Marvel of the Magnetic Realm Class 6 Notes Questions and Answers Basic Science Chapter 2 Kerala Syllabus

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Class 6 Basic Science Chapter 2 Marvel of the Magnetic Realm Question Answer Notes

Basic Science Class 6 Chapter 2 Question Answer Notes Marvel of the Magnetic Realm

Marvel of the Magnetic Realm Class 6 Questions and Answers Notes

Let Us Assess

Question 1.
Which of the following is a magnetic substance?
a) Paper
b) Iron nail
c) Wood
d) Copper wire
Answer:
Iron nail

Question 2.
Find the correct statements.
a) A disc magnet has one pole.
b) Like poles of magnets attract.
c) The magnetic power is low at the middle part of a bar magnet.
d) Rubber is a non-magnetic substance.
Answer:
c) The magnetic power is low at the middle part of a bar magnet.
d) Rubber is a non-magnetic substance.

Question 3.
During carpentry work at home, some iron nails have fallen into the sawdust. Can you suggest an easy method to separate these nails?
Answer:
Separating Iron Nails from Sawdust
To easily separate iron nails from sawdust, just use a magnet.
Hold a magnet over the sawdust. The iron nails will stick to the magnet, leaving the sawdust behind. You can wrap the magnet in a plastic bag first to make it easier to remove the nails after ward.

Question 4.
The mark indicating the pole of a magnet is missing. Suggest some methods to find out the poles?
Answer:
1. Use a Compass:
Place the magnet near a compass.
The compass needle’s North (N) end will point towards the magnet’s South (S) pole.
The compass needle’s South (S) end will point towards the magnet’s North (N) pole.
(Remember: Opposite poles attract.)

2. Float or Suspend it:

• Tie a thread around the middle of the magnet and hang it freely (like a pendulum).
• Alternatively, place the magnet on a small piece of Styrofoam and float it in a bowl of water.
• Allow the magnet to settle. One end will naturally point roughly towards the Earth’s geographic North (which is actually near the Earth’s magnetic South pole). This end is the North (N) pole of your magnet. The other end is the South (S) pole

Question 5.
Observe the figures. In which situations do attraction occur? In which situations do repulsion occur?

Answer:
a) Attraction
b) Repulsion
c) Attraction
d) No attraction or repulsion
e) Repulsion
f) No attraction or repulsion

Question 6.
The key of a vehicle has fallen into the crack of a slab on the road. It can’t be taken out with hands. You can see the key through the crack of the slabs. Can you suggest a method to get the key without removing the slab?
Answer:
Method: Improvised Magnet Retriever Materials Needed:
1. A strong magnet: The stronger, the better. You might find one from:

• A large speaker (if you have an old one to dismantle)
• A refrigerator magnet (some are quite strong)
• A magnet from a science kit
• A strong Neodymium magnet (if available)

2. A sturdy stick or rod: Something long enough to reach into the crack, like a broom handle, a strong branch, or a thin piece of wood/metal pipe.

3. Strong tape or string: Duct tape, electrical tape, or a strong piece of twine/rope.

Procedure:

1. Attach the Magnet: Securely tape or tie the strong magnet to one end of the stick/rod. Make sure it’s firmly attached and won’t fall off when you try to lift the key.
2. Lower and Locate: Carefully lower the magnet-tipped stick into the crack, guiding it towards the visible key.
3. Attract the Key: Once the magnet is close enough to the key, the magnetic force will attract the key, causing it to stick to the magnet.
4. Retrieve: Slowly and steadily lift the stick out of the crack, bringing the key along with it.

Why this works (in the context of magnetism):

• Vehicle keys are typically made of ferromagnetic materials (like steel), which are attracted to magnets.
• The magnetic field of the strong magnet extends through the air in the crack to pull on the key.
• By attaching the magnet to a stick, you can extend your reach to the key without needing to physically enter the narrow crack or remove the heavy slab

Basic Science Class 6 Chapter 2 Question Answer Kerala Syllabus

MAGNETIC AND NON-MAGNETIC SUBSTANCES

Question 1.
Observe the images. Aren’t these objects familiar to you? Write down what they are.
Answer:
The First one is a pencil box.
Second one – Handbag
Third one – Mobile phone case (Magnetic)

Question 2.
When these things are closed, why do they stick together so easily? Haven’t you noticed this? What could be the reason for this?
Answer:
There are tiny magnets inside the lid and base would pull them together.

