VIT University, Vellore Campus PHY 102 (Materials Science) Lab Manual and Record

Date: Reg. No.

QuiNcke’s method: magNetic susceptibiLity

Aim of the Experiment:

To determine the magnetic susceptibility of a given solution by Quincke’s method

Apparatus Required:

 Constant current source

 Electromagnet
 Quincke’s tube
 Travelling microscope
 Sample solution

Basic Theory:

When some materials are subjected to a magnetic field, they become magnetized, and the
level of its magnetism depends on the strength of the applied field 'H'. We need a quantity
which describes the degree to which a body is magnetized. The quantity that describes the
degree to which the material is magnetized, is called the intensity of magnetization or simply
magnetization (denoted by 'M').

The ratio of these two quantities M and H is called the susceptibility .

M

H

Thus, the magnetic properties of materials are characterized by the way in which M varies
with H.  is a dimension-less quantity. However, since M is the magnetic moment per unit
volume,  is termed as the volume susceptibility. In our experiment we will magnetize the
given solution using an electromagnet for known magnetic field strengths. Later, we can
estimate the susceptibility of the solution to the applied magnetic field. For that we need to
estimate the magnetization 'M' of the solution. The magnetic susceptibility is given by,

 h 
  2 g  2 
H 

 – density of the given solution (in the present case, 1220 kg/m3)
VIT University, Vellore Campus PHY 102 (Materials Science) Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.
g – acceleration due to gravity

h – difference in solution height (h1 – h0)

h0 – height of the solution in the absence of magnetic field

h1 – height of the solution in the presence of magnetic field

H – applied magnetic field (refer to the table pasted on top of the instrument)

Procedure:

18. Arrange the apparatus as shown in the figure.

19. Place the Quincke’s tube between the flat pole faces of the electromagnet.

20. Focus the microscope such that the horizontal cross-wire coincides with the lower
meniscus of the solution. (However, through the microscope the solution meniscus
looks inverted)

21. Note the reading on the vertical scale of the traveling microscope. This will be the
initial height of the solution 'h0' in the absence of applied magnetic field.

22. Switch on the constant current power supply unit.

VIT University, Vellore Campus PHY 102 (Materials Science) Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.
23. Rotate the current control knob to predefined current values. (Found on the constant
current power supply unit)

24. Now for every set current value, the solution height raises in the tube.

25. Vary the magnetizing current in steps and every time the solution level raises,
coincide the horizontal cross wire of the traveling microscope to the solution
meniscus and note down the corresponding height.

26. Calculate (h/H2) for each field. Calculate its mean and substitute it in the given
formula.

Table 1: (Least count of travelling microscope = ____________)

(Height of the solution level without magnetic field (h0) = ______________)

S. Magnetizing Magnetic Microscope reading Difference h/H2

No. current field H h1 h = h1 –h0
(Amp) ( ) M.S.R V.S.R. T.R.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
1

Calculations:
VIT University, Vellore Campus PHY 102 (Materials Science) Lab Manual and Record
Date: Reg. No.

Results:

The magnetic susceptibility of the given solution is found to be: