NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 4 solutions cover Exploring Magnets from the new NCF textbook (2026–27). The chapter introduces magnets and their shapes, magnetic and non-magnetic materials, the two poles of a magnet, how a freely suspended magnet finds direction, the magnetic compass, and attraction and repulsion between magnets. Every question from the end-of-chapter exercise “Let us enhance our learning” is reproduced exactly from the NCERT textbook and solved below with clear, exam-ready answers.

Class: 6 Subject: Science Book: Curiosity Chapter: 4 Topic: Exploring Magnets Session: 2026–27
On this page

Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 4 Solutions – Overview

Chapter 4 of Curiosity, Exploring Magnets, begins with a story about Reshma, who learns that sailors in the olden days used a magnetic compass to find directions when stars were not visible. The chapter explains that magnets occur naturally as lodestones and can also be made artificially in many shapes — bar, U-shaped, ring, disc, cylindrical and spherical. You discover which materials are magnetic (iron, nickel, cobalt) and which are non-magnetic, that every magnet has two poles (North and South) which always occur in pairs, and that a freely suspended magnet always rests in the north–south direction because the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. Finally, it shows that like poles repel and unlike poles attract, and that magnetic force can act even through non-magnetic materials.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Magnet: a material that attracts objects made of iron, nickel and cobalt. Magnets may be natural (lodestone) or artificial (man-made).

Magnetic materials: materials that are attracted towards a magnet, such as iron, nickel and cobalt.

Non-magnetic materials: materials that are not attracted towards a magnet, such as wood, plastic, glass, rubber and paper.

Poles of a magnet: the two ends where the magnetic force is strongest — the North pole and the South pole. Iron filings stick mostly at the poles. Poles always exist in pairs; a single pole cannot exist.

North (north-seeking) pole & South (south-seeking) pole: when a magnet hangs freely, the end pointing north is the North pole and the end pointing south is the South pole.

Magnetic compass: a small device with a freely rotating magnetised needle that always comes to rest along the north–south direction, used to find directions.

Attraction and repulsion: unlike poles (N–S) attract each other, while like poles (N–N or S–S) repel each other. Repulsion is the sure test of a magnet.

“Let us enhance our learning” — NCERT Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Curiosity textbook (Class 6, Chapter 4). Answers are original and exam-ready.

1. 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.

ANSWER (i) Unlike poles of two magnets attract each other, whereas like poles repel each other. (ii) The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials. (iii) The needle of a magnetic compass rests along the north–south direction. (iv) A magnet always has two poles.

2. 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. [ ]

ANSWER (i) False (F) — even the smallest piece of a broken magnet has both a North and a South pole; a single pole cannot exist. (ii) True (T) — like (similar) poles always repel each other. (iii) False (F) — iron filings stick mostly near the ends (poles), not in the middle. (iv) True (T) — a freely suspended magnet always rests along the north–south direction.

3. 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.

ANSWER Like poles repel and unlike poles attract. Completing the table:
Column I (poles facing)Column II (interaction)
N–NRepulsion
N–SAttraction
S–NAttraction
S–SRepulsion
So the two missing poles are: N–S gives attraction, and S–S gives repulsion. (N–N is repulsion and S–N is attraction.)

4. 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? (i) Position A = 10, Position B = 2, Position C = 10 (ii) Position A = 10, Position B = 10, Position C = 2 (iii) Position A = 2, Position B = 10, Position C = 10 (iv) Position A = 10, Position B = 10, Position C = 10

ANSWER Correct option: (i) Position A = 10, Position B = 2, Position C = 10. In a bar magnet, the magnetic force is strongest at the two ends (poles) and weakest in the middle. Positions A and C are the ends, so they attract many U-clips (10 each), while position B is the middle, which attracts very few (2). Hence option (i) is the most likely observation.

5. 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)?

ANSWER She should use the property of repulsion, because only two magnets can repel each other — a magnet and an iron bar can only attract. She brings the ends of two bars close in different combinations. If any pair shows repulsion when their ends are brought near, then both those bars are magnets. A magnet and the plain iron bar (or two unlike poles) will only attract, never repel. So the pair that repels each other is the two magnets, and the remaining bar is the piece of iron.

6. 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?

ANSWER Bring the marked North pole of the known magnet near one end of the unmarked magnet. If that end is repelled, it is also a North pole (like poles repel). If it is attracted, that end is a South pole (unlike poles attract). Once one end is identified, the other end is the opposite pole. Repulsion is the reliable test, so we judge by which end is pushed away.

7. 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?

ANSWER Suspend the bar magnet freely with a thread tied to its middle so that it can rotate horizontally, and let it come to rest. (You can also float it on a cork in water.) A freely suspended magnet always rests along the north–south direction. The end that points towards the North direction is the magnet’s North pole, and the end pointing south is its South pole. This works because the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet.

8. 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?

