PHYSICS MAPPING

MAGNETIC FIELD LINES OF A

BAR MAGNET.

S .VEDHA
VARSHA
PHYSICS
PROJECT
I. AIM:
 To find the magnetic field lines originating from the bar
magnet placing horizontally in the presence in of the
Earth’s magnetic field.
 To find the resultant of the bar’s magnetic field in the
presence of Earth’s magnetic field.
 Find the null points when the bar magnet is placed with
its magnetic south facing geographic north and when its
magnetic north is facing geographic south.

II. THEORY:
 The property, due to which a substance attracts iron
pieces towards it, is called Magnetism. The substance
possessing the property of magnetism is called as Magnets.
Both poles of the magnets are equally strong. For this
 reason, a magnet is also called a magnetic dipole.
 Like poles repel eat other, unlike poles attract each
other.
 Repulsions are the sure test of magnetism.
 A single magnetic pole does not exist.

III. COULOMB’S LAW OF FORCE BETWEEN

MAGNETIC POLES
 Statement : The force of attraction or repulsion
between two magnetic poles is directly proportional to the
product of the strength of the two poles and inversely
proportional to the distance them.
The force is mutual and acts along the
line joining poles.

 Expression : If two magnetic poles of strength +m1 and

 +m2 be kept at distance r apart the repulsive force F
between them is given by F = k m1m2 /r 2 where k is
Constant of proportionality.
Its value depends upon the medium and system of units
chosen For medium as air, k = 1 in C.G.S units and
.

µo/4π in S.I units.{µo is permeability of free space, its

value being 4π * 10-7 weber /amp meter [Wb A-1 m-1]}.
IV. UNIT MAGNETIC POLE: For between two magnetic
fields poles in any medium is given by the equation, F=
µo/4π(µ)m1m2/r 2 [S.I]
Where µ is permeability of medium.
If m1 =m2 = +1 [+ for North Pole, - for South
Pole]
µ = 1 [for air, strictly vacuum]
r = 1 meter.
Then the general equation is changed as,
 F = µo/4π = 10-7N
Hence, unit pole is that which when placed in air [strictly at
vacuum] at a distance of 1 meter from a similar pole of same
strength will repel it and will be repelled by it, with a force
of 10 -7N.
V. MAGNETIC FIELD
The space around a single magnetic pole or a magnetic
dipole in which its influence is experienced by another single
magnetic pole or magnetic dipole is called the magnetic field
of the first single magnetic pole or magnetic dipole.
VI. MAGNETIC FIELD INTENSITY
 Definition: Magnetic field intensity at a point in the
magnetic field of a single magnetic pole is defined as the
force experienced by a unit north pole [test pole] placed at
that point[ provided that the presence of the test pole does
not affect the original field].It is represented by the
symbol B.
 It is also called MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY at that
point.
 EXPRESSION: For field pole strength m, m1=m,
m2=m [test pole] and F =B.
From expression,
F = k m1m2 /r 2
We have,
B=m/r2[C.G.S Unit]
=µo/4πm/r2 [S.I.Unit]

 UNIT: S.I.Unit of B is Telsa [T].

One Telsa is magnetic field intensity at a point, if a force
of one newton acts on a unit North Pole placed there
[1 Telsa = 104 gauss = 10 -7 oersteds]
  DIRECTION: B is vector quantity [because it is a
force] represented by B . It acts in the direction of force
on a unit North Pole. Hence it acts away from a north
pole and towards a South Pole.

VII. UNIFORM MAGNETIC FIELD

Magnetic field in a space (region) is uniform, if same
force acts in same direction on a unit North Pole at any
point in that space (region).

VIII. MAGNETIC FIELD INTENSITY DUE TO BAR

MAGNET
 INTRODUCTION:
A bar magnet(magnetic dipole) has a north(positive) and
a south (negative) pole of same strength separated by a
distance equal to the magnetic length of the magnet. At any
 point the magnetic field intensity is the vector resultant of
the magnetic field intensities of the single magnetic poles.
As the orientation of these two magnetic poles change for
each point in the field the resultant magnetic field intensity
differs both in magnitude and direction and direction from
point to point. Two special cases arise:
i. When point lies on theaxial line of magnet.
ii. When point lies on the equatorial line of the
magnet.

IX. MAGNETIC FIELD INTENSITY DUE TO A

BAR MAGNET ATA POINT ON ITS AXIAL
LINE
 INTRODUCTION: Let a bar magnet have pole
strength m, magnetic length 2l and magnetic moment
M=2ml. Let P be a point on axial line at a distance d
from its centre O.

