Page 75 - Science Class 6 Times Publication

showing the north-south direction. Hence, a magnet is a substance
which attracts magnetic substances and always comes to rest showing
N-S directions when suspended freely.
Magnetic and non-magnetic substances

We can identify magnetic and non-magnetic substances with the
help of a magnet.

Activity 7.1
To identify the magnetic and non-magnetic substances.

Materials required: A bar magnet and a collection of different
substances.

Procedure
1. Collect the substances such as needle, pin, toothbrush, pen,
pencil, book, copper wire, comb, cork, glass tube, iron nail, coin,
pieces of iron, a steel glass, eraser, spoon, etc.

2. Bring each of the above substances close to the bar magnet
one by one and observe whether they are attracted by the bar
magnet.

Observation: Complete the following table with the help of your
observation.

Substances attracted Substances not attracted
by a magnet by a magnet

Conclusion: A magnet does not attract all the substances. It attracts
only some of the substances.

The substances which are attracted by a magnet are called magnetic
substances. For example, iron, cobalt, nickel, etc are magnetic

Times' Crucial Science and Environment 71 Book 6