, the end touched last by the 
magnet has the polarity opposite to that of the striking pole. 
? Powerful magnets are made by the electrical method. 
? Electromagnets or temporary magnets are made of soft iron. 
? Permanent magnets are made of steel. 
? Electromagnets are used in devices like electric bell, magnetic toys, telephone etc. 
? Permanent magnets are used in devices like galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter 
etc. 
? A magnet can be destroyed by rough handling, by dropping it several tunes, by 
hammering it repeatedly and by heating it. 
? The magnetic field around a magnet is the space in which a magnetic substance 
such as small iron piece experiences a force of attraction. 
? The earth itself behaves like a magnet. It has its own magnetic field. 
? The south polarity of the earth is near the geographic north pole and the north 
polarity of the earth is near the geographic south pole. 
? Magnetic keepers are used to store the magnets. 
? Magnetic keepers are small pieces of soft iron. 
ACTIVITY 1 
? Magnetic objects 
Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Nickel 
Non-magnetic objects 
Wood, Stone Plastic, Rubber Copper, Sand, Gold, Silver, Brass Paper, 
Aluminium 
? Test yourself 
? A. Objective Questions 
? 1. Write true or false for each statement. 
? (a) Artificial magnets are weaker than the natural magnets. 
Answer. False 
Artificial magnets are stronger than the natural magnets. 
? (b) Poles of a magnet cannot be separated. 
Answer. True 
(c) A magnet can attract only a magnetic substance. 
Answer. True 
(d) A magnet has no effect when it is heated to a high tem-perature. 
Answer. False. 
A magnet get demagnetised when it is heated to a very high temperature. 
(e) Permanent magnets get easily demagnetised. 
Answer. False. 
Permanent magnets cannot be demagnetised. 
(f) Magnetic poles occur in pairs. 
Answer. True 
(g) Single touch method is better than the electrical method for making a magnet. 
Answer. False. 
Electrical method is better than single touch method. 
(h) Magnetic keeper is a wooden piece. 
Answer. False. 
Magnetic keepers are the pieces of soft iron. 
(i) Copper cannot be magnetised. 
Answer. True 
2. Fill in the blanks 
(a) Temporary magnets are usually made up of soft iron. 
(b) Rough handling destroys the magnetic properties of a magnet. 
(c) Like poles repel each other. 
(d) A freely suspended magnet points in the north-south direction. 
(e) In a magnet, ends have the maximum attractive property. 
(f) A magnet has two poles. 
3. Match the following 
 
4. Select the correct answer 
(a) If we suspend a magnet freely, it will settle in . 
1. east-west direction 
2. north-south direction 
3. north-east direction 
4. east-south direction 
(b) Making a magnetic substance a magnet by bringing it closer to another magnet 
without touching it, is 
Page 4


? Synposis 
? The first natural magnet was discovered in Magnesia, a town in Greece. It was 
called the lodestone. 
? Artificial magnets are made of iron or steel. They are made of different shapes 
namely the bar magnet, cylinderical magnet, U-shaped magnet, horse-shoe 
magnet, magnetic needle and compass. 
? The materials which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. 
Examples: iron, steel, cobalt. 
? The materials which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic 
materials. Examples: paper, wood, brass, plastic, copper aluminium, etc. 
? A magnet has two poles, a north and a south pole. 
? A magnet has the following properties: 
1. A magnet attracts the small pieces of iron. 
2. A magnet always rests in the north-south direction, if it is free to swing. 
3. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. 
4. Poles always exist in pairs, cannot be isolated. 
? Magnets are used to separate iron and steel from their mixture with non-magnetic 
substances. – 
? Magnets are used in many electrical appliances such as electric . bell, loud-
speaker, etc. 
? A magnetic compass is used by sailors and navigators to find the north-south 
direction. 
? Magnetic induction is the process in which a piece of iron temporarily behaves like 
a magnet in the presence of another magnet. 
? When a magnet is placed near an iron piece, the iron piece behaves like a 
magnet. The end of the iron piece near the north pole of the magnet becomes a 
south pole while the farther end becomes a north pole. 
? It is because of magnetic induction that a magnet attracts a piece of iron. 
? An iron piece can be made into a magnet by any of the following methods: 
1. Magnetic induction 
2. Single touch method 
3. Double touch method 
4. Electrical method 
? In the single touch methqd, we need a single magnet, but in the double touch 
method we need two magnets, hi these methods, the end touched last by the 
magnet has the polarity opposite to that of the striking pole. 
? Powerful magnets are made by the electrical method. 
? Electromagnets or temporary magnets are made of soft iron. 
? Permanent magnets are made of steel. 
? Electromagnets are used in devices like electric bell, magnetic toys, telephone etc. 
? Permanent magnets are used in devices like galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter 
etc. 
? A magnet can be destroyed by rough handling, by dropping it several tunes, by 
hammering it repeatedly and by heating it. 
? The magnetic field around a magnet is the space in which a magnetic substance 
such as small iron piece experiences a force of attraction. 
? The earth itself behaves like a magnet. It has its own magnetic field. 
? The south polarity of the earth is near the geographic north pole and the north 
polarity of the earth is near the geographic south pole. 
? Magnetic keepers are used to store the magnets. 
? Magnetic keepers are small pieces of soft iron. 
ACTIVITY 1 
? Magnetic objects 
Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Nickel 
Non-magnetic objects 
Wood, Stone Plastic, Rubber Copper, Sand, Gold, Silver, Brass Paper, 
Aluminium 
? Test yourself 
? A. Objective Questions 
? 1. Write true or false for each statement. 
? (a) Artificial magnets are weaker than the natural magnets. 
Answer. False 
Artificial magnets are stronger than the natural magnets. 
? (b) Poles of a magnet cannot be separated. 
Answer. True 
(c) A magnet can attract only a magnetic substance. 
Answer. True 
(d) A magnet has no effect when it is heated to a high tem-perature. 
Answer. False. 
A magnet get demagnetised when it is heated to a very high temperature. 
(e) Permanent magnets get easily demagnetised. 
Answer. False. 
Permanent magnets cannot be demagnetised. 
(f) Magnetic poles occur in pairs. 
Answer. True 
(g) Single touch method is better than the electrical method for making a magnet. 
Answer. False. 
Electrical method is better than single touch method. 
(h) Magnetic keeper is a wooden piece. 
Answer. False. 
Magnetic keepers are the pieces of soft iron. 
(i) Copper cannot be magnetised. 
Answer. True 
2. Fill in the blanks 
(a) Temporary magnets are usually made up of soft iron. 
(b) Rough handling destroys the magnetic properties of a magnet. 
(c) Like poles repel each other. 
(d) A freely suspended magnet points in the north-south direction. 
(e) In a magnet, ends have the maximum attractive property. 
(f) A magnet has two poles. 
3. Match the following 
 