 FORMULA: Then the magnetic field intensity at

P due to North Pole,
= m/ (NP) 2 = m/ (r-l) 2 along NP……… (1)
Then magnetic field intensity at P due to South Pole,
 =m/ (SP) 2 = m/ (r+l) 2 along SP……….. (2)
Resultant field intensity at P,
FAXIAL = m/ (r-l) 2- m/ (r+l) 2 along NP
=m [(r+l) 2-(r-l) 2]/ (r2-l2)2
=2.2ml.r/ (r2-l2)2
FA =2Mr/ (r2-l2)2 along NP…….. (3)
For a short magnet, r>>>l,(r2-l2) =r4
Then FA =2M/r3 along North Pole……….. (4)

FA =2M/r3

X. MAGNETIC FIELD INTENSITY DUE TO A

POINT ON ITS EQUATORIAL LINE
 INTRODUCTION: Let a bar magnet have pole
strength m, magnetic length 2l and magnetic moment
M=2ml.

 CALCULATION: Magnetic field intensity at the

point P along the equatorial line of the bar magnet is due
to North Pole
= m/ (NP) 2 =m/ (d2+l2) along NPZ
Magnetic field intensity at P due to South Pole
 =m/ (SP) 2= m/ (d2+l2) along South Pole
Angle of ZPX = SPX = PNS = PSN =α ……… (5)
Components of intensity along PZ are:
i. m/(d2+l2) sinα along PY
ii. m/(d2+l2) cosα along PX
Components of intensity along PS are:
i. m/(d2+l2) sinα along PO
ii. m/(d2+l2) cosα along PX.
The two sin components get cancelled and the two cos
components get added. Hence the above four
equations sums up as
Resultant field intensity at P,
FEQUATORIAL = 2 m/ (d2+l2) cosα along PX
= 2m/ (d2+l2) [l/ (d2+l2)1/2]
FE = M/ (d2+l2)3/2 Along PX [PX II NS]
 For a short magnet, d>>>l, (d2+l2)3/2 = d3
Then, FE=M/d3 along South Pole ……… (6)
NOTE: From the equations (4) and (6) it is clear for short
magnets that FA=2FE.

XI. SUPERPOSITION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS OF

THE BAR MAGNET AND THE EARTH
Since Earth behaves as a magnet, it has its own magnetic
field (due to its horizontal component) which is uniform
over a wide region. When a magnet is placed at a point,
its magnetic field gets superposed on that of the Earth.
This modifies the intensity of the magnetic field of magnet
Resultant magnetic field intensity round a magnet will
change with the orientation of the magnet .When this
field is mapped, different types of field patterns are
obtained.

XII. NEUTRAL POINT

 The horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field has
same magnitude and same direction over a large distance
.Magnetic field of a magnet has different magnitude and
different direction at different points .At some point, in
the region of the magnetic field of the magnet, the two
magnetic fields become equal and opposite .It makes
resultant magnetic field intensity zero at that point. Such a
point is called aneutral point.
Hence neutral point is that point, in the region of the
magnetic field of the magnet, at which the magnetic field
intensities of the Earth and the magnet have equal
magnitudes and opposite directions. It is represented by N
in the diagrams .The resultant magnetic field intensity is
ZERO at neutral point. Two neutral points, N1 and N2
exist symmetrically with respect to the axial line of the
magnet.
XIII. LOCATION OF NEUTRAL POINTS
a) MAGNETIC - North Pole FACING
 GEOGRAPHICAL North Pole
 In this orientation of the magnet the mapped field
pattern comes as shown .Field are opposite in the
region along the equatorial line. Hence neutral points lie
on the equatorial line
 If H represents the horizontal components of
Earth's magnetic field and B represents the magnetic
field intensity of the magnet, then at each neutral point
B=H.
B (d2+l2)3/2 = H
M = H (d2+l2)3/2 ( C.G.S)
=2ml.

b) MAGNETIC NORTH POLE FACING

GEOGRAPHIC SOUTH POLE
In this orientation of the magnet, the fields are opposite
in the axial line. Hence neutral points lie in the axial line.
 As B = H ,
B = 2Md /(d2-l2)2 = H
M = H (d2-l2)2/2d (C.G.S )
=2ml
XIV. PROCEDURE
1) Take a wooden board, A3 size paper, compass,
bar magnet, pencil, pins, etc...
2) Pin the paper firmly to the board and place the bar
magnet with its North Pole pointing towards
geographical North Pole of the Earth in the first case
and pointing towards geographical South Pole of the
Earth in the second case .
3) With the help of compass needle map the magnetic
field lines on the paper in both the cases.
4) Mark the two neutral points as N1 and N2 and
measure the perpendicular distance from the magnet.
XV. OBSERVATION
a) FIRST CASE:
The neutral points lie on the equatorial line and both are
equal in magnitude.
b) SECOND CASE:
The neutral points lie on the axial line and both are
equal in magnitude .Thus in accordance with the law.