JAWAHAR HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL

neyveli

TO STUDY THE EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

USING A COMPASS NEEDLE -BAR MAGNET
BY PLOTTING MAGNETIC FIELD LINES AND
TANGENT GALVANOMETER.

SUBMITTED BY:
THARUN E

GUIDED BY:
Mrs. SUNITHA S S
GROUP MEMBERS

PRADEEP K

PRAVEEN E

SAI AAKASH V

SANJAY DIVESH V

THARUN E
 JAWAHAR HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,NEYVELI

CERTIFICATE

Name :
Class :
Subject :
Registration Number :

This is to certify that the above-mentioned

student of class XII - K , Jawahar Higher Secondary
School, Neyveli has completed the Physics Project
during the academic year 2023 – 2024 for the AISSCE
as prescribed by CBSE.

Submitted on:

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I am immensely indebted almighty god for his

blessing and grace without which I could not have
undertaken this task and my efforts would never have
been a success.
I consider a privilege and honor to express my heartiest
and profound gratitude to
, principal, JHSS and
MRS. SETHUMANI .M ,vice principal JHSS
for her appropriate direction, valuable suggestion , under
assistance so generously extended to me.
I wish to express my deepest feeling of gratitude to
MRS. SUNITHA S.S . Her sustained guidance has been
pivotal in my project work.
This guidance and support received from my entire
classmates who contributed to this project, is vital for the
success of project. I also owe sense of gratitude to my
parents for encouragement and support through the
project.
 INDEX

S.NO T I T L E Page.NO
1 Aim 1
2 Apparatus Required 2
3 Theory 2
4 Principle 4
5 Procedure 5
6 Observation 9
7 Calculation 10
8 Precaution 11
9 Result 13
10 Bibliography 13
 AIM

To study the earth’s magnetic field using a compass

needle -bar magnet by plotting magnetic field lines and
tangent galvanometer.

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 APPARATUS REQUIRED

• Compass needle
• Bar magnet
• Tangent galvanometer
• Power supply
• Connecting wires
• Graph paper
• Protractor

THEORY

1. Compass Needle: The compass needle is like a tiny

magnet that aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field.
It’s got a north and south pole, just like a bar magnet.
When you let it hang freely, it points towards the Earth’s
magnetic north pole, which is actually close to the
geographic south pole.

2. Earth’s Magnetic Field: The Earth itself is like a big

magnet, with its magnetic field stretching from the North
Pole to the South Pole. This magnetic field is created by
the movement of hot, liquid iron in the Earth’s outer core.
It’s this magnetic field that affects how the compass
needle behaves.

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3. Bar Magnet: A bar magnet is a magnet with a north
and south pole. By bringing a bar magnet close to the
compass needle, you can create a mini magnetic field.
The magnetic field lines of the bar magnet interact with
the Earth’s magnetic field, causing the compass needle to
move away from its original position.

4. Plotting Magnetic Field Lines: By moving the bar

magnet around the compass needle, you can see how the
needle’s direction changes. By marking the spots where
the needle points, you can actually trace out the magnetic
field lines. These lines show you the direction and strength
of the Earth’s magnetic field in that area.

5. Tangent Galvanometer: A tangent galvanometer is a

device that measures the strength of a magnetic field. It’s
got a coil of wire and a magnetic needle. When you pass
an electric current through the coil, it creates a magnetic
field. The magnetic needle lines up with this field, letting
you measure its strength.

6. By using the tangent galvanometer at different points

along the traced magnetic field lines, you can get actual
data on the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field. This
data helps scientists make maps and understand how the
magnetic field varies in different places.

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 PRINCIPLE
The principle used to study the Earth’s magnetic field
using a compass needle, bar magnet, plotting magnetic
field lines, and tangent galvanometer is the interaction
between magnetic fields. The compass needle aligns itself
with the Earth’s magnetic field, the bar magnet creates its
own magnetic field that interacts with the Earth’s field,
and the tangent galvanometer measures the strength of

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the magnetic field. By observing and analyzing these
interactions, we can understand and study the Earth’s
magnetic field.

PROCEDURE
The procedure to study the Earth’s magnetic field using a
compass needle, bar magnet, and tangent galvanometer
involves several steps. Here is a general outline of the
process:

1. Set up the apparatus:

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 ➢ Place the bar magnet on a smooth surface, ensuring
that it remains stationary.
➢ Connect the tangent galvanometer to a power supply
using connecting wires, creating a circuit.
➢ Position the compass needle near the bar magnet,
such that it can freely rotate.

