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Assertion (A) : The needle of… (Class 10 Science 2026, Q32)

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ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 31/3/1 · 1 mark · Assertion-reason

CBSE Class 10 Science 2026: question 32

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 31/3/1, section C, question 32, for 1 mark. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q32 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonCompetency-basedMagnetic Effects of Electric Current

Assertion (A) : The needle of a compass, kept in an external magnetic field, always aligns itself in the North-South direction of the Earth.
Reason (R) : The behaviour of the needle of the compass is similar to the behaviour of a freely suspended bar magnet.

  1. (A)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. (B)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. (C)Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (D)Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 31/3/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Bring a magnet near a compass and think about which way the needle points.

Hint 2

Is the compass needle itself a magnet?

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. In an external magnetic field, the needle aligns along that field, not necessarily along the Earth's North–South direction. So A is false.

  2. The compass needle is a small magnet, so it behaves like a freely suspended bar magnet. R is true. Option (D).

    1 mark

Answer: (D)

Where the marks are

  • A false, R true (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 31/3/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.