Which of the following statements is not correct about steel and soft iron?

Analyze the question: We need the statement that is NOT correct about steel and soft iron. This is about magnetic properties of the two materials.

Concept:

• Soft iron is a soft magnetic material. It is magnetized easily (high permeability) and loses its magnetism easily (low retentivity and low coercivity). This makes it ideal for electromagnet cores, transformer cores, and relay cores.
• Steel is a hard magnetic material. It is harder to magnetize, but once magnetized, it keeps its magnetism for a long time (high coercivity). This makes it ideal for permanent magnets.

Check each option:

• A. Steel is more magnetized than soft iron. This is not correct as a general statement. Steel is harder to magnetize than soft iron. Its advantage is that it retains magnetism, not that it becomes more strongly magnetized.
• B. Permanent magnets are usually made of steel. Correct, because steel retains its magnetism.
• C. Soft iron is more readily magnetized than steel. Correct.
• D. Soft iron more readily loses its magnetism than steel. Correct.

Answer: The statement that is not correct is A.

Tip: Remember "Steel = Stays magnetized (permanent magnets); Soft iron = Switches on and off (electromagnets)." In "not correct" questions, read each option carefully and eliminate the true ones first.