--- title: "NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets" url: https://www.swavid.com/science/class/6/chapter/exploring-magnets/ncert-solutions dateModified: 2026-10-07T16:00:41+00:00 --- # NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets This chapter's questions cover concepts related to magnetic and non-magnetic materials, poles of a magnet, directions, attraction, and repulsion between magnets. Free PDF (6 pages): https://www.swavid.com/api/seo/pdf/ncert/science/class-6/swavid-ncert-solutions-class-6-science-chapter-4-exploring-magnets-35f58f1fba.pdf ## Let us enhance our learning ### Question 1 *1 mark · Fill in the blank* 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. **Part (i)** 1. Unlike poles of magnets attract each other and like poles repel each other. Answer (i): attract, repel **Part (ii)** 1. Materials attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials. Answer (ii): magnetic materials **Part (iii)** 1. A freely suspended magnetic compass needle always comes to rest along the north-south direction. Answer (iii): north-south **Part (iv)** 1. A magnet always has two poles, namely the North pole and the South pole. Answer (iv): two **Answer:** Fill in the blanks with appropriate terms related to magnets. > Common mistake: Confusing like and unlike poles. ### Question 2 *1 mark · True or false* 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. [ ] **Part (i)** 1. Poles always exist in pairs and cannot be isolated by breaking a magnet. Answer (i): False **Part (ii)** 1. Like poles repel each other as per the fundamental properties of magnets. Answer (ii): True **Part (iii)** 1. Iron filings mostly stick near the ends (poles) of a bar magnet, not in the middle. Answer (iii): False **Part (iv)** 1. A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns with the earth's north-south direction. Answer (iv): True **Answer:** State True or False for the given statements. > Common mistake: Thinking iron filings stick uniformly or mostly in the middle. ### Question 3 *3 marks · Short answer* Column I shows different positions in which one pole of a magnet is placed near that of the other. Column II indicates the resulting interaction between them for different situations. Fill in the blanks. **Solution** 1. For N - N (like poles), the interaction is Repulsion. 2. For N - S (unlike poles), the interaction is Attraction. 3. For S - N (unlike poles), the interaction is Attraction. 4. For S - S (like poles), the interaction is Repulsion. **Answer:** Completed table showing N-N (Repulsion), N-S (Attraction), S-N (Attraction), S-S (Repulsion). > Common mistake: Mixing up the interaction results for like and unlike poles. ### Question 4 *1 mark · MCQ* Atharv performed an experiment in which he took a bar magnet and rolled it over a heap of steel U-clips (Fig. 4.15). According to you, which of the options given in Table 4.3 is likely to be his observation? - Position A: 10, Position B: 2, Position C: 10 - Position A: 10, Position B: 10, Position C: 2 - Position A: 2, Position B: 10, Position C: 10 - Position A: 10, Position B: 10, Position C: 10 **Solution** 1. Maximum iron filings or U-clips stick near the two ends (poles A and C) of a bar magnet. 2. Very few clips stick in the middle (position B). Thus, position A has 10, position B has 2, and position C has 10. **Answer:** (i) Position A: 10, Position B: 2, Position C: 10 > Common mistake: Assuming uniform attraction all along the length of the bar magnet. ### Question 5 *3 marks · Short answer* Reshma bought three identical metal bars from the market. Out of these bars, two were magnets and one was just a piece of iron. How will she identify which two amongst the three could be magnets (without using any other material)? **Solution** 1. Take any two bars and bring their ends close to each other to check for attraction or repulsion. 2. If they show repulsion in any orientation, both are magnets since repulsion is a sure test for magnetism. 3. If they only show attraction with each other and one behaves neutrally with others, identify the non-magnet iron bar and the other two as magnets. **Answer:** Use the property of repulsion between two magnets to identify them from the iron bar. > Common mistake: Relying only on attraction, which can also happen between a magnet and a piece of iron. ### Question 6 *3 marks · Short answer* You are given a magnet which does not have the poles marked. How can you find its poles with the help of another magnet which has its poles marked? **Solution** 1. Take the marked magnet and bring its known North pole near one end of the unmarked magnet. 2. If it repels that end, then that end of the unmarked magnet is a North pole. 3. If it attracts, bring the known South pole to confirm the opposite polarity. **Answer:** Bring the known North pole of a marked magnet near the ends of the unmarked magnet and observe repulsion. > Common mistake: Using attraction to identify poles, whereas only repulsion is a sure test. ### Question 7 *3 marks · Short answer* 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** 1. Tie a thread to the middle of the bar magnet and suspend it freely from a support so that it can rotate without any hindrance. 2. Gently rotate the magnet and wait for it to come to rest along the north-south direction. 