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

  2. 2.Match each term to what it means.

    • Non-magnetic material
    • Magnetic material
    • Magnetic compass
    • points along north-south
    • left alone by a magnet
    • drawn towards a magnet

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

  4. 4.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

  5. 5.Which single test tells a magnet apart from a plain iron bar?

    • a) See whether it sticks to a wooden table
    • b) See whether a known magnet pulls it towards itself
    • c) See whether one pole of a known magnet pushes it away
    • d) See whether it is heavier than the known magnet

  6. 6.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.

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

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

  8. 8.A magnet is brought near each of these materials. Sort them by whether it draws them towards itself.

    Groups: Magnetic · Non-magnetic

    • Cardboard
    • Glass
    • Iron
    • Plastic
    • Nickel
    • Cobalt
    • Wood

Answer key — Grade 6 Science — Exploring magnets

  1. 1. 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
  2. 2. Non-magnetic material → left alone by a magnet; Magnetic material → drawn towards a magnet; Magnetic compass → points along north-south
  3. 3. 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
  4. 4. 2 — The middle
  5. 5. c) See whether one pole of a known magnet pushes it away
  6. 6.
    • north-south
    • south-north
  7. 7. c) Keep it away from a mobile phone
  8. 8. Iron → Magnetic; Nickel → Magnetic; Cobalt → Magnetic; Wood → Non-magnetic; Plastic → Non-magnetic; Glass → Non-magnetic; Cardboard → Non-magnetic