A SEMINAR ON DETERMINING

THE VALUE OF HORIZONTAL

MAGNETIC FIELD OF EARTH BY
MAGNETOMETERS

BY
PRATIKSHA PRIYAM BARUAH
 CONTENTS
1. Magnet
• Types of magnet
• Properties of magnet
• Definition connected with magnet
2. Earth’s magnetic field
• Evidences
• Theories
• Related Definitions
• Elements of Earth’s magnetic field
3. Experiment
• Apparatus used
• Derivation of working formula
• Procedure
• Observation
• Calculation
• Error Calculation
4. Result
5. Precaution
6. Effects of magnetic Field
7. References
MAGNETS
 A piece of iron or other material which has its
component atoms known as magnetic domains so
ordered that the material exhibits properties of
magnetism, such as attracting other iron-containing
objects or aligning itself in an external magnetic field.

 It is a material with both attractive and directive

properties.

 At first the Greeks had knowledge about it at 6th

century B.C.
CLASSIFICATION OF
MAGNETS
 Diamagnetism
 Paramagnetism
 Ferromagnetism
 Anti-ferromagnetism
 Ferrimagnetism
TYPES OF MAGNET
 Bar magnet

 Magnetic needle

 Horse shoe magnet

 Ball ended magnet

PROPERTIES OF MAGNET
 Attractive property

 Directive property

 Like poles repel and unlike poles attract

 Magnetic poles always exist in pairs

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
CONNECTED WITH MAGNETISM
 Magnetic field
The space around a magnet within which its
influence can be experienced is called its
magnetic field.

 Magnetic poles
Region where magnetic attraction is maximum.
It is not at its geometrical ends.
 Magnetic axis
The line passing through the poles of a magnet.

 Magnetic equator
The line passing through the center of the magnet and
right angles to the magnetic axis.

 Magnetic length
The distance between the two poles of a magnet.
magnetic length = 0.84 x geometric length
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD
EVIDENCES IN SUPPORT OF
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

 A freely suspended magnetic needle comes to

rest roughly in north south direction.

 An iron bar buried in the earth becomes weak

magnet after some time.

 Existence of neutral points near a bar magnet.

DIFFERENT THEORIES ON
ORIGIN OF EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD
 In 1600, William Gilbert suggested that earth’s
magnetism is due to presence of magnetic
material at its centre which could be a permanent
magnet. However, the core of the earth is so hot
that permanent magnet cannot exist there.

 Prof. Blackett said that earth’s magnetism was

due to rotation of earth. Every substance is made
of charged particles such as protons, neutrons.
As these particles rotate along with the earth they
cause circulating current which in turn magnetises
the earth.
 Cosmic rays cause the ionisation of gases in the
earth’s atmosphere. As the earth rotates, strong
electric currents are set up due to the movement of
the charged ions. Hence currents may be the source
of magnetism.

 There are large deposits of ferromagnetic materials

like iron, nickel etc. In the core of the earth. The core
is very hot and molten. The circulating ions in the
highly conducting liquid region of the earth’s core
forms current loops and hence produces magnetic
field.
At recent, this hypothesis seems most probable
because our moon, which has no molten core has no
MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE
EARTH

Fig.: Magnetic Field of

 DEFINITIONS CONNECTED WITH
EARTH’S MAGNETISM
 Geographic axis
The straight line passing through geographic north
and south poles of earth.

 Magnetic axis
The straight line passing through the magnetic
north and south poles of the earth.
Magnetic axis of earth makes an angle 20
degree with the geographic axis. At present, the
magnetic south pole is located at a point in Arctic
Ocean in Northern Canada and magnetic north pole
is located at the coast of Antarctica in the direction of
Australia towards South pole.
 Magnetic equator
It is the great circle on the earth perpendicular to the
magnetic axis.

 Magnetic meridian
The vertical plane passing through magnetic axis of a
freely suspended small magnet.

 Geographic meridian
The vertical plane passing through geographic north
and south poles.
 ELEMENTS OF EARTH’S
MAGNETIC FIELD
 Magnetic declination
The angle between the geographical meridian
and magnetic meridian.

 Angle of dip or magnetic inclination

The angle made by the earth’s total magnetic
field B with the horizontal direction in the magnetic
meridian.

 Horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field

It is the component of Earth’s total magnetic
field in the horizontal direction in the magnetic
Diagram

Fig.: Elements of Earth’s Magnetic

Field
APPARATUS USED
 A deflection magnetometer

 Vibration magnetometer
 A rectangular brass bar

 A stop watch.

