CHAPTER 5

MAGNETISM
AND
MATTER
1. Bar Magnet and its properties
2. Current Loop as a Magnetic Dipole and Dipole
Moment
3. Current Solenoid equivalent to Bar Magnet
4. Bar Magnet and it Dipole Moment
5. Coulomb’s Law in Magnetism
6. Important Terms in Magnetism
7. Terrestrial Magnetism
8. Elements of Earth’s Magnetic Field
9. Tangent Law
• Magnetic phenomena are universal in nature. Vast, distant
galaxies, the tiny invisible atoms, humans and beasts all are
permeated through and through with a host of magnetic fields
from a variety of sources.
• The word magnet is derived from the name of an island in Greece
called magnesia where magnetic ore deposits were found, as early
as 600 BC.
• The directional property of magnets was also known since ancient
times. A thin long piece of a magnet, when suspended freely,
pointed in the north-south direction. A similar effect was observed
when it was placed on a piece of cork which was then allowed to
float in still water.
• The name lodestone (or loadstone) given to a naturally occurring
ore of iron magnetite means leading stone.
• Moving charges or electric currents produce magnetic fields. This
discovery, which was made in the early part of the nineteenth
century is credited to Oersted, Ampere, Biot and Savart, among
others.
Some of the commonly known ideas regarding magnetism are:

(i) The earth behaves as a magnet with the magnetic field pointing
approximately from the geographic south to the north.

(ii) When a bar magnet is freely suspended, it points in the north-south

direction. The tip which points to the geographic north is called the north
pole and the tip which points to the geographic south is called the south
pole of the magnet.

(iii) There is a repulsive force when north poles ( or south poles ) of two
magnets are brought close together. Conversely, there is an attractive force
between the north pole of one magnet and the south pole of the other.

(iv) We cannot isolate the north, or south pole of a magnet. If a bar magnet is
broken into two halves, we get two similar bar magnets with somewhat
weaker properties. Unlike electric charges, isolated magnetic north and
south poles known as magnetic monopoles do not exist.

(v) It is possible to make magnets out of iron and its alloys.

• Iron filings sprinkled on a sheet of glass placed over a short bar magnet.
The arrangement of iron filings is as shown in Figure.

• The pattern of iron filings suggests that the magnet has two poles similar to
the positive and negative charge of an electric dipole.
• One pole is designated the North pole and the other, the South pole.
• When suspended freely, these poles point approximately towards the
geographic north and south poles, respectively.
A similar pattern of iron filings is observed around a current carrying solenoid.
- Magnetism is the phenomenon of attracting magnetic substances like iron, nickel,
cobalt, etc.
•A body possessing the property of magnetism is called a magnet.
•A magnetic pole is a region near the end of the magnet where magnetism is
concentrated.
•Earth is a natural magnet.
•The region around a magnet in which it exerts forces on other magnets and on objects
made of iron is a magnetic field.
PROPERTIES OF A BAR MAGNET:
1.A freely suspended magnet aligns itself along North – South direction.
2.Unlike poles attract and like poles repel each other.
3.Magnetic poles always exist in pairs. i.e. Poles can not be separated.
4.A magnet can induce magnetism in other magnetic substances.
5.It attracts magnetic substances.
REPULSION IS THE SUREST TEST OF MAGNETISATION:
A magnet attracts iron rod as well as opposite pole of other magnet. Therefore it is not a
sure test of magnetisation. But, if a rod is repelled with strong force by a magnet, then
the rod is surely magnetised.
REPRESENTATION OF UNIFORM MAGNETIC FIELD:

x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
Uniform magnetic Uniform magnetic field Uniform magnetic field
field on the plane of perpendicular & into the perpendicular & out of the
the diagram plane of the diagram plane of the diagram

Current Loop as a Magnetic Dipole & Dipole Moment:

Magnetic Dipole Moment is
A
M=IA n
B
SI unit is A m2.
TIP: When we look at any one side of the loop carrying current, if
the current is in anti-clockwise direction then that side of the
I loop behaves like Magnetic North Pole and if the current is in
clockwise direction then that side of the loop behaves like
Magnetic South Pole.
PROPERTIES OF MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
DEFINITION: Magnetic Field lines are imaginary lines along which a hypothetical unit
North pole would move when free to do so.

PROPERTIES:
(i) The magnetic field lines of a magnet (or a solenoid) form continuous closed loops.
This is unlike the electric dipole where these field lines begin from a positive charge
and end on the negative charge or escape to infinity.
(ii) The tangent to the field line at a given point represents the direction of the net
magnetic field B at that point.
(iii) The larger the number of field lines crossing per unit area, the stronger is the
magnitude of the magnetic field B. B is larger around region (ii ) than in region (i) .

