What Magnets Actually Do (And Why It’s Not Magic)
Pick up a magnet and hold it near an iron nail. The nail jumps toward the magnet — no strings, no touching, nothing visible happening. That feeling of something pulling through air? That’s the force field of a magnet at work.
A magnet is any object that produces a magnetic field around itself. This field can attract certain metals — mainly iron, nickel, and cobalt — and interact with other magnets. We call these metals magnetic materials. Everything else (wood, plastic, rubber, copper) is a non-magnetic material and magnets simply don’t care about them.
The most important thing to understand early: magnets don’t attract all metals. Aluminium, copper, brass — none of these respond to a magnet. When your teacher asks “does a magnet attract all metals?”, the answer is a clear no. This single distinction separates students who score full marks from those who lose easy marks.
Magnets come in many shapes — bar magnets, horseshoe magnets, cylindrical magnets, disc magnets. Each shape has the same basic properties, just in different geometries. Class 6 CBSE focuses primarily on bar magnets because they make the properties easiest to study.
Key Terms & Definitions
Poles of a Magnet Every magnet has two ends where the magnetic force is strongest. These ends are called poles. One pole is the North pole (N) and the other is the South pole (S). The pole that points toward geographic north when the magnet is freely suspended is called the north-seeking pole — shortened to north pole.
Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion When two magnets are brought close:
- Unlike poles (N and S) attract each other
- Like poles (N-N or S-S) repel each other
Remember it as: opposites attract, likes repel. This rule never fails.
Freely Suspended Magnet When a bar magnet is hung by a thread from its middle (called suspension at the centre of gravity), it always aligns itself in the North-South direction. The north pole points toward geographic north. This is the principle behind a compass.
Natural Magnets vs. Artificial Magnets
- Natural magnet: Magnetite (Fe₃O₄), also called lodestone. Found in nature. Irregular shape, weaker.
- Artificial magnet: Made by humans. Bar magnet, horseshoe magnet, electromagnet. Stronger and regular shapes.
Magnetic Compass A small, light magnet (the needle) balanced on a sharp point so it can rotate freely. It always points N-S. Used for finding directions.
Demagnetisation A magnet can lose its magnetic properties if:
- It is heated strongly
- It is hammered or dropped repeatedly
- It is kept carelessly (north pole of one magnet touching north pole of another)
Core Concepts and Properties
Property 1: Attraction Toward Poles
Hold a bar magnet and bring a pile of iron filings near it. The filings cluster most densely at the two ends — the poles — and least densely at the middle (called the neutral point or centre).
This tells us: magnetic force is maximum at the poles and minimum at the centre.
Property 2: Directional Property
A freely suspended bar magnet always comes to rest along the geographic north-south line. This is not coincidence — Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. The geographic north of Earth is actually near the magnetic south of Earth’s internal magnet, which is why the magnet’s north pole points that way.
For Class 6, you don’t need to worry about Earth’s magnetic field in detail. Just remember: freely suspended magnet → aligns N-S. That’s the testable fact.
Property 3: Unlike Poles Attract, Like Poles Repel
This is best understood with a demonstration. Take two bar magnets. Bring the N of one near the S of the other — they pull toward each other. Now bring N near N — they push away.
Students sometimes say “a magnet always attracts another magnet.” Wrong. Two north poles repel each other. Only unlike poles attract.
Property 4: Magnetic Poles Always Exist in Pairs
You cannot have a magnet with just one pole. If you cut a bar magnet in half, you don’t get a north piece and a south piece — you get two smaller magnets, each with their own north and south poles.
This is a favourite question in Class 6 exams. “What happens when you cut a magnet?” Answer: you get two smaller magnets, each with both poles.
How a Compass Works
The compass needle is a tiny magnet. Earth’s magnetic field acts on it, aligning the needle along the N-S direction. Since the needle always points north, we can use it to find our direction even when there are no landmarks.
Sailors, hikers, and explorers used compasses long before GPS existed. The Chinese invented the magnetic compass around 200 BCE — and it’s still used today.
