Magnetic Field Lines

MAGNETIC FIELD AND FIELD LINES:-

-The area around a magnet where a magnetic force is experienced is called the magnetic field. It is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude, (i.e., Vector quantity).

- The ends of the compass needle point approximately towards north and south directions.

- The end pointing towards the north is called north seeking or north pole.

- The other end that points towards the south is called south seeking or south pole.

In the magnetic field, the force exerted by a magnet can be detected using a compass or any other magnet.

The magnetic field is represented by magnetic field lines.

The direction of the magnetic field is taken to be the direction in which a north pole of the compass needle moves inside it. Therefore it is taken by convention that the field lines emerge from the north pole and merge at the south pole.

Strength of magnetic field: The closeness of field lines shows the relative strength of the magnetic field, i.e. closer lines show stronger magnetic field and vice–versa. Crowded field lines near the poles of the magnet show more strength.

Properties:

- No two field-lines are found to cross each other.

- Inside the magnet, the direction of field lines is from its south pole to its north pole. Thus the magnetic field lines are closed curves.