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Chapter 13

Fun with Magnets

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Fun with Magnets is Chapter 13 of the Class 6 NCERT textbook. This chapter introduces you to the exciting world of magnets. It comprises topics related to magnetism, the discovery of a magnet, magnetic and non-magnetic material, poles of magnets, and properties of the magnet.

A magnet is an object that attracts magnetic substances like iron, nickel and does not attract non-magnetic substances like wood, plastic, etc. You will be amazed to know that magnets are made from magnetic substances like iron; it was discovered accidentally.

Let's dive in detail into the world of magnets:

Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 4

 The NCERT maths class 9 chapter 4 includes the following topics:

1. How were magnets discovered?

2. Magnetic and non-magnetic materials

3. What is magnetic force?

4. Poles of magnet

5. Properties of magnetic poles

5. How to find directions using a magnet

6. How to make your magnet

7. Applications of magnets

8. FAQs

1. How were magnets discovered?

Theory 1

It is contemplated that the discovery of magnets is accidental. Here is the story: a shepherd from ancient Greece named Magnes took his goats and sheep for grazing in the mountains.

The stick he used for controlling goats and sheep had a magnet attached to it. One day he realised that he was applying a lot of force to pull the stick from the ground, which was not usual.

He presumed that the stick was getting attracted by the mountain rocks. In fact, the rocks were acting as a natural magnet and were attracting the iron tip of the stick. That's how magnets were discovered; these rocks were later named magnetite, after the name of that shepherd.

Theory 2 

There is one more story behind the discovery of the magnets: it states that magnetite rocks were first located at a place called Magnesia—a Greek regional unit. People of Magnesia found that a few rocks have the attributes of attracting pieces of iron, and hence, they named these naturally occurring materials 'magnets'.

Difference between natural and artificial magnets:

Artificial  magnets Natural magnets
Artificial magnets are man-made and developed through technologies. Natural magnets are naturally occurring.
They are comparatively stronger. They are comparatively weaker.
They can have permanent or temporary magnetic properties. They are always permanent magnets
Have different and regular shapes Since they are naturally occurring, they have irregular shapes.
Example: horseshoe magnet and bar magnet Example: magnetite

 

2. Magnetic and non-magnetic materials

Magnetic substances: materials that attract natural or artificial magnets are called magnetic.

Examples: iron, cobalt, nickel.

Non-magnetic substances: materials that do not attract artificial or natural magnets towards them are called non-magnetic. 

Examples: wood, plastic, rubber, etc.

3. What is magnetic force? 

When two magnetic substances are close, they emit a force of either repulsion or attraction, similar to electrical charges. This force is called magnetic force. Because of magnetic force, magnets can attract substances. 

4. Poles of the magnets 

Magnets do not attract magnetic materials like iron equally on all surfaces. The magnet's poles are the two opposite ends that attract the magnetic substances the most. 

The two opposing poles of the magnet are called the north and south poles. It is important for you to know that the magnetic force is most powerful at the poles.

5. Properties of magnetic poles

Here are the properties of a magnetic pole: 

  • The freely hanging magnet always has an aligned north-south axis.
  • Opposite poles attract each other while identical poles repel each other.
  • You can try this with a magnet at your home; when you get the north pole of one magnet close to the south pole of another magnet, they will attract each other.
  • On the contrary, the two magnets tend to repel each other due to magnetic repulsion when you bring the same poles, i.e., north and south close to each other.
  • Magnets are always bipolar, that is they have two poles. 

6. How to find directions using magnets?

You can find cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) using magnetic compasses. 

Our earth has an in-built magnet with two geographical poles: arctic (south pole) and Antarctica (north pole).  

Compass: it is a device consisting of a magnetised needle. The rotation of the needle is unrestricted. The compass's needle aligns with the magnetic field of the earth’s magnet to signify the direction. The compass needle points towards the north. 

In ancient times, travellers used bar magnets were used to find directions. When the bar is freely suspended by a thread, it always shows the north direction; try this at home. 