Making a Magnet
You can magnetise an iron bar using two methods:
Method 1: Single Touch Method Stroke an iron bar repeatedly with one end of a bar magnet, always in the same direction. After 20-30 strokes, the iron bar becomes magnetised. The end where you finish each stroke becomes the opposite pole to the pole you’re using.
Method 2: Double Touch / Divided Touch Method Place two magnets at the centre of the iron bar with unlike poles touching it, then stroke outward toward the ends. More effective than single touch.
Method 3: Electrical Method Wrap insulated copper wire around an iron nail and pass electric current — this creates an electromagnet. This is the strongest method but requires electricity.
For magnetisation by stroking: stroke in ONE direction only. Lifting the magnet and going back to start position counts. Never stroke back and forth — this reduces magnetism.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Easy (CBSE Class 6)
Q: Radha tested four objects with a magnet: an iron nail, a wooden block, a copper coin, and a steel needle. Which objects will the magnet attract?
Solution: We check each material:
- Iron nail → iron is magnetic ✓
- Wooden block → wood is non-magnetic ✗
- Copper coin → copper is non-magnetic ✗
- Steel needle → steel contains iron, so it’s magnetic ✓
The magnet attracts the iron nail and the steel needle.
Example 2 — Easy (CBSE Class 6)
Q: A bar magnet is suspended by a thread. After it stops swinging, which direction does it point?
Solution: A freely suspended bar magnet always aligns along the North-South direction. The north pole of the magnet points toward geographic north.
This is the directional property of magnets — the principle used in magnetic compasses.
Example 3 — Medium (CBSE Class 6)
Q: The north pole of magnet A is brought near the north pole of magnet B. What happens? Then the north pole of A is brought near the south pole of B. What happens now?
Solution:
Case 1 — N near N: Both are like poles → they repel each other. You will feel a pushing force.
Case 2 — N near S: These are unlike poles → they attract each other. You will feel a pulling force.
Rule: Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
Example 4 — Medium (CBSE Class 6)
Q: A bar magnet is broken into three equal pieces. How many poles does each piece have? How many total poles are there?
Solution: Each piece is a smaller magnet with its own north pole and south pole — 2 poles per piece.
Total pieces = 3 Total poles = 3 × 2 = 6 poles
The key concept: magnetic poles always exist in pairs. You can never isolate a single pole.
Example 5 — Harder (CBSE Class 6 / ICSE)
Q: You have an iron bar and a bar magnet. How would you find out which one is the magnet without using any other instrument?
Solution: This is a classic identification problem.
Method — Suspension test: Suspend each bar by a thread from its centre. The magnet will align along N-S. The iron bar will have no preferred direction.
Method — Repulsion test: Bring one end of bar A near both ends of bar B.
If A is the magnet: one end of B will attract A and the other end will repel A (because the magnet’s poles attract the iron bar’s induced magnetism at one end and the actual opposite pole repels).
Actually, the cleaner approach: only a magnet can repel. An iron bar can only be attracted to a magnet, never repelled. So if you bring end A near end B and feel repulsion — A is a magnet.
This “identify the magnet” question comes up frequently in Class 6 CBSE exams and ICSE. The key phrase to write in your answer: “Only a magnet can repel. If repulsion occurs, the object is a magnet.”
Exam-Specific Tips
CBSE Class 6 Board Pattern
The chapter “Fun With Magnets” appears in NCERT Class 6 Science (Chapter 13 in the old syllabus). Typically 3-5 marks are allocated across:
- 1-mark definitions (poles, magnetic materials)
- 2-mark short answers (properties, directional property)
- 3-mark activities (making magnets, identifying magnetic/non-magnetic)
High-weightage areas:
- Properties of magnets (attraction/repulsion)
- Magnetic vs. non-magnetic materials with examples
- Uses of magnets in daily life
- Compass and navigation
ICSE Class 6
ICSE tends to ask more application-based questions. Be prepared for:
- “Explain with an example why a freely suspended magnet points N-S”
- Activity-based questions about magnetisation methods
- Diagram of magnetic field lines (sometimes introduced at this level)
What to Write in Exams
For any “properties of magnets” question, always list all four:
- Attracts magnetic materials
- Freely suspended magnet points N-S (directional property)
- Like poles repel, unlike poles attract
- Poles always exist in pairs
Writing all four, even when only two are asked, shows depth. Examiners appreciate it and you won’t lose marks for extra correct information.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: “Magnets attract all metals” Magnets attract only iron, nickel, and cobalt (and their alloys like steel). Aluminium, copper, brass, gold, silver — none of these are magnetic. Writing “all metals” in an exam costs you marks.