Question 3.
What will happen if you bring a pin near the closing parts of these objects? Can you guess why they stick together so easily? Discuss.
Answer:
If the object uses magnets to close, and you bring a pin near the closing parts, the pin will stick to them. You might even see the pin jump a little towards the closing part and cling on. This is because most pins are made of metal that magnets are attracted to.

Question 4.
There may be a magnet in your house too. Do you have magnets in your Science Kit? Where did you collect them from?
Answer:
We can collect it from the following:

• Refrigerator Magnets: These are the most common household magnets.
• Old Toys: Many toys (like magnetic building blocks, train sets, or action figures with movable parts) contain small magnets.
• Closures: Some cupboard doors, purse clasps, or even pencil boxes use small magnets for closing.
• Speakers: Old headphones or speakers contain strong magnets.
• Hardware Stores/Science Stores: You can buy magnets specifically for experiments.

Question 5.
Take a magnet from the Science Kit. Attach a steel gem clip to it. Does the clip fall if you release your hand? Add another clip to it. Let’s see how many clips can be hung up like this.
Answer:
No, the clip will not fall if you release your hand. The magnet will hold onto the steel clip very tightly.

Question 6.
Shall we have a competition? Take the following materials from your Science Kit.
• Magnet
• Gem clips
• Safety pin
• Nail

First, take the gem clips and the magnet. Then, arrange them one below the other, as shown in the figure above. Try to make a chain. Who made the longest chain? How many gem clips are there in the chain?
Don’t we usually have different kinds of beads in a chain? Similarly, here, what if we use gem clips of different colours, pins, nails, etc.? Check who has made the most beautiful chain.
Answer:
You would hold the magnet, attach one gem clip to it. Then, you would attach another gem clip to the first one, letting it hang. Continue adding gem clips one by one, watching the chain grow.
The person with the strongest magnet will likely be able to make the longest chain.
The exact number of gem clips would vary depending on the strength of the magnet used. A small fridge magnet might hold 3 – 5 clips, while a stronger bar magnet might hold 10 – 20 Or even more.

Instead of just one type of gem clip, we could use:

• Gem clips of different colours (if available).
• Small steel pins.
• Small iron or steel nails.
• Tiny washers or screws (if they are magnetic).

Question 7.
Shall we perform a magic in class?
Materials required:
• A paper with a picture of a butterfly
• Safety pin
• Magnet
• Chart paper
Cut out the picture of a butterfly. Attach a safety pin to the back of the picture so that it remains hidden. Place it on a chart paper. Try moving a magnet below the chart paper.

a) Doesn’t the butterfly move as you move the magnet?
Answer:
Yes, it absolutely does. As you move the magnet under the chart paper, the butterfly will appear to glide and move magically on top of the paper, following the path of the magnet.

b) What happens when you take away the magnet?
Answer:
When you remove the magnet, the butterfly will stop moving and remain stationary in its final position. It will no longer be attracted or moved.

Question 8.
Let’s draw a picture using a magnet. What materials do we need to draw this picture?
• A paper plate
• Acrylic paint/fabric paint/poster colour (two or three colours)
• Small metal balls (used in bicycles) or gem clips
• Magnet
Let’s start painting. Put some drops of different colour paint at various parts of the plate. Place four or five small metal balls on the plate. Move the magnet underneath the plate.

a) What do you observe?
Answer:
The balls moving over the paint create some patterns. When you move the magnet under the plate, its field pulls the metal objects along.
Will a magnet attract all objects? Let’s do an experiment.

Question 9.
Which are the objects attracted by a magnet? Take the available items from the Science Kit and do the activity. Tabulate your findings.
Answer:

Attracted by magnet	Not attracted by magnet
• Screwdriver • Paper clips • Coins • Washer/Flat metal ring • Nail/Screw (white, top middle) • Metal part of the clothespin	• Eraser • Green LEGO brick • Wooden stick/popsicle stick • Nut/Seed (brown oval object) • Rubber band • frame/stencil (brown, with holes) • Orange fish toy • Yellow sponge • Green plastic clothespin • Magnifying glass • Clear plastic/glass dome

 

Magnetic Substances and Non-Magnetic Substances Magnetic substances are those that are attracted by a magnet. Iron, nickel, cobalt etc., are magnetic substances. Non-magnetic substances are those which are not attracted by a magnet. Paper, plastic, gold, wood, etc., are non-magnetic substances.

