The student incorrectly believed that natural materials are attracted to magnets. Wood is not a magnetic material. Magnetic attraction depends on whether the material is iron, steel or nickel — not on whether it is natural.
PRIMARY 3 · SCIENCE
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Top 5 mistakes
Ranked by how often they appear across 113 MOE-aligned practice questions in our archive.
North poles do not always attract. North poles attract south poles (unlike poles), but repel other north poles (like poles). Since attraction was observed, the poles must be unlike, so the right end of Magnet Q must be the south pole.
South poles do not repel north poles — they attract them. Like poles repel. Unlike poles attract. This option correctly identifies the South pole but states the wrong reason.
Magnetic attraction is not random. The rule is definite: like poles (N–N or S–S) always repel; unlike poles (N–S) always attract. Since attraction was observed, the poles must be unlike.
Wood is not a magnetic material, so the wooden pencil will not be attracted to the magnet. Only the iron key is attracted.
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