(i)
(ii)

(iv) The magnetic field lines do not intersect, for if they did, the direction of the magnetic
field would not be unique at the point of intersection.
 BAR MAGNET Geometric Length
1. The line joining the poles of the magnet S P M P
N
is called magnetic axis.
Magnetic Length
2. The distance between the poles of the magnet is called magnetic length of the
magnet.
3. The distance between the ends of the magnet is called the geometrical length
of the magnet.
4. The ratio of magnetic length and geometrical length is nearly 0.84.

MAGNETIC DIPOLE & DIPOLE MOMENT

A pair of magnetic poles of equal and opposite strengths separated by a finite
distance is called a magnetic dipole.
The magnitude of dipole moment is the product of the pole strength m and the
separation 2l between the poles.
Magnetic Dipole Moment is:
M = m.2l. l

S.I unit of pole strength is A.m

The direction of the dipole moment is from South pole to North Pole along the
axis of the magnet.
 Coulomb’s Law in Magnetism
The force of attraction or repulsion between two magnetic poles is directly
proportional to the product of their pole strengths and inversely proportional to
the square of the distance between them.

r
F α m1 m2 m1 m2
F α 1/r2

k m1 m2 µ0 m1 m2
F= or F=
4π r2
r2
(where k = µ0 / 4π is a constant and µ0 = 4π x 10-7 T m A-1)

In vector form µ0 m1 m2 r
F=
4π r2

µ0 m1 m2 r
F=
4π r3
 MAGNETIC INTENSITY or MAGNETISING FORCE (H):
i) Magnetic Intensity at a point is the force experienced by a north pole of
unit pole strength placed at that point due to pole strength of the given
magnet. H=B/µ
ii) It can also be defined as the degree or extent to which a magnetic field
can magnetise a substance.
iii) Its SI unit is ampere-turns per linear metre
iv) Its cgs unit is oersted.

MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH OR MAGNETIC FIELD OR MAGNETIC

INDUCTION OR MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY (B):

i) Magnetic Flux Density is the number of magnetic lines of force

passing normally through a unit area of a substance. B=
µH
ii) Its SI unit is weber-m-2 or tesla (T)
iii) Its cgs unit is gauss (1 gauss = 10- 4 tesla)
 Magnetic Flux(Φ):

i) It is defined as the number of magnetic lines of force passing

normally through a surface.
ii) Its SI unit is weber (Wb)

Relation between B and H:

B = µ H (where µ is the permeability of the medium)

MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY (µ):

It is the degree or extent to which magnetic lines of force can
pass enter a substance.
Its SI unit is T m A-1 or wb A-1 m-1 or H m-1

RELATIVE MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY (µr):

It is the ratio of magnetic flux density in a material to that in vacuum.
It can also be defined as the ratio of absolute permeability of the material
to that in vacuum.
µr = B / B 0 or µr = µ / µ0
 INTENSITY OF MAGNETISATION (I):
i) It is the degree to which a substance is magnetised when placed in a magnetic
field.
ii) It can also be defined as the magnetic dipole moment (M) acquired per unit
volume of the substance (V).
iii) It can also be defined as the pole strength (m) per unit cross-sectional area (A) of
the substance.
iv) I = M / V
v) I = m(2l) / A(2l) =m/A
vi) S.I unit of Intensity of Magnetisation is A m-1.

MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY (χ m ):
v) It is the property of the substance which shows how easily a substance can be
magnetised.
vi) It can also be defined as the ratio of intensity of magnetisation (I) in a substance
to the magnetic intensity (H) applied to the substance.
vii) χ m = I / HSusceptibility has no unit.

Relation between Magnetic Permeability (µr) & Susceptibility (χ m ):

µr = 1 + χ m
Current Solenoid as a Magnetic Dipole or Bar Magnet:

x x x x x x x

I I

TIP: Play previous and next to understand the similarity of field lines.
The resemblance of magnetic field lines for a bar magnet and a solenoid suggest that a
bar magnet may be thought of as a large number of circulating currents in analogy with
a solenoid.
To make this analogy more firm we calculate the axial field of a finite solenoid depicted
in the diagram.