Mistake 2: Confusing geographic north with magnetic north Earth’s geographic north pole is near its magnetic south pole. This is why the north pole of a compass needle (which is attracted to south) points toward geographic north. For Class 6, you don’t need this detail — but don’t contradict it either.
Mistake 3: “Cutting a magnet gives separate poles” Many students draw one piece labelled “N only” and another “S only.” This is wrong. Each piece becomes a complete magnet with both N and S poles.
Mistake 4: Stroking back and forth when making a magnet When magnetising by stroking, you must stroke in one direction only. Stroking back and forth (like polishing shoes) cancels the magnetic effect because you’re reversing the alignment of magnetic domains.
Mistake 5: Saying the compass needle points toward a fixed star The compass uses Earth’s magnetic field, not any star. The Pole Star (Polaris) is useful for direction at night, but that’s astronomy, not magnetism. Don’t mix the two in answers.
Practice Questions
Q1. Name three magnetic materials and three non-magnetic materials.
Magnetic materials: Iron, nickel, cobalt (and alloys: steel, lodestone)
Non-magnetic materials: Wood, plastic, copper, aluminium, rubber, glass
Remember: the magnetic trio is iron, nickel, cobalt. Everything else is non-magnetic.
Q2. What is a lodestone? Where is it found?
Lodestone is a naturally occurring magnetic rock made of magnetite (Fe₃O₄). It is found in nature — in rocks, mines, and certain geological deposits.
It was the first natural magnet known to humans and was used by ancient sailors for navigation.
Q3. A student brings the south pole of a magnet near the north pole of a compass. Which way does the compass needle turn?
The north pole of the compass needle is attracted to the south pole of the external magnet.
So the compass needle turns so that its north pole points toward the south pole of the external magnet — i.e., the needle rotates away from its normal N-S alignment toward the external magnet.
Key principle: unlike poles attract.
Q4. List four uses of magnets in daily life.
- Magnetic compass — navigation and finding directions
- Refrigerator door seals — the rubber strip has embedded magnets that keep the door shut
- Loudspeakers and headphones — use magnets to convert electrical signals to sound
- Electric motors — found in fans, washing machines, mixers — all use magnets
- MRI machines in hospitals — use powerful electromagnets to image the body
For Class 6, the first three are most important to know.
Q5. Why does a freely suspended bar magnet always come to rest in the N-S direction?
Earth itself behaves like a giant magnet. Earth has a magnetic field around it.
When a bar magnet is freely suspended, Earth’s magnetic field exerts a force on its poles, rotating the magnet until it aligns with the field — which runs roughly North-South.
This is the directional property of magnets. The compass works on exactly this principle.
Q6. You are given two bars that look identical. One is a magnet and the other is an iron bar. How will you identify which is which?
Use the repulsion test:
Bring one end of Bar A near one end of Bar B. If you feel repulsion, Bar A is the magnet (because only a magnet can repel).
Then bring the other end of Bar A near the same end of Bar B. If attraction occurs at one end and repulsion at the other end, Bar A is definitely the magnet.
The key rule: An iron bar can only be attracted to a magnet, never repelled. Repulsion proves the object is a magnet.
Alternatively, suspend each bar by a thread. The magnet will align N-S. The iron bar will have no preferred direction.
Q7. What happens to a magnet if it is heated strongly? Why?
Strong heating demagnetises the magnet — it loses its magnetic properties.
Why: Inside a magnet, tiny magnetic domains (groups of atoms acting like mini magnets) are aligned in the same direction. Heat provides energy that causes these domains to orient randomly, destroying the overall magnetic alignment.
Other things that demagnetise: repeated hammering, dropping, or storing carelessly with like poles touching.