Question 10.
Examine more objects and classify them as magnetic substances and non-magnetic substances.
Answer:

Magnetic substances	Non-magnetic substances
Nail Steel Nickel Coins Gem clip Needle	Paper Plastic Cloth Wooden piece Rubber band Thermocol Glass Jute

Question 11.
Bring the tip of a magnet near some pins. Then bring the middle part of the magnet near the pins. Which part of the magnet attracts more pins?
Answer:
When bringing a magnet near pins, it is observed that the tips (poles) of the magnet attract significantly more pins compared to the middle part of the magnet, which attracts very few, if any.

Question 12.
Let’s do one more activity to make this more clear. What are the materials we need?
• A Bar magnet wrapped in paper
• Iron filings
a) Bring the wrapped bar magnet close to the iron filings. Won’t the iron filings stick to it?’
Answer:
Yes, the iron filings will definitely stick to the magnet, especially when the magnet is brought close enough.

b) We wrapped the magnet in paper to make it easier to remove the iron filings from the magnet. Do the iron filings stick to all parts of the magnet in the same way?
Answer:
No, the iron filings will not stick to all parts of the magnet in the same way. You will observe that a much larger quantity of iron filings cluster around the ends (poles) of the magnet, while very few will stick to the middle section.

c) Does any part of the magnet have more iron filings?
Answer:
Absolutely. The poles of the bar magnet (the two ends) will have significantly more iron filings clinging to them.

d) Why does this happen? Discuss
Answer:
This phenomenon occurs because the magnetic field is strongest at the poles of a magnet and weakest in the middle.

Magnetic Poles Usually, the force of attraction of a magnet is stronger at its ends. These ends with stronger force of attraction are called the magnetic poles. Every magnet has two poles.

Does a Magnet Exert Force?’
Question 13.
Place a magnet on a table. Keep a pin a little away from the tip of the magnet. Slowly move the pin closer to the magnet. What happens to the pin when it comes closer to the magnet? Did this happen due to the force exerted by the magnet? Discuss.
Answer:
As you slowly move the pin closer to the magnet, you will observe that when it reaches a certain distance from the magnet’s tip, the pin will suddenly jump or snap towards the magnet and stick to it. This phenomenon happens directly due to the magnetic force exerted by the magnet.

Magnetic Field The force exerted by a magnet is called magnetic force. A magnetic field is the region around a magnet where magnetic force is experienced. Magnetic field is invisible.

Question 14.
Let’s do an experiment. What materials do we need?
• A rectangular glass sheet
• A magnet
• Iron filings
Arrange the rectangular glass sheet between the books as shown in the figure.

Place a bar magnet under the glass sheet and sprinkle iron filings on the upper side of the glass sheet. Gently tap the glass sheet if necessary.
a) What did you observe?
Answer:
We can see that the iron filings arranged in a specific pattern. This arrangement indicates the magnetic field lines. This is a part of the magnetic field.

b) Draw the magnetic field lines you have observed.
Answer:

There are magnetic field lines in the magnetic field. Both of them are invisible.

Question 15.
Get a magnet from the loud speaker of an old music system. Old speakers can also be found in shops that collect scrap items. Do the given activity in groups. Tie the magnet wrapped with a thick paper to a rope and drag it through the soil for some time. Then check the magnet.

a) Are there any substances stuck to the paper due to the attraction of the magnet?
Answer:
You will likely find small, dark, metallic-looking particles stuck to the paper (and thus attracted by the magnet). These particles will resemble tiny grains of sand but will be clearly distinct from the regular soil.

b) What is the reason for this?
Answer:
The reason for these substances sticking to the paper (and the magnet) is that soil often contains small amounts of iron (or iron compounds like magnetite) or other magnetic minerals.

c) Based on this experiment, can you suggest a method to separate iron from a mixture of soil and iron?
Answer:
Method: Using a Magnet to Separate Iron from Soil.

1. Spread it out: Lay the mixture of soil and iron thinly on a flat surface (like a table or a tray).
2. Magnet magic: Hold a strong magnet just above the mixture and slowly move it over the surface.
3. Collect the iron: The tiny iron pieces will jump up and stick to the magnet.
4. Clean the magnet: Move the magnet (with the iron stuck to it) to an empty bowl. Then, remove the iron from the magnet (e.g., by sliding a piece of paper over the magnet to drop the iron into the bowl).
5. Repeat: You can repeat step 2 – 4 a few times to collect all the iron.

Question 16.
Do all magnets have the same shape? Examine the magnets in your Science Kit and the laboratory. Are they all the same?
Answer:
No, not all magnets have the same shape.

Question 17.
All those shown in the figures given below are different types of magnets.
How do they differ in their shape? Compare them.

Are they named according to their shape?
Answer:
Horse Shoe Magnet: This is a classic “U” shape, similar to a horseshoe. Its poles (N and S) are brought close together, concentrating the magnetic field in the gap.
Bar Magnet: A straight, rectangular prism. It has poles at its ends.
Cylindrical Magnet: A straight, cylindrical shape, with poles at its circular ends. .
Magnetic Needle: A thin, elongated, pointed shape, often balanced to allow free rotation (like in a compass). Its poles are at the ends.
Oval Magnet: An elongated, oval-shaped prism.
U Magnet: Very similar to the “horseshoe magnet” in its U-shape, often used interchangeably, emphasising the letter ‘U’ form.
Disc Magnet: A flat, circular shape, like a coin. Its poles are typically on its flat faces.
Ring Magnet: A flat, circular shape with a hole in the centre, resembling a washer. Its poles are also typically on its flat faces.
These magnets are named according to their shape.

Question 18.
We have understood that a magnet has two poles. Do these poles have any other special features? Let’s examine.
Materials required:
• Stand
• Thread
• Bar magnet

a) Tie a thread in the middle of the bar magnet and suspend it freely as shown in the figure. When the magnet comes to rest, which direction do the poles point to?
Answer:
When a bar magnet is suspended freely, it will always come to rest pointing in a specific direction. One end of the magnet will point towards the Earth’s North geographical direction, and the other end will point towards the Earth’s South geographical direction.
So, it points to the north-south direction.

b) Change the direction of the magnet and examine again. Does it return to the same direction as before?
Answer:
If you push the magnet, it will swing. But it will always come back to point North and South again.

c) Based on this activity, name the magnetic poles.
Answer:
Based on this activity, the magnetic poles are named as follows:

• The end of the magnet that points towards the Earth’s North geographical direction is called the North pole of the magnet.
• The end of the magnet that points towards the Earth’s South geographical direction is called the South pole of the magnet.

d) Repeat the activity from different places.
Answer:
If we repeat this activity from different places, the result will be the same: the freely suspended magnet will consistently align itself in the north-south direction at different places.

Magnetic Poles The pole of the magnet that points towards the Earth’s North is the North Pole of the magnet, and the pole that points towards the Earth’s South is the South Pole of the magnet. They are denoted by the letters N and S respectively. To indicate the North pole of a bar magnet, a special mark is given. Usually, a white spot is used to mark the north pole.

 

Question 19.
In the past people who travelled across the sea and desert used many methods to find the direction. They used to depend on the Pole Star and other constellations for this. After identifying the special property of magnets, finding directions became easier. Which property of the magnet did they make use of? Discuss with your friends.
Answer:
The special property of magnets that people used to find direction is:
The property that a freely suspended magnet always points in the North-South direction.
This is often called the directional property of a magnet.

A magnetic compass is a device which uses a magnet to determine the direction.

MAKING A MAGNETIC COMPASS
Materials we need:

• Magnet
• Needle
• Thread
• Cork

Thread the needle. Hold the thread and rub the needle from one end to the other end with a magnet for about 50 times in the same direction. The needle is threaded for holding it conveniently and for safety.

Take a small cork. After removing the thread, pierce the needle into the cork as shown in the figure. Otherwise, you can glue the needle to the top of the cork.

Place this cork in a bowl of water. Observe the direction of the needle on the cork. We can see that the needle points in the North – South direction. We can also see that the needle returns to its original position if we change the direction of cork. We can make use of this device to find direction.

