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Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Question Answers - Fun with Magnets

Q1: What is a magnet?
Ans: The substance having the property of attracting magnetic materials is known as a magnet.

Horseshoe magnetHorseshoe magnet

Q2: What is the use of a magnetic compass?
Ans: 
A magnetic compass is utilized for determining direction by aligning its needle with the Earth's magnetic field, allowing users to find the cardinal points of north, south, east, and west. 

Q3: Artificial magnets are made in different shapes. Give some examples.
Ans: Bar magnet, horseshoe magnet, cylindrical magnet, etc.

Q4: Magnetite contains ______.
Ans: Iron

Magnetite is a type of iron ore and it does contain iron. Magnetite has the chemical formula Fe3O4, indicating that it is composed of three parts iron (Fe) and four parts oxygen (O). It is a magnetic mineral and one of the main sources of iron for the steel industry.


Q5: What are magnetic materials?
Ans: The materials that get attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials.

Q6: What are non-magnetic materials?
Ans: Materials that are not attracted to a magnet are called non-magnetic materials.

Non-magnetic materialsNon-magnetic materials

Q7: Give two examples each of magnetic and nonmagnetic material.
Ans: 
(i) Examples of magnetic materials are iron and nickel.
(ii) Examples of nonmagnetic materials are plastic and rubber.

Q8: Cloth is a ______ material. (magnetic/non-magnetic)
Ans: Non-magnetic

Cloth is a non-magnetic material, meaning it does not have magnetic properties.


Q9: A magnet has ______ poles.
Ans: Two

A magnet has two poles, commonly known as the north pole and the south pole.


Q10: Magnet was first discovered in Greece. Is the statement true?
Ans: Yes

The phenomenon of magnetism was first discovered in ancient Greece, particularly in the region of Magnesia, where lodestone (a naturally magnetic iron ore, often magnetite) was found.


Q11: If we break a bar magnet into three parts, ______ poles will be formed.
Ans: Six

Q12: The materials that get attracted towards a magnet like iron are called ______.
Ans: Magnetic materials

The materials that get attracted towards a magnet, like iron, are called magnetic materials.


Q13: What are the two poles of a magnet?
Ans: North Pole and South Pole

North and South PolesNorth and South Poles

Q14: What is the property of a magnet that allows it to attract certain materials?

Ans: The property of a magnet that allows it to attract certain materials is magnetism.


Q15: Cobalt is a ______ material. (Magnetic/non-magnetic)
Ans: Magnetic

Q16: A cylindrical magnet has only one pole. (True/False)
Ans: False

 A cylindrical magnet, like any other magnet, has two poles - a north pole and a south pole.


Q17: Nickel is a ______ material. (magnetic/non-magnetic)
Ans: Magnetic

Q18: Can a magnet be used for finding directions?
Ans: Yes

Yes, a magnet can be used for finding directions. A magnetic compass, for example, utilizes the magnetic properties of a magnet to align itself with the Earth's magnetic field, providing a reliable method for determining directions.


Q19: Horseshoe magnet is a ______ magnet.
Ans: Artificial

A horseshoe magnet is an artificial magnet, meaning it is made by humans. It is a type of magnet with a U-shaped design, providing a strong magnetic field between its poles.


Q20: Same pole of magnet ______ each other.
Ans: Repel

Q21: All magnets have two poles, whatever their shape may be. Is the statement true?
Ans: Yes

All magnets, regardless of their shape, have two poles - a north pole and a south pole.


Q22: Bar magnet is an ______ magnet.
Ans: Artificial

Bar MagnetBar MagnetQ23: Freely suspended magnet always comes to rest in a particular direction. Which is that direction?
Ans: North-south direction

Q24: What is the basic property of magnets?

Ans: Attraction and repulsion.

Q25: Magnetite is a natural magnet. (True/False)
Ans: 
True

Magnetite is a natural magnet; it is a type of iron ore that is naturally magnetic. It contains iron oxide and exhibits strong magnetic properties.


Q26: If we break a magnet, all its pieces have two poles each. (True/False)
Ans: True

Q27: Poles of a bar magnet are located near ______.
Ans: It's two ends.

Q28: Where will the maximum iron filings stick on a bar magnet when it is brought near them?
Ans: At the ends of a bar magnet.

When a bar magnet is brought near iron filings, the maximum filings will stick to the ends (poles) of the bar magnet, where the magnetic field is strongest.

Very Short Question Answers: Fun with Magnets

Q29: Write any one property of the magnet.
Ans: Like magnetic poles repel each other and unlike magnetic poles attract each other.

One property of magnets is that like magnetic poles repel each other, and unlike magnetic poles attract each other.


Q30: An electromagnet is used in the crane. (True/False)
Ans: True

Q31: Opposite poles of a magnet ______ each other.
Ans: Attract

The document Very Short Question Answers: Fun with Magnets is a part of the UPSC Course NCERT Summary: UPSC.
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FAQs on Very Short Question Answers: Fun with Magnets

1. How do magnetic poles work and why do opposite poles attract each other?
Ans. Opposite magnetic poles attract because magnetic field lines flow from the north pole to the south pole, creating a force that pulls unlike poles together. Similar poles repel each other since their magnetic fields push outward in the same direction. This fundamental principle of magnetism explains how magnets interact without touching, and understanding pole behaviour helps students grasp magnetic force concepts essential for UPSC preparation.
2. What's the difference between temporary and permanent magnets in everyday life?
Ans. Permanent magnets retain their magnetic properties indefinitely due to aligned atomic electrons, while temporary magnets lose magnetism once the external magnetic field is removed. Iron becomes a temporary magnet when placed near a strong magnet, but electromagnets exemplify controllable temporary magnetism. This distinction helps explain why refrigerator magnets work permanently but iron filings only cluster temporarily around active magnetic fields.
3. Can I turn any metal into a magnet, or only iron?
Ans. Only ferromagnetic materials like iron, cobalt, and nickel can become strong magnets because their atomic structure allows electron spins to align easily. Aluminium and copper are non-magnetic despite being metals, as their electrons resist alignment. Understanding ferromagnetism helps students identify which materials respond to magnetic force and why certain metals are chosen for magnet production in real-world applications.
4. Why does heating a magnet make it weaker, and can it recover its strength?
Ans. Heat disrupts the aligned atomic structure of magnets by increasing molecular vibrations, causing electrons to lose their organised orientation and magnetic strength to diminish. Once cooled, a heated magnet typically cannot fully recover its original strength because permanent atomic rearrangement occurs. This thermal effect demonstrates why magnets shouldn't be exposed to high temperatures and illustrates the relationship between molecular motion and magnetism.
5. How do magnetic field lines help explain magnet behaviour and invisible forces?
Ans. Magnetic field lines are invisible paths showing the direction and strength of magnetic force around a magnet, flowing from north to south poles. Denser field lines indicate stronger magnetic force, while spacing reveals weaker regions. Visualising field patterns using iron filings helps students understand how magnets exert invisible forces, making abstract magnetic concepts concrete and essential for mastering magnetism fundamentals in exams.
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