COMPARISION OF MAGNETIC MOMENTS OF TWO MAGNETS

BY DEFLECTION AND VIBRATION MAGNETOMETER

Aim: To compare the magnetic moments of two magnets by deflection

magnetometer and vibration magnetometer.

Apparatus used: Deflection magnetometer with arm, bar magnet, brass bar
of same length and vibration magnetometer.

Diagram:
Magnetic needle Aluminum Pointer

90
N S S N
0 0

90
Tan A Position
S N
N

90
W E
0 0

90
S
Tan B Position N S

Fig. 1 Schematic representation of deflection magnetometer in TanA and

TanB positions.

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

 Stirrup

Fig. 2 Vibration magnetometer with bar magnet in the stirrup.

Magnetometer Arm Magnetometer Magnetometer Arm

Fig. 3 Deflection Magnetometer with bar magnet in one arm.

{Magnet (blue: south and red: north)}

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

Theory and Formula used:

-: Deflection magnetometer :-
This technique is based on the Tangent law of magnetism. In the absence of
any magnetic field, the magnetic needle experiences a force F  H tan  due
to earth horizontal component H. If a second magnet is brought near to the
magnetic needle, the magnetic needle experiences two forces, one due to
earth’s magnetic field, and other due to the other magnet. So the needle will
align itself in such a direction that both the forces balance each other.
The magnet can be placed in two ways with respect to the magnetic needle,
i.e., TanA and TanB position.
In Tan A position the force due to other magnet is
2Md
F (1)
d 
2
2
 l2

And this force is balanced by earth magnetic field, so

 
2
2 Md H d 2  l2
 H tan   M tan  (2)
d 
2
2
l 2 2d

Similarly in Tan B position

M
 
3/ 2
 H tan   M  H d 2  l2 tan  (3)
d 
3/ 2
2
 l2

If we have two magnets, then the ratio of magnetic moment of magnet-I

 M1  and magnet-II  M 2  in tan A and in tan B positions respectively is

 
2
M 1 d 2 d1  l1
2 2
tan 1
Tan A  (4)
  tan  2
2
M2 d d 2  l2
1 2 2

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

  
3/ 2
M1 d12  l12 tan 1
Tan B  (5)
  tan  2
3/ 2
M2 d 22  l22

-: Vibration or Oscillation magnetometer :-

If a magnet of magnetic moment M is placed in a stirrup of vibration
magnetometer and set into oscillations in earth’s horizontal field H, then the
time period T of the oscillations is given as
I
T  2
MH

where I 

m a 2  b2  , a : length of rod and b : breadth of the rod
12
In this experiment, we will make use of this principle. First time period for
one magnet will be obtained. And then time period of the magnet with one
brass rod of same dimension will be obtained. Since the brass rod is non-
magnetic, the magnetic moment will be only due to the magnet.

If T1 : time period of oscillation of bar magnet-I

T2 : time period of oscillation of bar magnet + brass bar, then

 I  IB I  IB
T22  T12  2     2 (6)
 M1H M1H  M1H

Similarly,
If t1 : time period of oscillation of bar magnet-II
t2 : time period of oscillation of bar magnet + brass bar, then

 I  IB I  IB
t22  t12  2     2 (7)
 M2H M2H  M2H

Hence,

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

 IB
2
t t
2 2
M 2H M 2 t22  t12 M
2 1
    1 (8)
T  T1
2 2 I M1 T2  T1
2 2
M2
2 2 B
M1H

Hence, the magnetic moment of the two magnets can be compared by

knowing their time period of oscillations.

Procedure:
-: Deflection magnetometer :-
1. Align the magnetometer arm along east – west direction. This is the
direction perpendicular to the direction of magnetic needle (red – blue)
or the direction parallel to the aluminum pointer (see fig. 1).
2. The aluminum pointer should read 0 – 0.
3. Place the bar magnet-I (end-on or longitudinally) at a suitable distance
from the magnetometer in the east arm with ‘N’ towards east (see fig
1). The aluminum pointer should read between 30o – 60o. Record the
deflections as 1 and  2
4. Turn the magnet upside down and note down the deflections as 3
and  4 . This is done to take care of any inhomogenity of magnetic field
in the magnet poles.
5. Change the polarity of the magnet i.e., ‘N’ towards west, with magnet
still in east arm. The distance ‘d’ remains same. Enter the deflections
in table 1 as 5 and 6 . Turn the magnet upside down as in step 4 and
record 7 and 8 .
6. Now change the arm of the magnetometer. Put the magnet in the west
arm of the magnetometer and repeat the steps 3 – 5. Enter the
deflections as 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 .