Question 20.
Take a magnet and suspend it freely. Place another bar magnet in the East-West direction below this magnet. To which direction does the suspended magnet point now? Try changing the direction of the suspended magnet. Does it again come back to the East-West direction? Discuss the reason.
Answer:
A hanging magnet naturally points North-South.
If you put another magnet East-West below, the hanging magnet will change direction, pulled by the lower magnet. If you push it, it will not go back to East-West unless the bottom magnet is super strong. It always points where the strongest magnetic pull is from both magnets and Earth.
This activity beautifully demonstrates the fundamental principle of how a compass works and the Earth’s natural magnetism.

Question 21.
Let’s do an experiment.
Take two bar magnets with their poles marked. Place one magnet on a table.
Place one pole of the other magnet on different parts of the magnet on the table. At which regions do they attract?
At which regions do they repel?
Repeat the activity by changing the poles. When the same poles are brought together, do they attract or repel?
What about unlike poles?
Arrange the magnets as shown in the figure and record the observations. Share the observations with your friends. Record it in your Science Diary.
Answer:

Attraction and Repulsion The same poles of different magnets are called like poles, and their different poles are called unlike poles. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

Question 22.
Place the magnets in the following manner. In each case, do their poles attract or repel? Discuss the reason.

Answer:
Figure 1: The magnets will repel each other.
Reason: In Figure 1, like poles are facing each other (N-N and S-S). Like magnetic poles always push each other away.
Figure 2: The magnets will attract each other.
Reason: In Figure 2, opposite poles are facing each other (S-N and N-S). Opposite magnetic poles always pull towards each other.

Question 23.
Do magnets vary in their magnetic force? Let’s do an experiment to test the strength of magnets. Materials required: Bottle, sand, two pieces of half-inch PVC pipe (50 cm, 15 cm), \(\frac{1}{2}\) inch elbow pipe, blade, thread, scale, double-sided tape.
Procedure: Take sand in the bottle and insert the long PVC pipe into the sand and fix it. Fix the short PVC pipe to the top of the long pipe using the elbow pipe. Place the bottle on the table. Place the scale near the bottle as shown in the figure. Stick the scale with the double-sided tape to prevent it from moving. Suspend a blade from the short PVC pipe as shown. Slowly bring a magnet from the far end of the scale towards the blade. When attraction is felt on the blade, note the position of the magnet with the help of the scale. Repeat the experiment using different magnets.

a) Record the observations in the table.

Answer:
(Readings are given according to the experiment done using the magnets we had. Readings can vary as the magnets)

Magnet	The position of magnet when magnetic force is felt on the blade (Scale reading)
Magnet – 1	5 cm in the scale
Magnet – 2	7 cm in the scale
Magnet – 3	9 cm in the scale
Magnet – 4	11 cm in the scale
Magnet – 5	15 cm in the scale

b) Of the magnets you have examined, which magnet has the highest magnetic force? Analyse the scale reading and find out.
Answer:
The magnet that attracts the blade from the greatest distance (the highest scale reading) is the strongest magnet. The magnet that needs to be brought closest to the blade (the lowest scale reading) is the weakest.

Question 24.
What are the daily life situations where magnets are used? Discuss with the help of the figure.

Answer:

• Screwdriver
• Electric bell
• Electric crane
• Magnetic holder
• Toys
• Generator
• Loudspeaker
• Earphone

Question 25.
Find more situations where magnets are being used. Write them in your Science Diary.
Answer:

• MRI scan machine
• Magnetic strips in credit/debit cards
• Maglev train
• Electric Fan
• Cycle dynamo

Class 6 Basic Science Chapter 2 Question Answer Extended Activities

Question 1.
Finding Directions
Using the compass you have made, determine the directions of the kitchen, front door, dining table, bedroom, etc. of your home with respect to your position. Discuss your experiences with your friends.
Answer:
Hints are given below

• Find North: Use your compass from a central spot in your home.
• Determine Directions: Look at each room/object (kitchen, door, etc.) from that spot and use the compass to figure out its direction (e.g., “Kitchen is East”).
• Discuss Experiences: Share with friends any surprises, challenges (like metal interference), or confirmations about your home’s layout.

Question 2.
Iron-Picking Puppet
Take a puppet and make a slit on its palm. Glue a small magnet inside it. Make sure it is not visible from outside. Bring the puppet’s hand closer to a pile of objects made of different materials. It will only pick iron objects. Take your puppet to the class and demonstrate.