4. Select the correct answer 
(a) If we suspend a magnet freely, it will settle in . 
1. east-west direction 
2. north-south direction 
3. north-east direction 
4. east-south direction 
(b) Making a magnetic substance a magnet by bringing it closer to another magnet 
without touching it, is 
1. magnetic induction method 
2. single touch method 
3. double touch method 
4. electrical method 
(c) An example of natural magnet is 
1. iron 
2. steel 
3. lodestone 
4. none of above 
(d) The artificial magnet used to detect direction in the laboratory is 
1. U-shaped magnet 
2. horse shoe magnet 
3. electromagnet 
4. magnetic compass 
B. Short/Long Answer Questions 
 
Question 1. 
What is a magnet ? 
Answer: 
The substances which have the property of attracting iron, are called magnets. 
Question 2. 
What are magnetic and non-magnetic substances ? Give two examples of each. 
Answer: 
Magnetic substances: The substances that get attracted by a magnet are called 
magnetic substances. Iron, steel, cobalt and nickel are magnetic substance 
Non-magnetic substances : The substances that do not get attracted by a magnet are 
called non-magnetic substances, e.g., wood, plastic, copper, paper, aluminum, rubber, 
stone. 
Question 3. 
What are natural and artificial -magnets ? 
Answer: 
Natural magnets: Natural magnets are those which are found in nature e.g. load stone. 
Artificial magnets: Man made magnets are called artificial magnets, e.g. 
electromagnet. 
Page 5


