NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 3 Fibre to Fabric | KalviGavani

Fibre to Fabric: NCERT Exercise Solutions

How to Use This Page

This page provides complete NCERT exercise solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 3 — Fibre to Fabric. Read the chapter first, attempt each question on your own, and then verify your answers with the solutions below. The explanations use simple language and include diagrams described in words, real-world examples, and step-by-step processes to help you understand clearly.

Tips for best results:

• Learn the definitions from the Key Concepts table thoroughly.
• Trace the journey from fibre to fabric (raw material → yarn → fabric) and memorise each step.
• Practice drawing and labelling the process flow for cotton and jute.
• Use the Exam Checklist before your test to ensure full coverage.

Key Concepts (Quick Recap)

Intext Questions and Answers

Question 1. Classify the following fibres as natural or synthetic: nylon, wool, cotton, silk, polyester, jute

Natural fibres come from plants or animals. Synthetic fibres are man-made from chemicals.

Question 2. How is jute fibre obtained? Explain the process.

1. Cultivation: Jute plants are grown in warm, humid regions with plenty of rainfall. They are harvested when the plants are in the flowering stage, as the fibres are strongest at this time.

2. Harvesting: The jute plants are cut close to the ground by hand or with a sickle. The leaves are removed from the stems.

3. Retting: The jute stems are bundled and soaked in water (ponds, rivers, or tanks) for 10-15 days. The bacterial action in the water softens the outer skin and the gummy substance (pectin) that holds the fibres to the stem.

4. Stripping: After retting, the fibres are separated from the stem by hand. This process is called stripping. The bundles of fibres are pulled away from the woody core.

5. Washing and Drying: The separated fibres are washed in clean water to remove dirt and impurities, then dried in the sun.

6. Sorting and Baling: The dried jute fibres are sorted according to quality, bundled into bales, and sent to mills for making jute products.

Jute is used for making gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, and sacks.

Question 3. What is spinning? How is it done?

How spinning is done:

By hand (manual spinning): 1. Fibres are drawn out and twisted together using a spindle or a charkha. 2. The spindle rotates, twisting the fibres and winding the yarn onto it. 3. Mahatma Gandhi popularised the charkha during the Indian independence movement as a symbol of self-reliance.

By machine (machine spinning): 1. In modern textile mills, spinning is done using spinning machines. 2. The machines draw out fibres from a mass of cotton (sliver), twist them, and wind them onto bobbins. 3. Machine spinning is much faster and produces uniform, strong yarn in large quantities.

Key point: Spinning converts fibres (loose, short strands) into yarn (a long, continuous thread). The yarn is then used for weaving or knitting to make fabric.

Question 4. What is the difference between weaving and knitting?

Question 5. Name two items that are made from: (a) Cotton (b) Jute

(a) Items made from cotton: 1. Cotton cloth — used for making shirts, sarees, bedsheets, and dresses 2. Bandage — cotton is used in medical bandages because it is soft and absorbent

Other cotton items: towels, handkerchiefs, denim (for jeans), cotton wool, mattress filling, surgical cotton.

(b) Items made from jute: 1. Gunny bags (sacks) — used for storing and transporting grains, potatoes, and onions 2. Rope — jute ropes are strong and used for tying bundles and in construction

Other jute items: mats, carpets, curtains, handicrafts, shopping bags, upholstery.

Question 6. Why are cotton clothes worn in summer?

1. Absorbent nature: Cotton is a good absorber of water. It absorbs sweat from the body and allows it to evaporate quickly, keeping the skin dry and cool.

2. Air circulation: Cotton fabric is lightweight and has a loose weave that allows air to pass through. This air circulation helps in cooling the body.

3. Breathability: Cotton is a breathable fabric that does not trap heat against the body, unlike synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon.

4. Comfort: Cotton is soft and gentle on the skin. It does not cause skin irritation, which is important in hot and sweaty conditions.

5. Lightweight: Cotton clothes are light and do not add to the body heat, making them comfortable to wear in hot weather.

In contrast, synthetic clothes (like polyester and nylon) do not absorb sweat and trap body heat, making the wearer feel uncomfortable in summer.

Question 7. Explain the process of making cotton cloth from raw cotton.

