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Year 6 Science — Exploring magnets

Sort materials into magnetic and non-magnetic, find the poles of a magnet, and work out what happens when two magnets are brought together.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.A piece of wood is slipped between a bar magnet and a compass needle. What happens to the needle's deflection?

    • a) It stops at once, because wood blocks magnets
    • b) It doubles, because wood strengthens the magnet
    • c) The needle turns to point at the wood instead
    • d) It stays much as it was — the magnet's effect reaches through the wood

  2. 2.The North pole of a bar magnet is brought towards the North pole of a compass needle. What does the needle do?

    • a) It spins right round and stops
    • b) It moves closer
    • c) It stays exactly where it was
    • d) It moves away

  3. 3.Put the steps for turning an ordinary iron sewing needle into a floating compass back into order.

    • Push the needle through a piece of cork
    • Stroke the needle from end to end with one pole of a magnet, 30 to 40 times
    • Check the needle now attracts iron filings
    • Float the cork in a bowl of water

  4. 4.Which of these is a shape the chapter names for a magnet?

    • a) A cone magnet
    • b) A ring magnet
    • c) A cube magnet
    • d) A spiral magnet

  5. 5.Two magnets are brought close, pole to pole. Sort each pairing by what it does.

    Groups: Attract · Repel

    • Two unlike poles, North facing South
    • Two unlike poles, South facing North
    • Two like poles, South facing South
    • Two like poles, North facing North

  6. 6.Which of these is good practice for looking after a magnet?

    • a) Tap it with a hammer to straighten it
    • b) Store it loose at the bottom of a bag
    • c) Keep it away from a mobile phone
    • d) Warm it gently before use

  7. 7.A magnet hangs from a thread and is free to turn. It settles along a line joining which two directions? Answer with both, joined by a hyphen.

  8. 8.Iron filings are scattered under this bar magnet. Tap the part where the fewest of them would stick.

    Write the number of the part.

    123

Answer key — Year 6 Science — Exploring magnets

  1. 1. d) It stays much as it was — the magnet's effect reaches through the wood
  2. 2. d) It moves away
  3. 3. 1. Stroke the needle from end to end with one pole of a magnet, 30 to 40 times 2. Check the needle now attracts iron filings 3. Push the needle through a piece of cork 4. Float the cork in a bowl of water
  4. 4. b) A ring magnet
  5. 5. Two like poles, North facing North → Repel; Two like poles, South facing South → Repel; Two unlike poles, North facing South → Attract; Two unlike poles, South facing North → Attract
  6. 6. c) Keep it away from a mobile phone
  7. 7.
    • north-south
    • south-north
  8. 8. 2 — The middle