Hinglish

Poles of a Magnet

Class 6 Science · Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets · NCERT Curiosity section 4.2

Learn

Meher spreads iron filings on a sheet and rolls a bar magnet in them. When she lifts it, the filings cling in thick bunches at the two ends, and hardly any stick in the middle.

The ends of a magnet, where its pull is strongest, are called its poles. Every magnet has two poles: a north pole (N) and a south pole (S), whatever its shape.

What if you break a bar magnet in two? You don't get an N piece and an S piece. Each piece becomes a complete magnet with its own N and S poles! A magnet with only one pole has never been found.

Explore: how should two magnets face?

  1. Flip the magnets so that they push each other apart.
  2. Now make them pull together again.

Remember

  • Every magnet has two poles, N and S, where its pull is strongest.
  • Breaking a magnet gives smaller magnets, each with two poles.

Quick check

Where is the pull of a bar magnet strongest?

  1. At its two poles (the ends)
  2. In the middle
  3. Equal everywhere
  4. Nowhere
Answer

At its two poles (the ends). Most iron filings stick near the ends: the poles.

Think about it

A ring magnet has no ends. Where do you think its poles are? How could you find out?

One answer

Its poles are on its two flat faces: one face is N and the other is S. Dip it in iron filings, or bring it near another magnet and see which face repels which pole.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.