Exploring Magnets Part 1: MCQs (Q1–Q25)
Part 1 — Questions 1–25 (Basic properties of magnets, poles, attraction & repulsion)
1. A magnet always has
A. Only North pole
B. Only South pole
C. Two poles — North and South ← Correct answer: C
D. No poles at all
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — magnets cannot have only one pole.
B) Incorrect — same reason.
C) Correct — every bar magnet has two poles; magnetic poles come in pairs.
D) Incorrect — poles are fundamental to magnets.
2. Like poles of two magnets will
A. Always attract
B. Repel each other ← Correct answer: B
C. Have no effect on each other
D. Turn into unlike poles
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — like poles repel, not attract.
B) Correct — north–north or south–south repel.
C) Incorrect — there is a force (repulsion).
D) Incorrect — poles don’t change spontaneously in that situation.
3. A freely suspended magnet always points roughly towards
A. The nearest mountain
B. The Earth’s magnetic North–South direction ← Correct answer: B
C. The Sun
D. The moon
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect — those objects don’t set the magnet’s orientation.
B) Correct — Earth behaves like a giant magnet; compass needles align with the planet’s field.
4. Which of the following materials is magnetic?
A. Wood
B. Iron ← Correct answer: B
C. Plastic
D. Glass
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect — non-magnetic materials.
B) Correct — iron is attracted by magnets and can be magnetised.
5. Which material is NOT attracted by a magnet?
A. Nickel
B. Paper ← Correct answer: B
C. Cobalt
D. Iron
Explanations:
A/C/D) Magnetic metals (nickel, cobalt, iron).
B) Correct — paper is non-magnetic.
6. Two magnets placed with opposite poles near each other will
A. Repel
B. Attract ← Correct answer: B
C. Have no force
D. Explode
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — opposite poles attract.
B) Correct — north-south attract.
C/D) Incorrect/absurd.
7. The part of the magnet where the magnetic force is the strongest is
A. In the middle of the magnet
B. Near the poles ← Correct answer: B
C. Far away from the magnet
D. Inside a wooden block
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — middle (neutral area) has weaker field.
B) Correct — magnetic field lines are densest near poles.
C/D) Incorrect.
8. Which of the following is true about a compass?
A. It shows direction using gravity only
B. It uses a magnetised needle to indicate direction ← Correct answer: B
C. It always points to geographic North pole exactly
D. It works only at night
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — gravity doesn’t orient the needle.
B) Correct — a compass needle is a small magnet aligning with Earth’s magnetic field.
C) Incorrect — compass points towards magnetic north, not geographic north exactly.
D) Incorrect — works any time.
9. A magnet attracts a piece of iron placed 1 cm away but not when kept 30 cm away because
A. Iron stops being magnetic at 30 cm
B. Magnetic force decreases with distance ← Correct answer: B
C. The magnet loses its poles instantly
D. Gravity changes direction
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — iron remains magnetic (or magnetisable) regardless of distance.
B) Correct — magnetic field strength falls off with distance.
C/D) Incorrect.
10. Which of these is a natural magnet?
A. Plastic magnet on fridge
B. Lodestone (magnetite) ← Correct answer: B
C. Copper rod
D. A piece of paper
Explanations:
A) Man-made.
B) Correct — lodestone is a naturally magnetised mineral.
C/D) Non-magnetic.
11. Which one of these can be magnetised by stroking with a magnet?
A. Aluminium spoon
B. Wood ruler
C. Iron nail ← Correct answer: C
D. Glass rod
Explanations:
A/B/D) Not magnetised easily (aluminium is non-ferromagnetic; wood/glass non-magnetic).
C) Correct — iron is ferromagnetic and can be magnetised.
12. A bar magnet is broken into two pieces. Each piece will have
A. Only a North pole on one piece and only South on the other
B. Both North and South poles ← Correct answer: B
C. No poles at all
D. One piece becomes non-magnetic
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — breaking does not separate poles.
B) Correct — each fragment behaves like a smaller magnet with two poles.
C/D) Incorrect.
13. Which of these is called a temporary magnet?
A. Lodestone
B. A steel poker magnetised by a strong magnet briefly (soft iron) ← Correct answer: B
C. Permanent refrigerator magnet
D. Wood plank
Explanations:
A/C) Permanent magnet examples.
B) Correct — soft iron becomes magnetised only while influenced or shortly after.
