Home > Class 6 Science > Chapter 4 - Exploring Magnets
NCERT Curiosity Class 6

Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets

Discover the intriguing world of magnets, magnetic materials, poles, compass navigation, and the principles of attraction and repulsion.

1. Introduction to Magnets

Magnets are materials or objects that produce a magnetic field and attract materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt. Historically, natural magnets known as lodestones were discovered in ancient times and used by sailors for navigation. Modern magnets are man-made and known as artificial magnets.

Story Spotlight: Reshma, living in a coastal town of Kerala, learned how sailors trapped in a storm with cloudy skies used a magnetic compass when stars were invisible. Magnets are commonly found today in pencil boxes, purses, refrigerator stickers, and writing board dusters.

2. Shapes of Magnets

Artificial magnets are manufactured in various shapes according to their intended engineering and educational uses. Click or hover on any magnet below to observe its magnetic poles and behavior!

N S

Bar Magnet

Rectangular or cylindrical straight bar shape.

Click to inspect
N S

U-Shaped / Horseshoe

Bent shape brings both poles close to double pulling force.

Click to inspect
N (Top Face)

Ring / Disc Magnet

Flat circular disc with poles on top and bottom faces.

Click to inspect
N S

Magnetic Needle

Thin tapered pin pivoted freely for navigation compasses.

Click to inspect

Bar Magnet Properties

Most Common

A bar magnet has two poles ($N$ and $S$) located at its far ends. It produces a symmetrical magnetic field running from the North pole to the South pole outside the magnet.

Pole Position: Located at opposite ends of the bar.
Typical Uses: School laboratory experiments, door latches, magnetic pencil boxes.

3. Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Materials

Objects are categorized based on whether they experience a force of attraction in the presence of a magnetic field. Test the items below using our virtual magnet!

Interactive Magnet Tester

Tap any object to bring the magnet close!
N
S
Paperclip
Wooden Block
Iron Nail
Glass
Nickel Coin
Plastic
Metal Paperclip is MAGNETIC!

Attracted because it contains Iron / Steel. Magnetic domains align with the field.

Category Definition Elemental Composition Everyday Examples
Magnetic Materials that experience a strong attractive force towards a magnet. Contains Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), or Cobalt (Co). Steel pins, paperclips, iron nails, steel keys, cobalt blades.
Non-Magnetic Materials that do NOT experience any force of attraction toward a magnet. Wood, polymers, organic tissue, non-ferrous metals (Copper, Aluminum). Wood, plastic, rubber, glass, cloth, paper, leather, aluminum foil.

4. Poles of a Magnet

When a bar magnet is rolled over iron filings, most filings stick near the two ends. These regions of maximum magnetic force are called the poles of the magnet:

N

North Pole (N)

The end of a freely suspended magnet that points towards geographic North.

S

South Pole (S)

The end of a freely suspended magnet that points towards geographic South.

Interactive Experiment: Iron Filings Test

Drag slider to sprinkle iron filings
N S
0 filings

Observation: Notice how iron filings cluster heavily around the North and South ends, while almost none stick near the center!

Fundamental Property: Poles Always Exist in Pairs

Magnetic poles always exist in pairs. An isolated single pole (monopole) cannot exist. If a magnet is broken into smaller pieces, each piece instantly forms its own North and South poles.

N
S

5. Finding Directions

A freely suspended bar magnet always comes to rest in the North-South direction because the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet.

The Magnetic Compass

Rotate the slider to see needle & dial rotate!
N E S W N S

A magnetic compass consists of a circular box with a transparent glass top housing a freely rotating magnetized needle balanced on a central pivot.

North Indicator: The North-seeking end of the needle is painted red to identify direction instantly.
0°

6. Make Your Own Magnetic Compass

You can turn a simple sewing needle into a functional magnetic compass right at home! Follow these steps or try the interactive simulation below:

  1. Take an iron sewing needle and a bar magnet.
  2. Place one pole of the magnet at one end of the needle and stroke it along its length to the other end.
  3. Lift the magnet, bring it back to the start, and repeat this process 30–40 times in the same direction.
  4. Insert the magnetized needle horizontally through a small piece of cork or foam.
  5. Float the cork in a bowl of water. The floating needle will rotate freely and come to rest pointing in the North-South direction!

DIY Compass Lab Simulator

Step 1 of 2: Magnetize Needle
Click to Stroke Magnet
N S
Magnetization Progress: 0 / 10 Strokes
N
E
S
W
N S

Aligning with Earth's magnetic field...

7. Attraction and Repulsion

The interactions between magnetic poles follow fixed rules:

Interactive Pole Interaction Visualizer

N - N = REPEL EACH OTHER
  • Like Poles Repel: North & North or South & South push each other away.
  • Unlike Poles Attract: North & South pull each other together.
  • Sure Test for Magnetism: Repulsion is the only sure test to confirm if an object is a magnet, as both poles attract iron pieces.

7. Attraction and Repulsion

Like magnetic poles repel each other, while unlike magnetic poles attract each other.

🧲 Interactive Magnet Visualizer

N – N : REPEL EACH OTHER
S
N
⇆
N
S
Remember: Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

8. Care and Maintenance of Magnets

Precautions:
  • Do NOT heat, hammer, or drop magnets from heights, as they lose magnetism.
  • Keep magnets away from cell phones, remotes, televisions, and computers.
  • Store bar magnets in pairs with unlike poles facing each other, separated by a piece of wood, with soft iron pieces across their ends.

9. Solved Conceptual Examples

Example 1: Identifying a Magnet vs Iron Piece

Question: How can you test if a metal bar is a magnet using another known bar magnet?

Solution: Bring one pole of the known magnet near both ends of the test bar. If one end is repelled, the test bar is a magnet. If both ends are attracted, it is merely a non-magnetized piece of iron.

Example 2: Broken Magnet Poles

Question: What happens to the poles if a bar magnet breaks into two pieces?

Solution: Each broken piece becomes a full magnet containing both a North pole and a South pole. Monopoles cannot exist.

10. Textbook Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

  1. Unlike poles of two magnets attract each other, whereas like poles repel each other.
  2. Materials attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials.
  3. The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the North-South direction.
  4. A magnet always has two poles.

11. Interactive MCQ Quiz

Q1: Which of the following is a non-magnetic material ?

Q2: Where is the maximum magnetic attraction concentrated on a bar magnet?

12. Chapter Summary

  • A magnet has two poles: North and South.
  • Magnetic poles always exist in pairs; single poles cannot exist.
  • Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
  • A freely suspended magnet aligns along the Earth's North-South direction.
  • Magnetic force operates through non-magnetic barriers like glass, wood, and paper.