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

7. Similarly repeat the steps 3 – 6 for magnet-II and enter the deflections
in table 3.
8. Now align the magnetometer arm along north – south direction. This is
the direction parallel to the direction of magnetic needle (red – blue) or
the direction perpendicular to the aluminum pointer (see fig. 1).
9. Adjust the magnetometer such that the aluminum pointer reads 0 – 0.
Place the bar magnet-I on the broad side-on position or laterally along
the north arm of magnetometer (see fig 1), such that aluminum pointer
reads between 30o – 60o .
10. Obtain the values of 1 to 16 as done for end-on position.
11. Repeat the step 9 for magnet-II in broadside-on position.
12. Similarly repeat the steps 9 – 11 in south arm of the magnetometer for
both the magnets, magnet-I and magnet-II.

-: Vibration or Oscillation magnetometer :-

1. Align the oscillation magnetometer along north – south direction.

2. Place the magnet-I in the stirrup carefully such that the stirrup should not
wobble. Wait till the stirrup comes to rest.
3. Bring another magnet close to the suspended magnet and remove so as to
set the suspended magnet into oscillation of small amplitude. Find the
time for twenty oscillations, T1. Repeat this step two more times and
enter the values as T2 and T3 in table 5.
4. Put the brass bar along with the magnet-I in the stirrup and repeat steps 2
– 3. Enter the values of T1 – T3 in table 5.
5. Similarly repeat the steps 2 – 4 for magnet-II and enter the data in table 6.

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

Observations:
(A) Deflection magnetometer:
Table 1: ENDON Position in TanA for magnet-I
S.No. Distance EAST ARM WEST ARM Mean
‘d’
(c.m.)
‘N’ in East ‘N’ in West ‘N’ in East ‘N’ in West A tan  A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1
2
3

Table 2: BROADSIDEON Position in TanB for magnet-I

S.No. Distance NORTH ARM SOUTH ARM Mean
‘d’
(c.m.)
‘N’ in East ‘N’ in West ‘N’ in East ‘N’ in West B tan  B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1
2
3

**NOTE: Similarly make the table 3 and table 4 for Magnet-II.

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

(B) Oscillation magnetometer:
Table 5: Time period for magnet-I
S.No T1 T2 T3 Mean Time period t12
Magnet-I Time for 20 Time for 20 Time for 20 T1  T 2  T 3 Tmean
Tmean  t1 
oscillations oscillations oscillations 3 20
1
2
Magnet-I Time for 20 Time for 20 Time for 20 T1  T 2  T 3 Tmean t22
Tmean  t1 
+ Brass oscillations oscillations oscillations 3 20
1
2

Table 6: Time period for magnet-II

S.No T1 T2 T3 Mean Time period T12
Magnet- Time for 20 Time for 20 Time for 20 T1  T 2  T 3 Tmean
Tmean  T1 
II oscillations oscillations oscillations 3 20
1
2
Magnet- Time for 20 Time for 20 Time for 20 T1  T 2  T 3 Tmean T22
Tmean  T1 
II + oscillations oscillations oscillations 3 20
Brass
1
2

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

Calculations:
(A) Deflection magnetometer: The equations (4) and (5) for d1  d 2  d
modifies to

 
2
M1 d 2  l12 tan 1
Tan A 
  tan  2
2
M2 d 2  l22

 
3/ 2
M1 d 2  l12 tan 1
Tan B 
  tan  2
3/ 2
M2 d 2  l22

Hence, from table (A) put the respective values of tan  A and tan  B for a
M1
known value of d and calculate for tanA and tanB positions.
M2

(B) Oscillation magnetometer: From the time period obtained in table (B),
t22  t12 M M
use the formula,  1 , to find the ratio, 1 .
T2  T1
2 2
M2 M2

Error {(M1/M2)}: The working formulas in this case are

   
2 3/ 2
M1 d 2  l12 tan 1 M1 d 2  l12 tan 1 M1 t2  t2
 ;  ;  22 1 2
  tan  2   tan  2 M 2 T2  T1
2 3/ 2
M2 d 2  l22 M2 d 2  l22

M 
To get   1  , take natural logarithm and partial differentiation of working
 M2 

formula (as done in the manual of bar pendulum).

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

Result: The ratio of magnetic moments of the two given bar magnets using
M1 M 
(a) Deflection magnetometer is   1 .
M2  M2 

M1 M 
(b) Oscillation magnetometer is   1 .
M2  M2 

Precautions and Sources of error:

1. The magnetometer should be aligned correctly in appropriate direction

and the deflection should be recorded carefully.
2. The oscillation for time period should be small and freely oscillating.
3. The number of oscillations should be counted correctly.

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela

 Magnetic needle Aluminum Pointer

90
N S S N
0 0

90
Tan A Position
S N
N

90
W E
0 0

90
S
Tan B Position N S

Revised by Dr. P.N.Vishwakarma, Department of Physics, NIT Rourkela