E401

Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Force

Panganiban, Rouella Christine L.
PHY13L/B1

Error Analysis

In obtaining the data for the experiment, the following errors may have occurred:
incomplete definition since 2 trials were made for every part of the experiment having a small
discrepancy in every data gathered, failure to calibrate the digital balance may also produce an
error in the experiment that may give an imprecise answer.

Data Analysis

The first part of the experiment shows the magnetic field of permanent magnets. The north
pole of a bar magnet is placed in front of a north pole of another bar magnet. Following the like
poles repel and unlike attract, the magnets repel each other. There are no field lines in the center
because the vector nature of magnetic fields will cancel each other. Then, another bar magnet is
placed in front of a bar magnet with a different orientation. There are no magnetic field lines
outside because the field is weak on that region. A U-magnet is placed in front of another U-
magnet with the same orientation with an iron ring placed on the center of the magnets. It is
noticeable that there will be no magnetic field lines in the center of the iron ring because it will
serve as an insulator but magnetic field lines are present outside the iron ring because iron is also
attracted to the magnet and has the potential to attract other iron. In the second part of the
experiment, the voltage is set at maximum with current as 5 amps it can be seen that as the number
of magnet increases the magnetic force in newton and in gram also increases. For the next part,
the voltage is then again set at maximum with current increasing it can also be seen that as the
current increases the magnetic force in newton and in gram also increases. For the magnetic force
and length of current loop, the voltage is set at maximum and a current of 2 amps with changing
of current loop and length, it can be deduced that magnetic force increases with the length. Lastly,
for the magnetic force and orientation of coil, the magnetic force increases as the angle also
increases. When the angle theta is set to negative, it will also give a negative magnetic force thus
decreasing.

Conclusion

In studying the nature of magnetic fields around the poles of magnets, the concept of like
poles repel and unlike poles attract play a huge part. A magnetic field can only be present if a
magnetic force can be exerted in a magnet. When like poles are together there will be no field lines
in the center because the direction of the field lines is always from the north to south unlike when
unlike poles are together there are field lines present in the center. In addition, the magnetic force
is always stronger near the poles as well as the density of the magnetic field lines. The magnitude
of magnetic force on a current-carrying wire is always perpendicular to both the wire and the
magnetic field. Analyzing the magnetic force and magnetic field, the number of magnets represent
the number of magnetic field present and they are directly proportional to each other. Similar to
the aforementioned, the relationship of magnetic force and current are also directly proportional
to each other although the magnetic force will always remain zero if the current is also zero and
wire is parallel to the external magnetic field. Moreover, with the orientation of the current-
carrying wire magnetic force will always be at its maximum if magnetic field is perpendicular and
minimum if magnetic field is parallel.

Application

Magnets are and always will be a part of our everyday life. First, the earth’s magnetic fields
are used for orientation and navigation. Its application can be as simple as the permanent magnets
like the refrigerator in our homes to put reminders or notes. Magnets are also used to generate
electricity. Magnets in generators turn mechanical energy to electricity. In a much larger picture,
magnets are a big part in medicine and especially in engineering. Almost all of the appliances,
technologies, and devices use magnets and its principles to function properly that leads to a more
efficient and methodical lifestyle.