Answer:
Iron-Picking Puppet
Purpose: Show magnets only attract iron (and steel).
Setup: Hide a small magnet inside a puppet’s palm.
Demonstration: Bring the puppet’s hand to a mix of iron and non-iron objects. The puppet will only pick up the iron ones, proving magnets are selective.

Question 3.
Jumping Frog
Fix a stick vertically on a stand. Place two ring magnets over the stick with its like poles near each other as shown in the figure. Can you bring them closer? Why? This principle of repulsion is used in Maglev Trains. Stick an image of a frog on the upper ring magnet. Press the upper ring and release. What do you see? Make such interesting devices and demonstrate them in your class.

Answer:
Observation:

• You can push them closer, but you’ll feel a strong push back.
• When you press the top magnet down and release, the frog jumps up.
  Why it happens: Like poles repel. This magnetic push acts like an invisible spring, making the frog jump.
  Real-world link: This is the same idea used in Maglev Trains to make them float.
  Making and Demonstrating Other Devices:
  You can use the principles of attraction and repulsion to create many other simple magnetic devices for
  demonstration:
• Floating Paper Clip: Suspend a paper clip from a thread and hold a magnet above it so it floats without touching the magnet.
• Magnetic Pendulum: A suspended magnet swinging back and forth, interacting with another fixed magnet below.
• Magnetic Car Race: Two toy cars with magnets on them. Push them using repulsion or pull them using attraction.
  These demonstrations are excellent for illustrating the invisible forces of magnetism in a fun and engaging way.

Question 4.
Magnetic Force Through Liquids
Does magnetic force pass through liquids? Do an activity to understand this. Take equal amounts of water, kerosene coconut oil and palm oil in four identical, small glass vessels respectively. Put three or four pins in each vessel. Cover the glass vessel with a square glass sheet. Move a bar magnet over the glass sheet as shown in the figure. Record your observation and discuss in your class.

Answer:
Observations (Expected):
In all four cases, you will observe that the pins at the bottom of the vessels will move and follow the magnet as you move it over the glass sheet. The magnetic force will attract the pins, regardless of the liquid they are submerged in.

Discussion in Class (Reason):

• Magnetic fields are not obstructed by non-magnetic materials. Liquids like water, kerosene, coconut oil, and palm oil are non-magnetic materials. This means they do not interfere with or block the magnetic field produced by the bar magnet.
• The magnetic force (the invisible magnetic field) passes right through the non-magnetic liquid and the non-magnetic glass sheet to act on the ferromagnetic pins at the bottom.
• This experiment demonstrates that magnetic force can pass through liquids, just as it can pass through air, paper, wood, or thin plastic. The presence of these non-magnetic mediums does not diminish the magnetic attraction.

Marvel of the Magnetic Realm Notes Pdf

Marvel of the Magnetic Realm Class 6 Notes Kerala Syllabus

• Magnetic substances are those that are attracted by a magnet. Iron, nickel, cobalt etc., are magnetic substances. Non-magnetic substances are those which are not attracted by a magnet. Paper, plastic, gold, wood, etc., are non-magnetic substances.
• Usually, the force of attraction of a magnet is stronger at its ends. These ends with stronger force of attraction are called the magnetic poles. Every magnet has two poles.
• The force exerted by a magnet is called magnetic force. A magnetic field is the region around a magnet where magnetic force is experienced. Magnetic field is invisible.
• There are different types of magnets namely Horse shoe magnet, Bar magnet, Cylindrical magnet, Magnetic needle, Oval magnet, U magnet, Disc magnet, Ring magnet.
• The pole of the magnet that points towards the Earth’s North is the North Pole of the magnet, and the pole that points towards the Earth’s South is the South Pole of the magnet. They are denoted by the letters N and S respectively. To indicate the North pole of a bar magnet, a special mark is given. Usually, a white spot is used to mark the north pole.
• A magnetic compass is a device which uses a magnet to determine the direction.
• A freely suspended magnet always rests in the North-South direction. This is the directional property of a magnet.
• The Earth acts as a magnet. This geo magnet has a magnetic field. The poles of the Earth’s magnet are in the North-South direction. The North Pole of the Earth is the South Pole of the geo magnet. The South Pole of the Earth is the North Pole of the geo magnet. That’s why a freely suspended magnet always points in the North-South direction.
• The same poles of different magnets are called like poles, and their different poles are called unlike poles. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
• When electricity passes through a copper wire, a magnetic field is created around it and the nail becomes a magnet. This is an electromagnet. Its magnetic power is temporary. When the electric current is cut off, the electromagnet loses its magnetic power.
• General properties of a magnet
  • A magnet attracts magnetic substances,
  • A magnet has two poles,
  • Always Points North-South
  • Like Poles repel, Unlike Poles attract
  • Magnets are having different shapes. They are named according their shapes