7. How can you make your magnet?

It is possible to create your magnet using the below-mentioned procedures:

By rubbing: You need to rub a magnet along the length of a piece of iron. By doing this, the iron will get magnetised gradually and become a magnet.

When you rub two equally powerful magnets from their opposite poles at the centre of a piece of iron, but in opposite directions, the iron will get magnetised. 

By using electric current: Do not try this at home since it can be very dangerous. You need to insert a magnetic bar between a wired coil and pass an electric current through it. As a result, the conductor coil will become magnetised. 

8. Applications of Magnet

  • Compass: It is a device used for directions, as it comprises an unrestricted magnetic needle within a glass chamber and aligns with the earth's magnet to show the north direction.
  • In factories and garbage heaps, magnets segregate or lift iron substances, such as scrap iron. 
  • An electromagnet is also used in doorbells and chimes.
  • Surgeons use permanent magnets to remove steel splinters from wounds.
  • It is also used for separating non-magnetic materials from magnetic ones.
  • Used in ATM cards and credit cards to store information.
  • Used in television and computers to store information in hard disks.

1. Fill in the blanks:

(i) Artificial magnets are made in different shapes such as __________, __________ and ____________.

(ii) The Materials which are attracted towards a magnet are called________.

(iii) Paper is not a ______ material.

(iv) In olden days, sailors used to find direction by suspending a piece of ___________.

(v) A magnet always has __________ poles.

Solution:

(i) bar magnet, horseshoe, and cylindrical.

(ii) magnetic.

(iii) magnetic.

(iv) magnet.

(v) two.  

2. True or false:

(i) A cylindrical magnet has five poles.

(ii) Artificial magnets were discovered in Spain.

(iii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other.

(iv) In the middle of a bar magnet maximum iron filings stick when brought near them.

(v) Bar magnets always point towards the North-South direction.

(vi) You can use a compass for finding East-West direction at any place.

(vii) Rubber is a magnetic material.

Solution:

i) False

ii) False

iii) True

iv) False

v) True (Freely suspended bad magnet)

vi) True

vii) False 

3. Have you ever observed that a pencil sharpener gets attracted by both the poles of a magnet, although its body is made of plastic. Can you name a material used to make some part of it?

Solution:

Even though a pencil sharpener is made from plastic it is still attracted to magnets because the sharpening blade is often made from iron. We know that magnets attract irons. 

4. Column I shows different positions in which one magnetic pole is placed near the other. Column II indicates the resulting action between them for each situation. Fill in the blanks:

Column – I Column – II
N-N _______
N-___ Attraction
S-N _____
___-S Repulsion


Solution:

a) Repulsion
b) S
c) Attraction
d) S

Q1: Can magnets lose their magnetic properties?

Yes, the loss of magnetic property is termed ‘demagnetisation.’ Magnets get demagnetised when heated, hammered or improperly stored, dumped, or hit by a hard substance. 

Q2: How to store a magnet?

  • We should store bar magnets in pairs by pointing similar poles in the same direction; otherwise, the poles will get destroyed due to induction.
  • For storing a horseshoe magnet, we should insert a piece of iron between the two poles.

Q3: How to take care of a magnet?

When not in use, we must store magnets in non-magnetic materials such as wood or cardboard.

Q4: What are permanent magnets? 

A magnet that retains its magnetic effects for a more extended period is called a permanent magnet. If we properly store magnets like a horseshoe magnet, they will not lose their magnetic properties and will remain permanent magnets.

Q5: How many poles do a cylindrical magnet include?

Regardless of its shape and size, every magnet has two poles, the North Pole and the South Pole. 

Q6: Do you know the microscopic cause of magnetism?

Every substance is made up of atoms, which are incredibly small units. 

Each atom contains electrons, which are charged particles. Electrons spin like tops around the nucleus, or core, of an atom. 

Each electron acts as a minuscule magnet due to its mobility, which generates an electric current. This is the microscopic cause of magnetism.

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