 Bar magnet
Position of magnetometer
 Tangent A position

 Tangent B position
 DERIVATION OF WORKING
FORMULA
 For the deflection magnetometer :

Magnetic field of a bar magnet at an axial point is B=

where, M = magnetic moment of the magnet

d = distance between the centers of the magnet and the

needle.
l = half the magnetic length.
 Tangent law :
If a freely suspended small magnet is acted upon by two uniform
mutually perpendicular magnetic fields B1 and B2 simultaneously, then the
magnet comes to rest in such a position that the tangent of the angle ϴ that
the magnet makes with B1 is the ratio of B1 to B2.

tan ϴ =

When a compass needle is placed on the earth’s magnetic field, it stays

along the horizontal component BH of the field.
So, tan ϴ =

so, the formula becomes

 For the vibration magnetometer :
Torque experienced by a magnet is given by the formula,

For small angular

displacement

If ‘I’ is the moment of inertia of magnet, then deflecting torque on

the magnet is ,
and angular accelaration,
so, angular velocity,

Then, time period

It gives,
WORKING FORMULA
1.

2.
 PROCEDURE
 The mass (m), length ( L ) and breadth ( b ) of the given magnet
are determined.

 The moment of inertia (I) of the magnet is then calculated.

 All the magnets and magnetic substance are removed from the
working table.

 The magnetometer is placed on the table with its two arms

perpendicular to the magnetic meridian, i.e. perpendicular to the
magnetic needle (ns). At this time the point usually reads (OO-OO)
of the circular scale.

 The magnet (NS) now place on the arm of the magnetometer at

the each side of the needle, so that the length of the magnet is
parallel to the arm.

 The position of the magnet on the arm is adjusted until the

position reads about 450, 430 and 470on the circular scale. The
 With alternate N-pole S-pole and alternate surfaces of
the magnet we get altogether 8 readings.

 M/BH is calculated.

 The magnet is then suspended horizontally in the

vibration Magnetometer box. The magnet is deflected by
a very small angle by bringing momentarily an auxiliary
magnet near to it.

 The time taken by the magnet for its 20 oscillations is

repeated thrice. Then it is divided by 20 to get the time
period T.

 The value of I, MBH and T are put into the working

 OBSERVATION

 Mass of the magnet = 93.04 g

 Length of the magnet, l’ = 15.2 cm.

 Half of the magnetic length, l = 15.2 x 8.5 cm

2
= 7.6 cm
 Breadth, b’ = 1.15cm
A) Table for determining the value of
S. Mean Position Deflection of the magnet in degree Mean Mean Value of Mean
No of the of the when the magnet deflection of the 𝑀 𝑀
scale flat On east arm of On west arm of in degree degree 𝐵𝐻 𝐵𝐻
reading surface magnetometer magnetometer
for the N-pole S-pole N-pole S-pole
two pointing pointing pointing pointing
ends of the the the the
the needle needle needle needle
magnet End End End End End End End End
I II I II I II I II
1 28.15 up 45 45 45 45 45 46 45 47 45.25 45.25 9.59X104
down 45 45 45 45 42 47 45 47 45.13
2 28.14 up 43 41 46 46 43 42 45 46 44 43.4 9.06X10
4 9.49X104
down 40 41 45 45 43 41 45 43 42.8
3 27.90 up 47 44 47 49 47 47 46 45 46.75 46.6 9.84X104
down 46 45 48 47 46 47 47 46 46.5
B) Table for determining T and MBH
No. of Time of 20 Mean time (t) Period (T) Moment of MBH
2 2
observation oscillation sec sec inertia (kg m ) (m tesla)
-4 -4
1 140 136 6.83 1.8X10 1.52X10
2 134
3 136
CALCULATION
 Combining the equations, we get

So, the determined value of earth’s horizontal magnetic field is

ERROR CALCULATION
Result

 The value of BH , the horizontal component of

earth’s magnetic field obtained from the
experiment is = (39×10-
6±0.094)Tesla.
 PRECAUTIONS
 All magnetic substances must be removed from the
working table.

 Arms of the magnetometer must be adjusted

properly to bring it perpendicular to the magnetic
meridian.

 During the oscillation of the magnet the amplitude

should be made small

 Oscillation of the suspension fibre should be

avoided.
 EFFECTS OF MAGNETIC FIELD
 The magnetic field helps us find our way around. Using
a compass, we can tell which way is north even when
there are no familiar landmarks in sight.
 The magnetic field shields us from much harmful
radiation. The sun sends out cosmic rays of high-
energy particles known as the solar wind. The charged
particles in cosmic rays are deflected by the magnetic
field and many are prevented from hitting the
atmosphere directly. Some are trapped into two
concentric doughnut-like bands around the Earth called
the Van Allen Belts
 AURORA
Solar wind causes ionisation of atmosphere near
the poles which causes displays of colours known
as aurora. Also known as Aurora borealis or
northern lights in northern lights and aurora
australis or southern lights in southern hemisphere.
REFERENCES
 Simplified Physics; S.L.Arora
 Concept of Physics; H.C. Verma
 B.Sc. Practical Physics; C.L. Arora
 Wikipedia