VELAMMAL BODHI CAMPUS
KOLAPAKKAM, CHENNAI – 600 128
A Project Report On
“To study the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass needle - bar
magnet by plotting magnetic field lines and tangent
galvanometer.”
Submitted By
Roll No : _______________
Name : M. L. Yaashini Veda
Class : XII D
___________________
Under the Guidance Of
Ms. Thilagapragasini C K
Department of Physics
VELAMMAL BODHI CAMPUS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
2025 - 2026
CERTIFICATE
The project report entitled “To study the Earth’s magnetic field
using a compass needle - bar magnet by plotting magnetic field
lines and tangent galvanometer”.
This is to certify that this is the bonafide record of project work done by
Miss. M. L. Yaashini Veda of Grade XII during the academic year
2025-2026.
Submitted for SSCE-2026 Physics Practical Examination held on
___________at Velammal Bodhi Campus, Kolapakkam,
Kanchipuram District.
Date: _________. TEACHER IN CHARGE
PRINCIPAL INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project work entitled “To
study the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass
needle - bar magnet by plotting magnetic field
lines and tangent galvanometer”, submitted to ,the
Department of Physics of The Velammal Bodhi
Campus, is a record of original work done by me.
____________________
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all we thank our beloved parents for providing us
the opportunity to study in Velammal Bodhi Campus,
Kolapakkam.
We thank our beloved Director, Sri M. V. M Sasikumar
sir for being our motivational for the completion of this
project.
We thank our Principal Smt R. Lavanya ma’am for her
exceptional support.
We thank our Vice Principal Ms. Lakshmi S ma’am
and our Physics faculty, Ms. Thilagapragasini C K
ma’am for encouraging and guiding us to complete this
project.
Last but not least I thank all my friends who helped me in
the completion of this project.
To study the Earth’s
magnetic field using a
compass needle - bar
magnet by plotting
magnetic field lines
and tangent
galvanometer
INDEX
[Link] Content [Link]
1. Introduction 07
2. Aim, Objective & Materials required 08
3. Theory 09
4. Procedure 11
5. Circuit diagram 12
6. Observation table & Calculations 13
7. Results and Precautions 14
8. Sources of error & Bibliography 15
INTRODUCTION :
The study of magnetism is one of the most
fascinating topics in Physics. The Earth itself
behaves like a gigantic bar magnet, generating
a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field
plays an important role in navigation, animal
migration, and many natural phenomena. In
this project, we explore the Earth’s magnetic
field in two ways:
By plotting the magnetic field lines
around a bar magnet using a compass
needle.
By using a tangent galvanometer to
determine the horizontal component of the
Earth's magnetic field, BH .
This experiment helps in understanding the
nature, direction, and strength of the Earth’s
magnetic field and how it interacts with
artificial magnetic fields.
AIM :
To study the Earth’s magnetic field using a compass
needle and bar magnet by plotting magnetic field lines
and using a tangent galvanometer.
OBJECTIVE :
To study and visualize the magnetic field lines
produced by a bar magnet using a compass
needle.
To determine the horizontal component of
Earth’s magnetic field BH using a tangent
galvanometer
APPARATUS AND MATERAILS REQUIRED :
Bar magnet, compass needle, drawing board or
white paper, magnetic needle (compass), pencil,
scale, tangent galvanometer, battery eliminator or
cell, ammeter (0-1 A), rheostat, plug key,
connecting wires.
THEORY :
MAGNETIC FIELD LINES :
The space around a magnet where magnetic
influence is felt is called a magnetic field.
The magnetic field lines are imaginary lines
showing the direction of the magnetic force.
The direction of field lines is taken from the
north pole to the south pole of the magnet
outside it.
EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD :
Earth itself behaves like a huge bar magnet with
its magnetic field lines running approximately
from the geographic south to the geographic
north.
The magnetic field at any point on the Earth’s
surface can be resolved into two components:
1. Horizontal component BH
2. Vertical component BV
TANGENT GALVANOMETER PRINCIPLE :
A tangent galvanometer (T.G) is a circular coil
used to measure BH
When a current I flows through the coil, it
produces a magnetic field B at its center.
The needle deflects through an angle θ, and
according to the tangent law:
B=BHtanθ
BH= B/tanθ=μ0nI/2rtanθ
Where,
μ0 = permeability of free space (4π × 10−7 H/m)
n = number of turns in the coil
r = radius of the coil
I = current through the coil
θ = deflection angle of the needle
W
PROCEDURE :
Part A: Plotting Magnetic Field Lines
[Link] a sheet of white paper on a drawing
board.
[Link] the bar magnet at the center and mark
its north (N) and south (S) poles.
[Link] a small compass needle near one pole
and mark the direction shown by its needle.
[Link] the compass step by step, tracing the
needle’s direction each time.
[Link] on both sides of the magnet.
[Link] the marked points smoothly to get the
magnetic field lines pattern.
Part B: Using Tangent Galvanometer to Find BH
[Link] the tangent galvanometer so that its
plane lies in the magnetic meridian (needle
points to 0°).
[Link] the circuit — T.G, ammeter, key,
and rheostat — in series with a battery.
[Link] the rheostat to pass a small current.
[Link] the deflection angle θ from both sides
the scale and take the mean.
[Link] for different values of current I.
[Link] a graph of I (x-axis) vs. tanθ (y-axis).
[Link] slope helps calculate BH .
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM :
OBSERVATION TABLE :
[Link] Current (I) Deflection (θ) tan (θ) Remarks
1. 0.20 25° 0.466 small current
2. 0.30 35° 0.700 moderate
3. 0.40 41° 0.869 -----
4. 0.50 45° 1.000 balanced
5. 0.60 50° 1.191 -----
CALCULATIONS :
Given, BH = μ0nI
2r tanθ
Assuming, μ0 = 4π ×10−7 Tm/A
jjjjjjjjjj n = 10 turns
jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj r = 0.15 m
For each observation substitute the values to
compute BH.
Average values gives the final result.
Example: BH= 4π ×10−7×10 × 0.5 = 3.3×10−5T
2 × 0.15 × 1.0
RESULT :
The magnetic field lines around a bar magnet
are clearly mapped and show the pattern from
north to south pole.
The horizontal component of the Earth’s
magnetic field at the place of experiment is
found to be approximately:
BH ≈ 3.3×10−5 Tesla
PRECAUTIONS :
The T.G. must be perfectly horizontal.
The coil must be in the magnetic meridian.
Take readings on both sides of the scale and
calculate the mean.
Keep metallic and magnetic materials away from
the setup.
Current should be small and steady to prevent
heating.
The compass needle should be free to oscillate
without obstruction.
Always take readings when the pointer comes to
rest.
SOURCES OF ERROR :
Misalignment of the T.G. with the magnetic
meridian.
Parallax error in reading deflection angles.
Imperfect leveling of the apparatus.
Irregular current due to poor contact or faulty
rheostat.
Presence of magnetic materials near the setup
affecting readings.
BIBLIOGRAPHY :
NCERT Physics Textbook – Class XII (Part I
& II)
[Link]
S.L. Arora – A Textbook of Practical Physics