INTRODUCTION

This chapter includes distinguishing magnetic and non-magnetic substances; understanding magnetic poles, the invisible magnetic field, and its field lines. It includes exploration of magnetic substances in soil, different types of magnets, and the function of a magnetic compass. Key concepts, such as attraction and repulsion, are covered, alongside permanent and temporary magnets, as well as the various magnets found in daily life.

MAGNETIC SUBSTANCES IN SOIL
Are there magnetic substances in the soil of the school ground and its surroundings? Let’s conduct an activity to find out.

NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION
A freely suspended magnet always rests in the North-South direction. This is the directional property of a magnet.

ATTRACTION AND REPULSION

Geo Magnet The Earth acts as a magnet. This geo magnet has a magnetic field. The poles of the Earth’s magnet are in the North-South direction. The North Pole of the Earth is the South Pole of the geo magnet. The South Pole of the Earth is the North Pole of the geo magnet. That’s why a freely suspended magnet always points in the North-South direction.

MAGNET
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF A MAGNET

• A magnet attracts magnetic substances.
• A magnet has two poles.
• When suspended freely magnets always points in the North-South direction.
• Like Poles repel, Unlike Poles attract
• Magnets are having different shapes. They are named according their shapes.

THE HISTORY OF MAGNET
About 2500 years ago, there was a place called Magnesia in Greece and there lived a shepherd named Magnus. One day, he was resting, keeping his iron-tipped staff on a rock. After resting when he tried to pick up his staff from the rock, the shepherd had a strange experience. Hearing this, all the villagers rushed to the spot.
Observe the illustration related to the subsequent incidents.

Analyse this incident in relation to the properties of a magnet.
Later, scientists discovered the real reason behind this. Such rocks would not only attract the shepherd’s staff but also all other magnetic substances. In memory of the shepherd, these rocks were called magnets. There are mountains having such rocks with magnetic power in many places on Earth. These rocks known as Lodestones, are natural magnets.

PERMANENT MAGNET AND TEMPORARY MAGNET
When magnetic materials are placed in a magnetic field, they acquire magnetic properties. When the magnetic field is removed, they lose their magnetic power. The gem clip, nail and pin behave as temporary magnets. The natural magnet, Lodestone, and various other magnets you became familiar with are also permanent magnets. The magnetic property of permanent magnets persists for a long time.

DON’T WEAKEN ME!
The magnetic force decreases over time. Given picture below illustrates the reasons.

TO RETAIN MAGNETIC FORCE
If magnets are dumped together carelessly, they quickly lose their magnetic force. This can be solved by storing the magnets properly.

Methods for storing Bar magnets:

• Bar magnets are stored in pairs
• Unlike poles should be on same side
• A non-magnetic substance should be placed between two bar magnets.
• Place a magnetic substance (Stopper) on the tips of the magnet.

Methods for storing U-magnets:

• U Magnet can be kept alone.
• A magnetic substance is placed by connecting the poles.

ELECTROMAGNET
We can make a magnet using electricity.
Materials we need

• 9V battery, connector
• Insulated copper wire
• Soft iron nail
• Pins

Wind the insulated copper wire around an iron nail as shown in the figure.

Make sure to have many coils. Remove the insulation from both ends of the copper wire. Connect these ends to the battery using a connector. Bring the tip of the nail close to a few pins. We can see that the iron nail will attract the pins. If we disconnect the battery, the iron nail will lose its magnetic power.

Electromagnet When electricity passes through a copper wire, a magnetic field is created around it and the nail becomes a magnet. This is an electromagnet. Its magnetic power is temporary. When the electric current is cut off, the electromagnet loses its magnetic power.