Step 1 — Cultivation and Harvesting: Cotton plants are grown in warm climates. When the cotton fruits (bolls) ripen, they burst open, revealing the white fluffy cotton fibres mixed with seeds.

Step 2 — Ginning: The raw cotton is taken to a ginning mill where the cotton fibres are separated from the seeds using a ginning machine. The seeds are saved for making cottonseed oil and for replanting.

Step 3 — Spinning: The ginned cotton fibres are combed to align them, then drawn out and twisted together using a spinning machine or charkha to form yarn. The twisting binds the short fibres into a long, continuous, strong thread.

Step 4 — Weaving or Knitting: The yarn is then used to make fabric:

• Weaving: Two sets of yarn (warp and weft) are interlaced at right angles on a loom to produce woven fabric (like cotton cloth for shirts and bedsheets).
• Knitting: Loops of a single yarn are interlocked using needles to produce knitted fabric (like T-shirts and socks).

Step 5 — Finishing: The fabric is bleached, dyed, and printed as required. It is then cut and stitched into garments.

Summary flow: Raw cotton → Ginning → Spinning → Weaving/Knitting → Fabric → Garment

Question 8. What are looms? Describe briefly.

Types of looms:

1. Handloom: A manually operated loom used by weavers in villages. The weaver uses hands and feet to operate the loom. Handloom fabrics are often more artistic and have traditional designs. Examples: Banarasi silk, Pochampalli, Chanderi.

2. Power loom: A mechanised loom powered by electricity. Power looms can produce fabric much faster than handlooms. Most mass-produced cotton fabric is made on power looms in textile mills.

How a loom works:

• The warp yarns are stretched lengthwise on the loom.
• The weft yarn is passed over and under the warp yarns using a device called a shuttle.
• Each pass of the shuttle creates one row of the fabric.
• The process is repeated until the entire fabric is woven.

Exercise Questions and Answers

Question 1. What are fibres? Give two examples each of natural and synthetic fibres.

Natural fibres (obtained from nature — plants and animals): 1. Cotton — obtained from the cotton plant (plant fibre) 2. Silk — obtained from silkworm cocoons (animal fibre)

Other examples: Jute, wool, flax, hemp, coir.

Synthetic fibres (man-made from chemicals): 1. Nylon — the first fully synthetic fibre, made from petroleum products 2. Polyester — a strong, durable synthetic fibre used in clothing

Other examples: Acrylic, rayon (semi-synthetic), spandex.

Question 2. Which of the following is a natural fibre?

(A) Nylon (B) Polyester (C) Silk ✓ (D) Acrylic

Silk is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms, which are animals. It is a natural animal fibre. Nylon, polyester, and acrylic are synthetic (man-made) fibres produced from chemical substances.

Question 3. Which part of the jute plant is used for making jute fibre?

(A) Leaf (B) Flower (C) Stem ✓ (D) Root

Jute fibre is obtained from the stem of the jute plant. The stems are soaked in water (retting) to loosen the fibres, which are then stripped by hand. This is different from cotton, which is obtained from the fruit (boll) of the cotton plant.

Question 4. Describe sericulture. How is silk obtained?

Process of obtaining silk:

1. Rearing silkworms: Silkworm eggs (called seeds) are placed on trays. When the eggs hatch, tiny caterpillars called silkworm larvae emerge.

2. Feeding: The silkworm larvae are fed fresh mulberry leaves. They eat continuously and grow rapidly, shedding their skin four times (moulting).

3. Spinning cocoons: After about 25-30 days, the fully grown silkworm stops eating and starts spinning a cocoon around itself. The cocoon is made of a single continuous silk thread, about 1000-1500 metres long.

4. Harvesting cocoons: The cocoons are collected before the silkworm inside can emerge as a moth. If the moth emerges, it breaks the continuous silk thread.

5. Boiling: The cocoons are boiled in hot water. This kills the pupa inside and also softens the silk gum (sericin) that holds the cocoon together, making it easier to unwind the thread.

6. Reeling: The silk threads from several cocoons are unwound and twisted together to form a single silk yarn. This process is called reeling.

7. Weaving: The silk yarn is then woven into silk fabric on a loom.

India is one of the largest producers of silk. The main types of silk are mulberry silk, tussar silk, eri silk, and muga silk.

Question 5. How is wool obtained? Name the animals from which we get wool.

