Magnets have fascinated humans since ancient times. It has beed used since the discovery of lodestone to modern technology. This chapter helps us understand the properties of magnets, their poles, and how they interact with different materials. The following MCQs will test your knowledge and strengthen your understanding of magnets and their applications.
MCQ Questions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets
Question 1: The materials that are attracted towards a magnet are called:
a) Conductors
b) Magnetic materials
c) Non-magnetic materials
d) Insulators
Answer:
b) Magnetic materials — e.g., iron (and metals like nickel and cobalt) are attracted to magnets.
Question 2: Which of the following is a magnetic metal mentioned in the chapter?
a) Aluminium
b) Copper
c) Nickel
d) Silver
Answer:
c) Nickel — along with iron and cobalt, it is attracted by magnets.
Question 3: Items like plastic, wood, cardboard and glass are generally:
a) Magnetic materials
b) Non-magnetic materials
c) Temporary magnets
d) Natural magnets
Answer:
b) Non-magnetic materials — they are not attracted towards a magnet.
Question 4: Maximum iron filings tend to stick to which parts of a bar magnet?
a) Middle region
b) One end only
c) Both poles (near the ends)
d) Equally everywhere
Answer:
c) Both poles (near the ends) — the clustering shows the magnet’s poles.
Question 5: The two ends of a magnet are called:
a) East and West poles
b) Positive and Negative poles
c) North and South poles
d) Top and Bottom poles
Answer:
c) North and South poles.
Question 6: A magnet with only one pole can be obtained by cutting a magnet into small pieces.
a) True
b) False
c) Only for bar magnets
d) Only for ring magnets
Answer:
b) False — a single (isolated) North or South pole cannot exist; poles always occur in pairs.
Question 7: A freely suspended magnet always comes to rest along which direction?
a) East–West
b) North–South
c) Northeast–Southwest
d) Random each time
Answer:
b) North–South — because Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet.
Question 8: The end of a magnetic compass needle that points towards the North is usually:
a) Painted blue
b) Heavier
c) Painted red
d) Marked with “S”
Answer:
c) Painted red — it indicates the North-seeking end.
Question 9: Which instrument is used to find directions using a small magnetised needle?
a) Altimeter
b) Magnetic compass
c) Protractor
d) Spring balance
Answer:
b) Magnetic compass.
Question 10: In the activity to make a simple compass, the object that is magnetised is a:
a) Steel spoon
b) Iron sewing needle
c) Aluminium wire
d) Brass pin
Answer:
b) Iron sewing needle — stroked repeatedly with a magnet and then floated on a cork.
Question 11: The indigenous navigation device described in the chapter that used a magnetised fish-shaped piece is called:
a) Chakra-yantra
b) Matsya-yantra (machchh-yantra)
c) Disha-yantra
d) Vayu-yantra
Answer:
b) Matsya-yantra (machchh-yantra) — a historical Indian device for navigation.
Question 12: When two magnets are brought close, unlike poles:
a) Repel each other
b) Attract each other
c) Show no effect
d) Lose magnetism
Answer:
b) Attract each other — like poles repel; unlike poles attract.
Question 13: The surest test to identify whether an object is a magnet (and not just magnetic material) is to check for:
a) Attraction only
b) Heaviness
c) Repulsion with a known magnet
d) Sound when tapped
Answer:
c) Repulsion with a known magnet — repulsion confirms both objects are magnets.
Question 14: Placing a thin wooden sheet between a bar magnet and a compass needle will:
a) Stop all deflection
b) Reverse the poles
c) Cause no appreciable change in deflection
d) Magnetise the wood
Answer:
c) Cause no appreciable change in deflection — magnetic effect can act through non-magnetic materials.
Question 15: Which of the following is NOT a shape of magnet shown in the chapter?
a) Bar magnet
b) U-shaped magnet
c) Spherical magnet
d) Pyramid magnet
Answer:
d) Pyramid magnet — bar, U-shaped, ring, disc, cylindrical, and spherical are mentioned.
Question 16: To keep magnets safe, they should be stored:
a) Near mobile phones and remotes
b) After heating them
c) In pairs with unlike poles on the same side, with keepers (soft iron) across ends and a wooden spacer
d) Hammered to strengthen magnetism
Answer:
c) In pairs with unlike poles on the same side, with keepers across ends and a wooden spacer.
