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Extract from the Chapter
4. Magnetic Hills in Leh district, Ladakh
In the travels around Leh-Ladakh, is a fascinating sight which arouses curiosity to no end—the Magnetic Hill, a place where gravity takes a backseat!
Lying at a distance of around 30 km from Leh, the Magnetic Hill is marked by a yellow signboard which reads ‘The Phenomenon That Defies Gravity’. It also instructs visitors to park vehicles in the box marked with a white point on the road, which is known as the Magnetic Road. When the vehicles are parked at the indicated spot, they begin moving forward at a speed of almost 20km/h. This unusual place creates an optical illusion where vehicles appear to roll uphill, a sight that has left tourists in disbelief for years, caused by the peculiar alignment of surrounding slopes and the horizon line.
In the travels around Leh-Ladakh, is a fascinating sight which arouses curiosity to no end—the Magnetic Hill, a place where gravity takes a backseat!
Lying at a distance of around 30 km from Leh, the Magnetic Hill is marked by a yellow signboard which reads ‘The Phenomenon That Defies Gravity’. It also instructs visitors to park vehicles in the box marked with a white point on the road, which is known as the Magnetic Road. When the vehicles are parked at the indicated spot, they begin moving forward at a speed of almost 20km/h. This unusual place creates an optical illusion where vehicles appear to roll uphill, a sight that has left tourists in disbelief for years, caused by the peculiar alignment of surrounding slopes and the horizon line.
optical illusion
— something that tricks your eyes and makes you see it differently from how it really is
Summary in Bullet Points
- Location: Around 30 km from Leh, according to the textbook.
- What appears to happen: Vehicles seem to move uphill at the marked spot.
- Explanation: The source describes an optical illusion created by slopes and the horizon.
- Why it amazes: The eye interprets the gradient differently from reality.
Questions from this Section
Why do vehicles appear to roll uphill at Magnetic Hill?
2 Marks
How to answer:
State the phenomenon and its direct explanation.
View Answer
Answer: The textbook explains that the surrounding slopes and horizon create an optical illusion, making the road’s gradient appear different from what it actually is.
How does Magnetic Hill fit the unit theme ‘Mystery and Magic’ even though the explanation is scientific?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain what the detail shows beyond the basic fact.
View Answer
Answer: At first the sight seems to defy gravity and feels mysterious. The optical-illusion explanation shows how a puzzling experience can look magical while still having a natural explanation.