1. Shearing: The fleece (hair) of the animal is shaved off using special clippers or machines. This is usually done in summer so the animal does not suffer from heat.

2. Sorting: The fleece is sorted based on the quality and length of the fibres. Different grades of wool are separated.

3. Scouring: The sorted fleece is washed thoroughly with water and detergents to remove dirt, grease, and sweat. This process is called scouring.

4. Carding: The clean wool fibres are combed to straighten them and remove tangles. This process is called carding.

5. Spinning: The carded wool fibres are spun into yarn.

6. Knitting/Weaving: The wool yarn is knitted into sweaters, socks, and mufflers, or woven into woollen cloth for coats and blankets.

Animals from which we get wool:

Question 6. Explain the process of making fabric from yarn.

Question 7. Why are jute bags preferred over plastic bags?

1. Biodegradable: Jute is a natural fibre that decomposes naturally in the soil. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose and cause pollution.

2. Reusable: Jute bags are strong and can be used many times. Plastic bags tear easily and are usually single-use.

3. Environmentally friendly: Jute cultivation requires less chemical fertiliser and pesticide. Plastic production causes significant environmental pollution.

4. Strong and durable: Jute bags can carry heavy loads without breaking. They are ideal for transporting grains, potatoes, and onions.

5. Renewable resource: Jute plants grow quickly (4-6 months) and are renewable. Plastic is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource.

6. Less pollution: Jute does not release harmful chemicals when it decomposes. Plastic bags release toxic chemicals and microplastics into the soil and water.

7. Employment: Jute cultivation and processing provide employment to millions of farmers and workers, especially in India and Bangladesh.

Question 8. Match the following:

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) for Practice

Q1. Which of the following is a synthetic fibre?

(A) Cotton (B) Jute (C) Nylon ✓ (D) Silk

Q2. The process of removing seeds from cotton is called:

(A) Retting (B) Ginning ✓ (C) Spinning (D) Weaving

Q3. Which fibre is known as the "golden fibre"?

(A) Cotton (B) Silk (C) Wool (D) Jute ✓

Q4. Which animal provides Pashmina wool?

(A) Sheep (B) Goat ✓ (Kashmiri/Angora goat) (C) Yak (D) Camel

Q5. The process of soaking jute stems in water to separate fibres is called:

(A) Ginning (B) Spinning (C) Retting ✓ (D) Knitting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing ginning and retting: Ginning is the process for cotton (removing seeds from fibres). Retting is the process for jute (soaking stems in water to loosen fibres). Do not mix these up. Remember: Ginning = Cotton, Retting = Jute.

2. Confusing weaving and knitting: Weaving uses two sets of yarn (warp and weft) on a loom to make a firm fabric. Knitting uses one yarn with needles to make a stretchy fabric. Woven fabric unravels at the edges; knitted fabric can unravel from a single broken loop.

3. Incorrect source of jute: Jute fibre comes from the stem of the jute plant, not the leaf, root, or fruit. Cotton comes from the fruit (boll) of the cotton plant. This distinction is frequently tested.

4. Calling rayon a natural fibre: Rayon is a semi-synthetic (regenerated) fibre. It is made from natural cellulose (wood pulp) but undergoes chemical processing. It is neither fully natural nor fully synthetic. Some exam questions specifically test this distinction.

5. Forgetting the full fibre-to-fabric chain: Always remember the complete sequence: Fibre → Yarn → Fabric. Fibres are spun into yarn; yarn is woven or knitted into fabric. Skipping the yarn step is a common mistake.

Exam Checklist

Before your exam, make sure you can answer "Yes" to each of the following:

• [ ] I can define fibre, yarn, and fabric and explain the relationship between them (fibre → yarn → fabric).
• [ ] I can classify fibres as natural or synthetic with at least three examples of each.
• [ ] I can describe the complete process of making cotton cloth from raw cotton (cultivation → ginning → spinning → weaving/knitting).
• [ ] I can explain the process of obtaining jute fibre, including retting.
• [ ] I can explain sericulture and the process of obtaining silk from silkworms.
• [ ] I can list at least three animals that provide wool and the type of wool each provides.
• [ ] I can differentiate between weaving and knitting with examples.
• [ ] I can explain why cotton clothes are preferred in summer and why jute bags are better than plastic bags.