STUDENT PROFILE
The H.B Kapadia New High School
PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
Session: 2025-2026
TOPIC:
ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC
FIELD LINES
N S
SUBMITTED TO:
SUBMITTED BY:
Mr. Krunal Devi
Name: HEMIL K CHAVDA
(PGT Physics)
Class: XII (Science)
Department of Physics
INDEX
1 Introduction 2
2 Aim 3
3 Apparatus Required 4
4 Theory 5
5 Procedure 6
6 Observations 7
7 Conclusion 8
8 Precautions 9
9 Bibliography 10
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1. Introduction
A magnetic field is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence on moving
electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A charge that is moving
in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its own velocity and to the
magnetic field.
The “Magnetic Field Lines” are imaginary lines used to represent the magnetic
field visually. They provide a visual tool to visualize the direction and strength of
the magnetic field at any given point in space.
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2. Aim
To trace the magnetic field lines of a bar magnet and to locate the neutral points
when the magnet is placed with its North Pole pointing towards the geographic
North.
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3. Apparatus Required
• A Bar Magnet
• A small magnetic compass (compass needle)
• A Drawing board
• White sheets of paper
• Drawing pins or adhesive tape
• A sharp pencil and eraser
• A scale (ruler)
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4. Theory
A bar magnet produces a magnetic field in the space surrounding it. The key prop-
erties of magnetic field lines are:
1. Closed Loops: The lines emerge from the North Pole and enter the South
Pole outside the magnet. Inside the magnet, they move from South to
North, forming continuous closed loops.
2. No Intersection: No two magnetic field lines ever intersect. If they did,
it would mean there are two directions of the magnetic field at a single
point, which is impossible.
3. Tangent Direction: The tangent to the field line at any point gives the
direction of the net magnetic field (B) at that point.
4. Density & Strength: The field lines are crowded (denser) near the poles
where the magnetic field is strong and far apart where the field is weak.
Neutral Points
These are points where the magnetic field produced by the bar magnet is exactly
equal and opposite to the Earth’s horizontal magnetic component (BH ). At these
points, the net magnetic field is zero.
Condition for Neutral Point:
Bmagnet = BEarth
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5. Procedure
1. Fix a white sheet of paper on the drawing board using drawing pins or
tape.
2. Place the compass needle at the center of the paper and mark the North-
South direction of the Earth by looking at the needle. Draw a line to indi-
cate the magnetic meridian.
3. Place the bar magnet in the center of the paper such that its North Pole
points towards the geographic North (aligned with the line you drew).
4. Draw the boundary of the magnet with a pencil.
5. Place the magnetic compass near the North Pole of the magnet.
6. Mark the position of the two ends of the compass needle (the North and
South tips) with a pencil dot.
7. Move the compass such that its South pole now occupies the position pre-
viously occupied by its North pole.
8. Repeat this “step-by-step” process until you reach the South Pole of the bar
magnet.
9. Join the points with a smooth curve. This represents one magnetic field
line.
10. Repeat the process starting from different points near the North pole to
get a set of field lines around the magnet.
11. To find the Neutral Points: Move the compass along the equatorial line
(perpendicular bisector) of the magnet. Find the point where the needle
rotates freely and does not point in any fixed direction.
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6. Observations
• The magnetic field lines are observed to be continuous curves.
• The lines emerge from the North Pole and enter the South Pole.
• The lines are crowded near the poles, indicating a stronger field.
• The lines are widely separated near the middle of the magnet.
• Neutral Points (N1, N2): Two neutral points were found on the equatorial
line (broadside-on position) of the magnet. At these points, the compass
needle showed no specific deflection.
Visual Representation
N1
N S
N2
Figure 1: Magnetic Field Lines around a Bar Magnet
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7. Conclusion
1. The magnetic field lines of a bar magnet have been successfully traced.
2. The pattern confirms that the bar magnet behaves like a magnetic dipole.
3. The non-intersection of field lines confirms the uniqueness of the magnetic
field direction at any point.
4. The existence of neutral points verifies the superposition of the Earth’s
magnetic field and the magnet’s field.
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8. Precautions
1. The drawing board should be placed on a flat, stable surface.
2. All other magnetic materials (like iron keys, mobile phones, other mag-
nets) should be kept away from the experiment table to avoid interference.
3. The ends of the compass needle must be marked accurately with a sharp
pencil.
4. The compass must be moved carefully without disturbing the paper or the
magnet.
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9. Bibliography
• NCERT Physics Textbook for Class XII
• Concepts of Physics by H.C. Verma
• Comprehensive Practical Physics Class XII
• Website: [Link]
• Website: [Link]
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