2. Determine the orientation of the magnetic field

lines:

➢ Place the compass needle near the bar magnet and

observe its deflection.
➢ Mark the direction in which the needle points on the
paper.
➢ Move the compass needle to different points around
the bar magnet, marking the direction of deflection
at each point.
➢ Connect the marked points to obtain a continuous
curve. This curve represents the magnetic field lines
around the bar magnet.

3. Measure the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field

using the tangent galvanometer:

➢ Adjust the power supply to supply a current to the

tangent galvanometer. This will create a magnetic
field within the coil.

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 ➢ Note the deflection angle of the tangent
galvanometer using a scale or a mirror and a light
beam. Take multiple readings to increase accuracy.
➢ Measure the angle between the plane of the coil and
the horizontal plane to determine the tangent of the
angle.
➢ Use the tangent function and the calibration constant
of the tangent galvanometer to calculate the strength
of the magnetic field at each location.

4. Plot the Earth’s magnetic field lines:

➢ Use the measured deflection angles and the

calculated strengths of the magnetic field to plot the
Earth’s magnetic field lines on the graph paper.
➢ Connect the plotted points with curves or straight
lines to obtain a representation of the Earth’s
magnetic field lines.

5. Analyze and interpret the results:

➢ Examine the shape, orientation, and intensity of the

plotted magnetic field lines.
➢ Compare the observed magnetic field lines with
known patterns and maps of the Earth’s magnetic
field to identify any deviations or anomalies.

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 ➢ Analyze the relationship between the strength of the
magnetic field and the deflection angle of the
compass needle or the tangent galvanometer.

Remember to take into account any external influences

that could affect the measurements, such as nearby
magnetic objects or electrical currents. It is also important
to repeat the measurements at different locations to
obtain a comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s
magnetic field

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 OBSERVATION
When studying the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass
needle, bar magnet, plotting magnetic field lines, and a
tangent galvanometer, you can make the following
observations:
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 1. The compass needle aligns itself with the Earth’s
magnetic field, indicating the direction of the
magnetic field lines.

2. When the bar magnet is introduced, it affects the

alignment of the compass needle, showing the
interaction between the bar magnet’s magnetic field
and the Earth’s magnetic field.

3. By tracing the path of the compass needle around the

bar magnet, you can visualize the shape and
direction of the magnetic field lines.

4. The tangent galvanometer can measure the strength

of the magnetic field, as indicated by the deflection of
the needle. A greater deflection suggests a stronger
magnetic field.
These observations help us understand and study the
Earth’s magnetic field.

CALCULATION
1. Compass needle deflection:

➢ Measure the angle between the initial position

of the compass needle and its deflected
position.

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 ➢ By marking the deflection angles at various
points around the bar magnet and connecting
the points, you can plot the magnetic field
lines.

2. Tangent galvanometer deflection:

➢ To calculate the strength of the magnetic field,

the angle between the plane of the coil and the
horizontal plane.

3. Measure the angle between the plane of the coil

and the horizontal plane using a protractor:

Tanθ = opposite/adjacent

Formula: B = K * tanθ where B – strength of the

magnetic field, K is the calibration constant, and θ – angle
between the plane of the coil and the horizontal plane.

PRECAUTIONS

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When studying the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass
needle, bar magnet, plotting magnetic field lines, and a
tangent galvanometer, here are some precautions to keep
in mind:

• Ensure a stable and level surface for accurate

observations with the compass needle and bar
magnet.

• Avoid placing the compass needle or bar magnet

near any magnetic objects or electrical devices that
could interfere with the measurements.

• Take care when handling the bar magnet to avoid

any injuries or accidents, as they can be strong and
attract metallic objects.

• When plotting magnetic field lines, use a ruler or

straight edge to maintain the accuracy of the lines.

• Be cautious when using the tangent galvanometer

and follow any safety guidelines or instructions
provided with the equipment.

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 RESULT
The results include understanding the direction of the
magnetic field lines, observing the interaction between
the bar magnet and the Earth's magnetic field, visualizing
the shape of the magnetic field lines through plotting, and
measuring the strength of the magnetic field using the
tangent galvanometer

BIBLIOGRAPHY
NCERT physics – XII

Comprehensive practical physics – XII

Arora physics reference book class XII

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