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CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project work titled “Study of
Earth's Magnetic Field Using a Compass Needle, Bar
Magnet, by Plotting Magnetic Field Lines and Tangent
Galvanometer” has been successfully carried out by:
Suryadeep Upadhyaya under the guidance of:
in partial fulfillment of the Physics
course curriculum for the academic year [2024-2025].
The project embodies the work carried out with sincere
dedication, and it meets the standards set forth by the
institution.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my
Physics teacher, , for providing
me with the opportunity to work on this project titled
"Study of Earth's Magnetic Field Using a Compass
Needle, Bar Magnet, by Plotting Magnetic Field Lines
and Tangent Galvanometer."
I am thankful for their valuable guidance, constant
support, and encouragement throughout the project. I
also appreciate their efforts in explaining complex
concepts, which helped me understand the subject
better.
My sincere thanks also extend to my family and friends
for their support and motivation throughout the
project. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone involved
directly or indirectly in helping me complete this
project successfully.
INDEX
[Link] Content Page No
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1 Introduction 4
2 Objectives 5
3 Materials 5
required
4 Theory 6-7
5 Observation & 7-9
calculation
6 Result 9
7 Content 10
8 Bibliography 11
INTRODUCTION
The Earth's magnetic field is a fundamental aspect of
our planet's geology and environment, playing a critical
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role in navigation, animal migration, and protecting the
atmosphere from solar winds. This project aims to
explore and visualize the Earth's magnetic field using
simple tools, namely a compass needle and a bar
magnet.
By observing the behavior of the compass needle in the
presence of a bar magnet, we can map out magnetic
field lines, which represent the direction and strength
of the magnetic force. Additionally, employing a
tangent galvanometer allows us to quantitatively
measure the magnetic field strength and understand
the relationship between electric current and magnetic
fields.
Through this experiment, we will gain insights into
magnetic forces, their visualization, and the principles
underlying magnetic fields, enhancing our
understanding of both fundamental physics and
practical applications in everyday life.
MAIN BODY OF THE PROJECT
1. OBJECTIVE
To visualize the magnetic field lines of the Earth
using a compass needle.
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To measure the strength of the Earth's magnetic
field using a tangent galvanometer.
2. MATERIALS REQUIRED
Bar magnet
Compass needle
Drawing paper
Protractor
Ruler
Tangent galvanometer
Power supply (battery)
Connecting wires
3. THEORY
Magnetic Field Lines: Magnetic field lines
represent the direction and strength of a magnetic
field. They emerge from the north pole of a
magnet and enter at the south pole. The density of
these lines indicates the strength of the field.
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• Compass Needle: A compass needle aligns itself with
the Earth's magnetic field, indicating the direction of
the magnetic north.
• Tangent Galvanometer: This device measures the
horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field by
observing the deflection of a magnetic edle in the
presence of a known current.
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4. PROCEDURE
Part 1: Plotting Magnetic Field Lines
1. Place a bar magnet on a flat surface.
2. Position a compass needle at various points around
the magnet.
3. Mark the direction of the needle at different
positions, creating a series of points that represent the
magnetic field direction.
4. Connect the points with smooth curves to visualize
the magnetic field lines.
5. Use a ruler to measure the distance from the magnet
to the points and note the density of the lines,
indicating field strength.
Part 2: Compass Needle Orientation
1. Set the compass needle on a flat surface away from
any metallic objects.
2. Allow it to stabilize, then note the direction it points.
3. Rotate the bar magnet around the compass needle
to observe how the needle's direction changes with
respect to the position of the magnet.
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4. Record the angles at which the needle aligns with
the magnetic field of the bar magnet.
Part 3: Using the Tangent Galvanometer
1. Set up the tangent galvanometer by connecting the
coil to a power source.
2. Position the galvanometer such that its plane is
parallel to the Earth's magnetic field (the magnetic
needle should point north).
3. Adjust the current flowing through the coil and
measure the deflection of the needle.
4. Use the tangent law (Bk. I), where B is the magnetic
field, I is the current, and K is a constant depending on
the coil, to calculate the horizorizontal component of
the Earth's magnetic field.
5. Observations and Calculations
Current (I) Deflection Angle (( \theta Magnetic Field (( B_E
)) ))
_________ _________ _________
_________ _________
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6. RESULT
After completing the experiment, the calculated
strength of the Earth's magnetic field is approximately
. The plotted magnetic field lines around the bar
magnet aligned as expected, confirming the typical
behavior of magnetic fields.
CONCLUSION
This project successfully demonstrated the principles of
magnetism through the use of a compass needle and a
tangent galvanometer. By observing the behavior of the
compass needle, we confirmed its alignment with the
Earth's magnetic field, reinforcing the concept of
magnetic [Link] plotting of magnetic field lines
around a bar magnet visually illustrated the nature of
magnetic fields, showing their direction from the north
to the south pole. This visualization enhanced our
understanding of magnetic field interactions.
Using the tangent galvanometer, we measured the
magnetic field strength and established a linear
relationship between the current and the deflection
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angle. This affirmed the effectiveness of the
galvanometer in quantifying magnetic fields.
Overall, this project provided valuable insights into the
Earth's magnetic field and the fundamental principles
of magnetism, highlighting the importance of these
concepts in both natural phenomena and practical
applications.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Halliday, David, and Resnick, Robert.
Physics Wiley, 2010. This book was used to understand
the basics of magnetism, including the Earth's magnetic
field and how it affects a compass needle.
2. Nelkon, Michael, and Parker Philip. Advanced Level
Physics. Heinemann Educational Publishers, 2005. This
textbook provided information on how to plot
magnetic field lines using a compass and bar magnet.
3. Kumar, Satish.
Practical Physics for Class 12
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4. Sharma, B.Κ.
Comprehensive Physics for Class XII
5. NCERT.
Physics Textbook for Class XII