Question

Explain the method of plotting the magnetic field lines by using a small compass needle.

Answer 1

Method of plotting the magnetic field lines using a compass needle:

Fix a sheet of paper on a drawing board by means of board pins. Place a small compass needle at position 1 as shown in fig (a) and looking from the top of the needle, mark two pencil dots exactly at two ends of the needle. Then move the compass needle to position 2 in such a way that one end of needle coincides with the second pencil dot. Repeat the process of moving the compass needle to positions 3, 4,… to obtain several dots. On joining the different dots, you will get a straight line. Thus one line of magnetic field of earth is traced.

(a) Plotting a field line with a compass needle

(b) Lines of uniform magnetic field of earth

This process is repeated starting from a different point and tracing out another line of magnetic field. In this manner, several lines of magnetic field can be drawn. Each line should be labeled with an arrow from the south pole of the needle towards the north pole to indicate the direction of the magnetic field. Fig (b) shows several magnetic lines so obtained.