? Synposis 
? The first natural magnet was discovered in Magnesia, a town in Greece. It was 
called the lodestone. 
? Artificial magnets are made of iron or steel. They are made of different shapes 
namely the bar magnet, cylinderical magnet, U-shaped magnet, horse-shoe 
magnet, magnetic needle and compass. 
? The materials which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic materials. 
Examples: iron, steel, cobalt. 
? The materials which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic 
materials. Examples: paper, wood, brass, plastic, copper aluminium, etc. 
? A magnet has two poles, a north and a south pole. 
? A magnet has the following properties: 
1. A magnet attracts the small pieces of iron. 
2. A magnet always rests in the north-south direction, if it is free to swing. 
3. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. 
4. Poles always exist in pairs, cannot be isolated. 
? Magnets are used to separate iron and steel from their mixture with non-magnetic 
substances. – 
? Magnets are used in many electrical appliances such as electric . bell, loud-
speaker, etc. 
? A magnetic compass is used by sailors and navigators to find the north-south 
direction. 
? Magnetic induction is the process in which a piece of iron temporarily behaves like 
a magnet in the presence of another magnet. 
? When a magnet is placed near an iron piece, the iron piece behaves like a 
magnet. The end of the iron piece near the north pole of the magnet becomes a 
south pole while the farther end becomes a north pole. 
? It is because of magnetic induction that a magnet attracts a piece of iron. 
? An iron piece can be made into a magnet by any of the following methods: 
1. Magnetic induction 
2. Single touch method 
3. Double touch method 
4. Electrical method 
? In the single touch methqd, we need a single magnet, but in the double touch 
method we need two magnets, hi these methods, the end touched last by the 
magnet has the polarity opposite to that of the striking pole. 
? Powerful magnets are made by the electrical method. 
? Electromagnets or temporary magnets are made of soft iron. 
? Permanent magnets are made of steel. 
? Electromagnets are used in devices like electric bell, magnetic toys, telephone etc. 
? Permanent magnets are used in devices like galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter 
etc. 
? A magnet can be destroyed by rough handling, by dropping it several tunes, by 
hammering it repeatedly and by heating it. 
? The magnetic field around a magnet is the space in which a magnetic substance 
such as small iron piece experiences a force of attraction. 
? The earth itself behaves like a magnet. It has its own magnetic field. 
? The south polarity of the earth is near the geographic north pole and the north 
polarity of the earth is near the geographic south pole. 
? Magnetic keepers are used to store the magnets. 
? Magnetic keepers are small pieces of soft iron. 
ACTIVITY 1 
? Magnetic objects 
Iron, Steel, Cobalt, Nickel 
Non-magnetic objects 
Wood, Stone Plastic, Rubber Copper, Sand, Gold, Silver, Brass Paper, 
Aluminium 
? Test yourself 
? A. Objective Questions 
? 1. Write true or false for each statement. 
? (a) Artificial magnets are weaker than the natural magnets. 
Answer. False 
Artificial magnets are stronger than the natural magnets. 
? (b) Poles of a magnet cannot be separated. 
Answer. True 
(c) A magnet can attract only a magnetic substance. 
Answer. True 
(d) A magnet has no effect when it is heated to a high tem-perature. 
Answer. False. 
A magnet get demagnetised when it is heated to a very high temperature. 
(e) Permanent magnets get easily demagnetised. 
Answer. False. 
Permanent magnets cannot be demagnetised. 
(f) Magnetic poles occur in pairs. 
Answer. True 
(g) Single touch method is better than the electrical method for making a magnet. 
Answer. False. 
Electrical method is better than single touch method. 
(h) Magnetic keeper is a wooden piece. 
Answer. False. 
Magnetic keepers are the pieces of soft iron. 
(i) Copper cannot be magnetised. 
Answer. True 
2. Fill in the blanks 
(a) Temporary magnets are usually made up of soft iron. 
(b) Rough handling destroys the magnetic properties of a magnet. 
(c) Like poles repel each other. 
(d) A freely suspended magnet points in the north-south direction. 
(e) In a magnet, ends have the maximum attractive property. 
(f) A magnet has two poles. 
3. Match the following 
 
4. Select the correct answer 
(a) If we suspend a magnet freely, it will settle in . 
1. east-west direction 
2. north-south direction 
3. north-east direction 
4. east-south direction 
(b) Making a magnetic substance a magnet by bringing it closer to another magnet 
without touching it, is 
1. magnetic induction method 
2. single touch method 
3. double touch method 
4. electrical method 
(c) An example of natural magnet is 
1. iron 
2. steel 
3. lodestone 
4. none of above 
(d) The artificial magnet used to detect direction in the laboratory is 
1. U-shaped magnet 
2. horse shoe magnet 
3. electromagnet 
4. magnetic compass 
B. Short/Long Answer Questions 
 
Question 1. 
What is a magnet ? 
Answer: 
The substances which have the property of attracting iron, are called magnets. 
Question 2. 
What are magnetic and non-magnetic substances ? Give two examples of each. 
Answer: 
Magnetic substances: The substances that get attracted by a magnet are called 
magnetic substances. Iron, steel, cobalt and nickel are magnetic substance 
Non-magnetic substances : The substances that do not get attracted by a magnet are 
called non-magnetic substances, e.g., wood, plastic, copper, paper, aluminum, rubber, 
stone. 
Question 3. 
What are natural and artificial -magnets ? 
Answer: 
Natural magnets: Natural magnets are those which are found in nature e.g. load stone. 
Artificial magnets: Man made magnets are called artificial magnets, e.g. 
electromagnet. 
Question 4. 
How is an artificial magnet prepared from a natural magnet ? 
Answer: 
Pieces of iron or other materials are made magnets by rubbing them with natural 
magnets (or by passing direct current through a wire wound around them). This is how 
artificial magnets are made. 
Question 5. 
State two ways of magnetising an iron piece. 
Answer: 
The two ways of magnetising an iron piece are: 
1. Magnetic induction method. 
Take a long iron nail and test it for magnetic properties by bringing near the 
magnetic substances. You will see nail does not attract the magnetic substances. 
Now bring near a pole of a bar magnet to the head of the nail. Now bring the iron 
paper clips near the pointed end of the nail, you will observe that the iron paper 
clips now get attracted towards the nail. This is because iron nail has become 
magnet. Now take the bar magnet away form the iron nail, paper clips fall off. This 
magnetism is temporary. 
 
2. Single touch method: Take a demagnetised piece of iron. Place it on a table 
surface. Take a magnet and select its one pole. Now mb it with the selected pole 
on the iron in one direction for several times. After sometime, the iron piece turns