Let the solenoid consists of n turns per unit length. Let its length be 2l and radius a.
P is a point on the axial field of the solenoid, at a distance r from its centre O.
Consider a circular element of thickness dx of the solenoid at a distance x from its
centre. It consists of n dx turns. Let I be the current in the solenoid.
The magnitude of the magnetic field at point P due to the circular element is:
 The range of x is from – l to + l.
Consider the far axial field of the solenoid, i.e., r >> a and r >> l. Then the
denominator is approximated by:

The magnitude of the magnetic moment of the solenoid is, M = n (2l) I (πa 2 )
Thus, we have,

This is also the far axial magnetic field of a bar magnet which one may obtain experimentally.
Thus, a bar magnet and a solenoid produce similar magnetic fields. The magnetic moment of a
bar magnet is thus equal to the magnetic moment of an equivalent solenoid that produces the
same magnetic field.
POINTS TO NOTE:
‘T‘ OF A MAGNETIC DIPOLE IN A UNIFORM MAGNETIC FIELD
To determine the magnitude of B accurately, a small compass needle of known magnetic moment M
and moment of inertia I is allowed to oscillate in the magnetic field.

The torque on the needle is: τ = M × B

Potential energy is minimum (= –mB) at θ = 0° (most stable position) and maximum (= +mB) at θ =
180° (most unstable position).
 GAUSS’S LAW IN MAGNETISM

•GAUSS’S LAW FOR MAGNETISM is :

• The net magnetic flux through any closed surface is zero.
 Terrestrial Magnetism
• EARTH BEHAVES AS A GIANT
MAGNET.
• The strength of the earth’s magnetic field varies from place to place on the
• earth’s surface; its value being of the order of 10–5 T

• The magnetic field is now thought to arise due to electrical currents produced by
• convective motion of metallic fluids (consisting mostly of molten iron and nickel)
• in the outer core of the earth. This is known as the dynamo effect.

• The magnetic field lines of the earth resemble that of a (hypothetical) magnetic
• dipole located at the centre of the earth. The axis of the dipole does not coincide
• with the axis of rotation of the earth but is presently titled by approximately
• 11.3° with respect to the later.
• In this way of looking at it, the magnetic poles are located where the magnetic
• field lines due to the dipole enter or leave the earth.

• The location of the north magnetic pole is at a latitude of 79.74° N and a

• longitude of 71.8° W, a place somewhere in north Canada.
• The magnetic south pole is at 79.74° S, 108.22° E in the Antarctica.
 Terrestrial Magnetism:
Terms related to Earth’s
i) Magnetism
Geographic Axis is a straight line passing through the geographical poles of the
earth. It is the axis of rotation of the earth. It is also known as polar axis.
ii) Geographic Meridian at any place is a vertical plane passing through the
geographic north and south poles of the earth.
iii) Geographic Equator is a great circle on the surface of the earth, in a plane
perpendicular to the geographic axis. All the points on the geographic equator
are at equal distances from the geographic poles.
iv) Magnetic Axis is a straight line passing through the magnetic poles of the earth.
It is inclined to Geographic Axis nearly at an angle of 17°.
v) Magnetic Meridian at any place is a vertical plane passing through the magnetic
north and south poles of the earth.
vi) Magnetic Equator is a great circle on the surface of the earth, in a plane
perpendicular to the magnetic axis. All the points on the magnetic equator are at
equal distances from the magnetic poles.
 ANGLE OF DECLINATION (θ):
Geographic
The angle between the magnetic meridian and the Meridian
BH
geographic meridian at a place is Declination at that θ
place. δ
B BV
It varies from place to place.
Lines shown on the map through the places that
have the same declination are called isogonic line.
Line drawn through places that have zero Magnetic Meridian
declination is called an agonic line.

ANGLE OF DIP OR INCLINATION (δ):

The angle between the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field and the
earth’s resultant magnetic field at a place is Dip or Inclination at that place.
It is zero at the equator and 90°at the poles. Angle of dip increases as we move
from the equator to the poles of the earth.
Lines drawn up on a map through places that have the same dip are called
isoclinic lines.
The line drawn through places that have zero dip is known as an aclinic line. It is
the magnetic equator.
 Horizontal Component of Earth’s Magnetic Field (BH ) :

•The total intensity of the earth’s magnetic

field does not lie in any horizontal plane.
Instead, it lies along the direction at an angle
of dipVertical
Similarly (δ) Component
to the horizontal.
is B = B sin δ
V

•The component of the B = √ Bearth’s

H +B
2
V
2
magnetic field
such that and Tan δ = B / B
along the horizontal at an angle δ is called V H

TANGENT LAW:
Horizontal Component of Earth’s Magnetic
If a magnetic needle is suspended in a region where
B 2
B

Field.
two uniform magnetic fields are acting perpendicular
to each other, then the needle will align itself along
the direction of the resultant of the two fields at an N

•B = B cos δ
angle θ such that the tangent of the angle is the ratio
H
θ
B1
of the magnitude of the two fields.

tan θ = B2 / B1
 P T ER 5
O F C HA
THE END