ANSWER Yes. The North pole of the compass needle always points towards the Earth’s geographic North. Since unlike poles attract, the needle’s North pole must be pulled towards a South pole of the Earth’s magnet that lies near the geographic North. In other words, the Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet whose magnetic South pole is near the geographic North and whose magnetic North pole is near the geographic South. That is why a compass needle’s North-seeking end always settles towards the north direction.

9. 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.

ANSWER The mechanic should use a screwdriver whose tip has been magnetised. Steel screws are made of iron, which is a magnetic material, so a magnetic tip will hold the screw firmly and stop it from falling. He can magnetise the tip by stroking it many times in the same direction with one pole of a permanent magnet (just as an iron needle is turned into a magnet in Activity 4.4). The magnetised tip then attracts and grips the steel screws while he works.

10. 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.

ANSWER Reason: The two ring magnets have their like poles facing each other. Like poles repel, so magnet X is pushed up and floats above magnet Y instead of sliding down to touch it. Way to make them touch: Lift magnet X, turn it upside down (flip it over) so that its unlike pole now faces magnet Y, and place it back. Now unlike poles attract, so magnet X will come down and rest in contact with magnet Y.

11. 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. (End 5 = N)

ANSWER Where two ends of different magnets meet, they must attract for the magnets to stay joined in the arrangement, so the meeting ends carry unlike poles. Each single magnet has one North and one South pole at its two ends. Working from the given end 5 = N:
EndPolarity
1N
2S
3N
4S
5 (given)N
6S
The ends that join together are unlike poles (one N and one S) so that they attract and hold the shape; the free end of each magnet then takes the opposite polarity. Hence ends 1 and 3 are North poles, while ends 2, 4 and 6 are South poles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these

  • Thinking a magnet can have a single pole — even the smallest broken piece always has both a North and a South pole.
  • Believing iron filings stick most in the middle of a bar magnet — they actually cluster at the two ends (poles).
  • Confusing attraction and repulsion — only repulsion is the sure test of a magnet, since a magnet and an iron bar can only attract.
  • Forgetting that magnetic force passes through non-magnetic materials like wood, plastic, glass and cardboard.
  • Mixing up the Earth’s poles — the Earth’s magnetic South pole lies near the geographic North.
  • Calling materials like aluminium or copper “magnetic” — only iron, nickel and cobalt (and their combinations) are magnetic.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What are magnetic and non-magnetic materials? Give one example of each.

ANSWERMaterials attracted towards a magnet are magnetic materials (e.g. iron); materials not attracted towards a magnet are non-magnetic materials (e.g. plastic).

Q2. Name any three shapes in which magnets are commonly made.

ANSWERBar magnet, U-shaped (horseshoe) magnet and ring magnet. (Disc, cylindrical and spherical magnets also exist.)

Q3. Why is it not possible to have a magnet with only one pole?

ANSWERMagnetic poles always exist in pairs. If a magnet is broken, each piece—however small—still has both a North and a South pole, so a single pole can never be obtained.

Q4. What is a lodestone?

ANSWERA lodestone is a naturally occurring magnet discovered in ancient times; the early sailors’ magnets were based on it.

Q5. Why does a freely suspended magnet always come to rest in the north–south direction?

ANSWERBecause the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. Its magnetism makes the suspended magnet align with the Earth’s field, so it always settles along the north–south direction.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe an activity to show that a magnet has two poles and that the poles are the strongest parts.

ANSWERSpread some iron filings (very small pieces of iron) evenly on a sheet of paper. Place a bar magnet over the filings and gently tap the paper. On observing carefully, we find that the maximum iron filings stick near the two ends of the magnet, while very few stick to the middle. This shows that the magnetic force is strongest at the two ends. These ends are called the poles of the magnet—the North pole and the South pole. The activity proves that every magnet has two poles and that the poles are the parts where the magnetism is strongest. Even if the magnet is of a different shape, the filings still cluster at its poles.

Q2. Explain how you can make your own magnetic compass at home using a sewing needle and a magnet.

ANSWERCollect a cork piece, an iron sewing needle, a permanent bar magnet, a glass bowl and water. Place the needle on a wooden table and stroke it along its length with one pole of the magnet, always in the same direction; lift the magnet at the end of each stroke and return it to the same starting end. Repeat this 30 to 40 times. The needle becomes a magnet, which you can check by bringing iron filings or steel pins near it—if they are attracted, it is magnetised. Now pass the needle horizontally through the cork and float the cork in a bowl of water so the needle stays above the water. When the needle comes to rest, it points along the north–south direction, and your home-made magnetic compass is ready. Indians once used a similar device, the matsya-yantra, for navigation at sea.

Q3. Explain attraction and repulsion between magnets, and state why repulsion is the surest test of a magnet.

ANSWERWhen two magnets are brought close, unlike poles (the North pole of one and the South pole of the other) attract each other, while like poles (North–North or South–South) repel each other. This can be shown by placing one bar magnet on a few round pencils so it can move freely and then bringing each end of a second magnet near it: one end pulls it closer (attraction) and the other pushes it away (repulsion). Repulsion is the surest test of a magnet because only two magnets can repel each other. If one of the objects is an ordinary iron bar, both its ends are merely attracted by either pole of the magnet—an iron bar can never repel a magnet. Therefore, if two objects repel each other, both must be magnets.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Which of the following is a magnetic material?