3. The end of the bar magnet that points towards the North direction is the North pole of the magnet. **Answer:** Suspend the bar magnet freely with a thread; the end pointing towards the north direction is its North pole. > Common mistake: Trying to identify poles using a piece of metal or iron bar, which is attracted equally by both ends. ### Question 8 *3 marks · Short answer* 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** 1. A freely suspended magnet or a magnetic compass needle aligns in the north-south direction because the Earth behaves like a giant magnet. 2. The end of the compass needle pointing towards the north points towards the magnetic South pole of the Earth, which is located near the geographic North pole. 3. Therefore, the Earth's magnetic South pole lies near its geographic North pole, and the Earth's magnetic North pole lies near its geographic South pole. **Answer:** Yes, the north-seeking end of a compass points towards the magnetic South pole of the Earth located near the geographic North pole. > Common mistake: Assuming the magnetic North pole of the Earth is near the geographic North pole. ### Question 9 *3 marks · Short answer* While a mechanic was repairing a gadget using a screw driver, the steel screws kept falling down. Suggest a way to solve the problem of the mechanic on the basis of what you have learnt in this chapter. **Solution** 1. Steel screws are magnetic materials and tend to fall due to gravity when handling them with a non-magnetised screwdriver. 2. The mechanic can rub a permanent bar magnet along the length of the screwdriver shaft repeatedly in one direction to magnetise it. 3. Alternatively, the mechanic can use a screwdriver that has a magnetic tip to hold the steel screws securely in place. **Answer:** The mechanic can magnetise the screwdriver by rubbing it with a bar magnet or use a screwdriver with a magnetic tip so that the steel screws stick to it. > Common mistake: Suggesting gluing or tying the screws instead of using magnetic attraction. ### Question 10 *3 marks · Short answer* Two ring magnets X and Y are arranged as shown in Fig. 4.16. It is observed that the magnet X does not move down further. What could be the possible reason? Suggest a way to bring the magnet X in contact with magnet Y, without pushing either of the magnets. **Solution** 1. The reason magnet X does not move down further is that like poles of the two ring magnets are facing each other, causing a strong magnetic repulsion that balances the weight of magnet X. 2. To bring magnet X in contact with magnet Y without pushing either magnet, we can heat, drop, or hammer magnet X or Y to destroy its magnetism. 3. Alternatively, we can place a strong bar magnet near them or invert one of the ring magnets by hand after removing it. **Answer:** Like poles facing each other cause repulsion preventing contact; we can bring them in contact by removing the magnets, flipping one over, and placing it back. > Common mistake: Forgetting that like poles repel and assuming it is due to friction alone. ### Question 11 *3 marks · Short answer* Three magnets are arranged on a table in the form of the shape shown in Fig. 4.17. What is the polarity, N or S, at the ends 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the magnets? Polarity of one end (5) is given for you. **Solution** 1. We are given that end 5 is North (N), so the opposite end of that same bar magnet (end 6) must be South (S). 2. Since unlike poles attract, end 4 which is facing end 5 must be South (S), making its opposite end 3 equal to North (N). 3. Similarly, end 2 facing end 3 must be South (S), making end 1 equal to North (N). **Answer:** The polarities are: End 1 = N, End 2 = S, End 3 = N, End 4 = S, and End 6 = S. > Common mistake: Mixing up the rule that unlike poles attract when assigning polarities to facing ends. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many questions are there in the NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets? There are 11 questions in the Let us enhance our learning section of this chapter. SwaVid provides complete step-by-step solutions for all these questions on this page. ### What topics do the exercise questions cover in the new NCERT book for Class 6 Science Chapter 4? The questions cover important concepts such as the distribution of magnetic strength along a bar magnet, Earth's magnetic poles, finding poles of an unmarked magnet, and interaction between magnet poles. You will also find problems on identifying magnets using repulsion and magnetic repulsion between ring magnets. ### What are the types of questions included in Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets for Class 6 Science? The exercise includes a variety of questions such as fill in the blanks, multiple choice questions, short answers, and true or false. SwaVid's free PDF on this page helps you practice all these question types effectively. ### How should I write answers to score full marks in Class 6 Science Chapter 4? To score full marks, structure your answers clearly by defining key terms and explaining concepts like magnetic polarity and repulsion step-by-step. Referring to the detailed solutions provided by SwaVid on this page will guide you on how to write precise answers. ### Is the free PDF for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets available for the 2026-27 session? Yes, the free PDF based on the new NCERT book for the 2026-27 session is available right on this SwaVid page. You can easily download and use it for your exam preparation. ## Related pages - [Class 6 Science chapters](https://www.swavid.com/science/class/6) Solutions written by SwaVid, a personal AI tutor for Class 6 to 10 Maths and Science. Practise this chapter free: https://www.swavid.com/start/student