Investigatory Project on Earth's Magnetic Field
Project: To study the Earth's magnetic field using a compass needle and bar magnet by plotting
magnetic field lines and tangent galvanometer
1. Introduction
The Earth behaves as a gigantic magnet with a magnetic field similar to that produced by a bar
magnet. The presence of this magnetic field is evidenced by the behavior of a freely suspended
magnetic needle which always aligns itself along the north-south direction. This project aims to
investigate this phenomenon and study the Earth's magnetic field using simple tools such as a
compass needle, a bar magnet, and a tangent galvanometer.
2. Objective
- To understand the nature and direction of the Earth's magnetic field.
- To study the magnetic field lines around a bar magnet.
- To investigate the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field using a tangent
galvanometer.
3. Theory
3.1 Earth's Magnetic Field
The Earth's magnetic field resembles that of a dipole tilted at an angle of about 11.3 degrees to the
rotational axis of the Earth. The magnetic field at a point on Earth has two components:
- Horizontal component (Bh)
- Vertical component (Bv)
The angle made by the total field with the horizontal is called the angle of dip.
3.2 Magnetic Field Lines
Magnetic field lines represent the direction of the magnetic field at different points. They originate
from the north pole and end at the south pole of a magnet. The density of these lines indicates the
strength of the field.
3.3 Tangent Galvanometer (TG)
A tangent galvanometer is an instrument used to measure the horizontal component of the Earth's
magnetic field. It consists of a coil of wire, a compass needle at the center, and a circular scale.
When current flows through the coil, it creates a magnetic field which deflects the needle. The angle
of deflection is related to the current and Earth's field.
The relation is given by:
I = (2pi R Bh) / (mu0 n) * tan(theta)
Where,
- I: Current in the coil
- R: Radius of the coil
- Bh: Horizontal component of Earth's magnetic field
- mu0: Permeability of free space
- n: Number of turns
- theta: Angle of deflection
4. Materials Required
- Bar magnet
- Compass needle
- Drawing paper
- Cardboard
- Pins
- Tangent galvanometer
- Ammeter
- Rheostat
- Battery eliminator
- Connecting wires
5. Procedure
Part A: Plotting Magnetic Field Lines
1. Fix a white sheet on a drawing board.
2. Place the bar magnet at the center and outline its shape.
3. Place the compass near one pole of the magnet and mark the direction of the needle.
4. Move the compass so that its one end is at the previous point and mark the new position.
5. Repeat the process to complete a magnetic field line.
6. Draw multiple lines to get a complete field map.
Part B: Tangent Galvanometer Setup
1. Set the tangent galvanometer on a table aligned with the magnetic meridian (NS direction).
2. Connect the galvanometer in series with a battery, ammeter, and rheostat.
3. Adjust the coil so that the plane is vertical and the needle is at 0 degrees.
4. Pass a known current and record the angle of deflection theta.
5. Repeat for various currents and tabulate readings.
6. Calculate Bh using the tangent law.
6. Observations
Part A:
Magnetic field lines were successfully plotted showing the emergence from the north pole and entry
into the south pole of the bar magnet.
Part B:
| S. No | Current (A) | Deflection Angle theta | tan(theta) |
|-------|--------------|--------------------|--------|
|1 | 0.2 | 30 degrees | 0.577 |
|2 | 0.4 | 45 degrees | 1.000 |
|3 | 0.6 | 60 degrees | 1.732 |
7. Calculations
Let:
- R = 10 cm
- n = 10
- mu0 = 4pi × 10^-7
For each reading,
Bh = (mu0 n I) / (2pi R tan(theta))
Substitute and compute values of Bh.
8. Result
- The magnetic field lines of the bar magnet were found to be consistent with theory.
- The horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field Bh was calculated for various current
values and found to be within expected range (around 3.5 to 4.0 uT).
9. Precautions
- Ensure there is no magnetic material nearby.
- Place the galvanometer in true magnetic meridian.
- Avoid parallax while taking readings.
- Keep the magnet away from other instruments during field line plotting.
10. Conclusion
This investigatory project allowed us to understand and visualize the Earth's magnetic field and
compare its theoretical and experimental values. The experiment also helped in reinforcing concepts
of magnetic fields, vector components, and electromagnetic instruments like the tangent
galvanometer. It demonstrates the presence of the Earth's magnetic field and quantifies its
horizontal component effectively.
11. Applications
- Navigation: Magnetic compasses
- Geophysical exploration
- Mapping and positioning
- Calibrating scientific instruments
- Educational demonstrations
12. Viva Questions
1. What is the source of Earth's magnetic field?
2. Why is a tangent galvanometer used in this experiment?
3. What is the function of the rheostat?
4. Define angle of dip.
5. Why do magnetic field lines not intersect?
6. What is the typical range of Earth's horizontal magnetic field component?
13. Future Scope
- This experiment can be extended by studying the vertical component using a deflection
magnetometer.
- Mapping Earth's magnetic field at different locations.
- Using digital sensors to measure field strength more accurately.