D) Non-magnetic.
14. Which action will demagnetise a magnet?
A. Keeping it in a wooden box
B. Heating it strongly or hitting with a hammer ← Correct answer: B
C. Putting it near iron filings only
D. Stroking it gently with another magnet in same direction
Explanations:
A) No effect.
B) Correct — heat and mechanical shock disturb magnetic domains causing loss of magnetism.
C) Iron filings stick but may not demagnetise.
D) Stroking in same direction can strengthen magnetism, not demagnetise.
15. Magnetic field lines around a bar magnet emerge from the
A. Middle of the magnet
B. North pole and enter the South pole (outside) ← Correct answer: B
C. Random directions with no pattern
D. Inside to outside only at the South pole
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect descriptions.
B) Correct — field lines conventionally drawn from N → S outside the magnet.
16. Iron filings arranged near a magnet show
A. A random cloud with no pattern
B. Pattern of magnetic field lines ← Correct answer: B
C. Only circles around the magnet
D. No effect at all
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — filings align along the magnetic field giving visible lines.
17. Which statement about magnetic poles is correct?
A. Poles exist only at the ends of magnetised objects and cannot be separated.
B. Poles always occur in pairs and cannot be isolated. ← Correct answer: B
C. Single North poles can exist alone in nature.
D. Magnetic poles are the same as electrical charges.
Explanations:
A) Partly true but incomplete; implies they can be isolated (wrong).
B) Correct — magnetic monopoles are not found; poles always come as pairs.
C/D) Incorrect — no evidence for isolated magnetic monopoles in everyday magnets; poles are not electrical charges.
18. When a compass is placed near a strong bar magnet, the needle will
A. Always point to geographic north regardless
B. Point along the magnet’s field (may be deflected strongly) ← Correct answer: B
C. Melt due to magnetism
D. Start spinning randomly forever
Explanations:
A) Incorrect — local strong magnets override Earth’s field.
B) Correct — needle aligns with the stronger nearby magnetic field.
C/D) Incorrect.
19. Which of the following metals is NOT ferromagnetic?
A. Iron
B. Cobalt
C. Aluminium ← Correct answer: C
D. Nickel
Explanations:
A/B/D) Iron, cobalt and nickel are ferromagnetic and attracted by magnets.
C) Correct — aluminium is weakly paramagnetic and not attracted like iron.
20. A magnet attracts a paper clip. The attraction occurs because the magnet
A. Turns the paper clip into a magnet by aligning domains (induced magnetism)
B. Pulls the clip with electric current only
C. Does not actually attract it
D. Uses gravity instead
Correct answer: A ← Correct answer: A
Explanations:
A) Correct — the magnet induces temporary magnetism in the steel clip making it attracted.
B/C/D) Incorrect — attraction is magnetic, not electrical or gravitational.
21. The shape of magnetic field lines outside a bar magnet is best represented as
A. Straight lines only
B. Curved lines from one pole to the other ← Correct answer: B
C. Square loops around magnet
D. Spirals that go to infinity
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — field lines curve from north to south around the magnet.
22. The magnetic compass was originally developed to
A. Cook food faster
B. Find directions (navigation) ← Correct answer: B
C. Attract coins from the sea
D. Measure temperature
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — compasses were used for navigation because the needle aligns with Earth’s magnetic field.
23. Which of these actions will increase the strength of a magnetised iron bar?
A. Heating it strongly
B. Stroking it repeatedly in the same direction with a strong magnet ← Correct answer: B
C. Hitting it with a hammer hard
D. Dropping it from a height
Explanations:
A/C/D) Tend to demagnetise or damage magnetic domains.
B) Correct — stroking in same direction aligns domains, strengthening magnetism.
24. Where is the magnetic field inside a bar magnet directed?
A. From outside of the magnet into the north pole only
B. From South to North inside the magnet ← Correct answer: B
C. From North to South inside the magnet
D. There is no field inside a magnet
Explanations:
A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — convention: field lines are from N → S outside, and S → N inside, forming closed loops.
25. Which of the following will NOT be attracted to a magnet?
A. Stainless steel (depends on type)
B. Iron nail
C. Copper coin ← Correct answer: C
D. Nickel button
Explanations:
A) Some stainless steels are magnetic, some are not — depends on alloy.
B/D) Attracted — iron and nickel are magnetic.
C) Correct — copper is non-magnetic.