(a) Plastic    (b) Wood    (c) Iron    (d) Glass

2. A naturally occurring magnet is called a:

(a) bar magnet    (b) lodestone    (c) compass    (d) ring magnet

3. The number of poles a magnet always has is:

(a) one    (b) two    (c) three    (d) four

4. Iron filings sprinkled on a bar magnet stick mostly:

(a) in the middle    (b) all over equally    (c) near the two ends    (d) nowhere

5. When the North pole of one magnet is brought near the North pole of another, they:

(a) attract    (b) repel    (c) do nothing    (d) join and break

6. A freely suspended bar magnet comes to rest along the:

(a) east–west direction    (b) north–south direction    (c) up–down direction    (d) any random direction

7. The device used to find directions is the:

(a) thermometer    (b) barometer    (c) magnetic compass    (d) telescope

8. The surest test to identify a magnet is:

(a) attraction    (b) repulsion    (c) its colour    (d) its weight

9. Which of these will a magnet not attract?

(a) an iron nail    (b) a steel pin    (c) a cobalt piece    (d) a plastic eraser

10. The magnetic effect of a magnet on a compass needle, when a sheet of wood is placed in between, is:

(a) completely blocked    (b) almost unchanged    (c) doubled    (d) reversed

Answer key: 1-(c), 2-(b), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(d), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: A single magnetic pole cannot exist on its own.

Reason: When a magnet is broken, each piece still has both a North and a South pole.

A-R 2. Assertion: Two magnets can repel each other.

Reason: Like poles of two magnets repel each other.

A-R 3. Assertion: A freely suspended magnet rests along the east–west direction.

Reason: The Earth behaves like a giant magnet.

A-R 4. Assertion: Repulsion is the sure test of a magnet.

Reason: A magnet attracts every metal placed near it.

A-R 5. Assertion: A magnetic compass needle is itself a small magnet.

Reason: The needle comes to rest in the north–south direction.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(C), 5-(B).

Quick Revision Summary

  • Magnets may be natural (lodestone) or artificial, and come in many shapes: bar, U-shaped, ring, disc, cylindrical and spherical.
  • Magnetic materials (iron, nickel, cobalt) are attracted to a magnet; non-magnetic materials (wood, plastic, glass, rubber) are not.
  • Every magnet has two poles — North and South. Poles always occur in pairs; a single pole cannot exist.
  • Iron filings stick mostly at the poles, which are the strongest parts of a magnet.
  • A freely suspended magnet rests along the north–south direction because the Earth behaves like a giant magnet; this is used in the magnetic compass.
  • Like poles repel, unlike poles attract; repulsion is the sure test of a magnet, and magnetic force can pass through non-magnetic materials.

Real-life Applications

Magnets are everywhere in daily life. They keep pencil boxes, purses and refrigerator doors closed, hold paper on writing boards through magnetic dusters, and stick decorative fridge magnets in place. A magnetised screwdriver tip grips steel screws so they do not fall. Magnetic compasses still guide hikers, sailors and explorers, and the same idea once powered the Indian matsya-yantra used at sea. Bigger applications include electric bells, loudspeakers, electric motors, and even high-speed Maglev trains that float above the track using magnetic repulsion. Magnets are also used in the field of medicine, for example in MRI machines. Understanding attraction, repulsion and poles in this chapter is the first step towards all of these uses.

How to score full marks in this chapter

Remember the two golden rules: like poles repel, unlike poles attract, and a magnet always has two poles that occur in pairs. When a question asks you to identify a magnet, always answer using repulsion, not attraction. For “find the poles” questions, mention either a known marked magnet or a freely suspended magnet resting north–south. State clearly that iron filings stick at the ends, and that magnetic force acts even through non-magnetic materials. Drawing a neat labelled diagram of a suspended magnet or compass earns extra marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 4 about?

Chapter 4, Exploring Magnets, teaches what magnets are, their shapes, magnetic and non-magnetic materials, the two poles of a magnet, how a freely suspended magnet and a magnetic compass find direction, and the rule that like poles repel while unlike poles attract.

What is the rule of attraction and repulsion between magnets?

Unlike poles (North–South) attract each other, while like poles (North–North or South–South) repel each other. Repulsion is the surest test of a magnet because only two magnets can repel.

Why does a freely suspended magnet point north–south?

Because the Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. Its magnetism aligns a freely suspended magnet so that one end points north (the North pole) and the other points south (the South pole). This is the principle of the magnetic compass.

Are these Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 4 solutions free?

Yes. All solutions are free and follow the official NCERT Curiosity textbook for session 2026–27.

← Chapter 3 All Curiosity Chapters Chapter 5 →
Scroll to Top