Question 17: The property due to which a magnet can deflect a compass needle without touching it demonstrates that magnets can:
a) Work only in contact
b) Act through some non-magnetic materials
c) Work only through metals
d) Lose strength in air
Answer:
b) Act through some non-magnetic materials — like wood, cardboard, plastic, and thin glass.
Question 18: When the North pole of a bar magnet is brought near the North end of a compass needle, the needle:
a) Moves closer
b) Moves away (deflects to avoid it)
c) Turns blue
d) Stops moving permanently
Answer:
b) Moves away — like poles repel.
Question 19: In an activity, replacing one magnet with an iron bar leads to:
a) Repulsion at one end
b) Attraction at both ends of the iron bar
c) No effect at all
d) Only temporary attraction at one end
Answer:
b) Attraction at both ends of the iron bar — iron is attracted by either pole of a magnet.
Question 20: The compass dial is aligned by gently rotating the box until:
a) The ‘E’ mark points to the red end of the needle
b) The N–S marks on the dial match the resting needle
c) The needle becomes stationary at East
d) The needle touches the cover
Answer:
b) The N–S marks on the dial match the resting needle — then all directions can be read from the dial.
Question 21: Which of the following is a natural magnet mentioned in the chapter?
a) Lodestone
b) Bar magnet
c) U-shaped magnet
d) Disc magnet
Answer:
a) Lodestone — a naturally occurring magnetic material.
Question 22: Magnets lose their properties when they are:
a) Heated strongly
b) Dropped from a height
c) Hammered repeatedly
d) All of the above
Answer:
d) All of the above — heating, hammering, and dropping can destroy magnetism.
Question 23: Which of these metals is NOT magnetic?
a) Iron
b) Cobalt
c) Nickel
d) Copper
Answer:
d) Copper — it is non-magnetic.
Question 24: A compass needle gets deflected when brought near a magnet because:
a) It is made of plastic
b) It is magnetised
c) It rotates freely in air
d) It contains oil
Answer:
b) It is magnetised — hence it interacts with the nearby magnet.
Question 25: Which is the correct method of magnetising a needle in the activity described?
a) Stroke it once with a magnet
b) Rub it in circular motion
c) Stroke it repeatedly in the same direction with one pole of a magnet
d) Hammer it with a magnet
Answer:
c) Stroke it repeatedly in the same direction with one pole of a magnet.
Question 26: The Earth’s magnetic field makes a compass needle align itself:
a) East–West
b) Randomly
c) North–South
d) South–East
Answer:
c) North–South — the Earth behaves like a huge magnet.
Question 27: The part of a magnet where its force is the strongest is called:
a) Core
b) Poles
c) Axis
d) Middle region
Answer:
b) Poles — magnetic strength is maximum at the poles.
Question 28: If a bar magnet is broken into two pieces, each piece will have:
a) Only one pole
b) No poles
c) Both North and South poles
d) Stronger poles
Answer:
c) Both North and South poles — poles always exist in pairs.
Question 29: Which of the following demonstrates that magnetic force acts at a distance?
a) Magnet attracting iron filings placed under paper
b) Magnet heating up
c) Magnet losing weight
d) Magnet making sound
Answer:
a) Magnet attracting iron filings placed under paper.
Question 30: The activity with a compass and a magnet shows that magnets can:
a) Attract only non-metals
b) Pass magnetic influence through non-magnetic materials
c) Store electrical charge
d) Produce light
Answer:
b) Pass magnetic influence through non-magnetic materials like cardboard, plastic, and wood.
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 6 Science Chapter 4 Exploring Magnets
1. A natural magnet is called ___.
Answer:
Lodestone
2. The ends of a magnet where the magnetic force is the strongest are called ___.
Answer:
Poles
3. The Earth behaves like a huge ___ magnet.
Answer:
Bar
4. A freely suspended magnet always comes to rest in the ___ direction.
Answer:
North–South
5. The needle of a ___ is a small magnet.
Answer:
Compass
6. Magnets lose their properties when they are heated, hammered, or ___.
Answer:
Dropped
7. Poles of a magnet always exist in ___.
Answer:
Pairs
8. Materials like iron, cobalt, and nickel are called ___ substances.
Answer:
Magnetic
9. Materials like wood, plastic, and copper are ___ substances.
Answer:
Non-magnetic
10. A bar magnet, when broken into two pieces, forms ___ smaller magnets.
Answer:
Two
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