Q8. A bar magnet is divided into four equal pieces. How many north poles and south poles are there in total?
Each piece becomes a complete smaller magnet with 1 north pole and 1 south pole.
4 pieces × 2 poles each = 8 poles total (4 north poles + 4 south poles)
Magnetic poles always exist in pairs. No matter how many times you cut a magnet, each piece will have exactly one north and one south pole.
Q9. What is an electromagnet? Give one advantage over a permanent magnet.
An electromagnet is a magnet created by passing electric current through a coil of wire wound around an iron core. When current flows, the iron core becomes magnetic. When current stops, it loses magnetism.
Advantage over permanent magnet: The electromagnet can be switched on and off. This makes it useful for cranes in scrap yards (pick up iron, move it, then release by switching off), MRI machines, and electric bells.
For Class 6, know that current → magnetism is the basic idea.
Q10. A compass is placed near a bar magnet. Draw what happens to the compass needle when: (a) the N pole of the magnet is brought near the compass, (b) the S pole is brought near the compass.
(a) N pole of magnet near compass: The south pole of the compass needle is attracted toward the north pole of the magnet. The compass needle rotates so its south pole points toward the magnet’s north pole.
(b) S pole of magnet near compass: The north pole of the compass needle is attracted toward the south pole of the magnet. The compass needle rotates so its north pole points toward the magnet’s south pole.
Rule being applied: unlike poles attract. The compass needle always turns to present its unlike pole toward the magnet.
FAQs
Q: Is Earth a magnet?
Yes, Earth behaves like a giant bar magnet. It has a magnetic field around it, with magnetic poles near the geographic poles. This field is what makes compasses work. Earth’s magnetism is generated by the movement of molten iron in its outer core.
Q: Can a magnet lose its strength?
Yes. Heating, hammering, dropping repeatedly, or storing carelessly (like poles facing each other) can all weaken or completely demagnetise a magnet. To preserve a magnet’s strength, store bar magnets in pairs with unlike poles together, and use keeper (a soft iron strip) across the poles.
Q: Why do magnets only attract iron and not copper?
At the atomic level, magnetic materials like iron have unpaired electrons that create tiny magnetic moments. In iron, these moments align in clusters called domains. An external magnet aligns these domains, creating strong attraction.
Copper’s electrons are mostly paired, so its atomic magnetic moments cancel out — there’s nothing for the external magnet to grab onto. This is why copper is non-magnetic.
(For Class 6, you just need to know the fact — the atomic explanation is for Class 10+.)
Q: What is the difference between a magnet and a compass?
A magnet is any object that produces a magnetic field and attracts magnetic materials. A compass is a specific device — it contains a small, freely suspended magnet (the needle) that aligns with Earth’s magnetic field to indicate directions. All compasses use magnets, but not all magnets are compasses.
Q: Why does the north pole of a compass point toward geographic north?
This is a beautiful paradox. Earth’s geographic north pole is actually near its magnetic south pole. Since the north pole of the compass needle is attracted to south poles, it points toward geographic north (which is magnetically south). Don’t let this confuse you in exams — at Class 6 level, just state: “a freely suspended magnet points north-south.”
Q: Can we make a magnet with only one pole?
No. This is one of the fundamental properties of magnets — poles always exist in pairs (north and south). Even if you cut a magnet into the smallest possible piece, each piece will still have both poles. Physicists have searched for a single magnetic pole (called a magnetic monopole) but none has ever been found in nature.
Q: What is the strongest type of magnet?
For Class 6 purposes: electromagnets are the strongest type because their strength can be controlled by varying the current and the number of coils. Beyond Class 6, the strongest permanent magnets are neodymium magnets (a rare-earth alloy) — these are what’s inside your phone’s speakers.
Q: How did ancient people navigate without GPS?
Ancient sailors used the lodestone — the naturally occurring magnet — to build primitive compasses. A lodestone floating on water in a wooden bowl would align N-S, giving direction. Chinese navigators used this technique as early as 200 BCE. Later, pivoted compass needles replaced floating lodestones and made navigation far more reliable. The compass was one of the most transformative technologies in human history.