Magnetic Field

Franeliza C. Reganit *, Bon Angelo A. Rizabal , Ralph Justin P. Tayaban , Daniel James E. Villamil3, Sarina
G. Unding4
1,

Department of Civil Engineering - CEAT, UP Los Banos

2
Institute of Chemistry CAS, UP Los Banos
3
Department of Industrial Engineering CEAT, UP Los Banos
4
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics

*Corresponding author: reganit_franeliza@yahoo.com

Abstract
Magnetism plays a large part in our modern world's technology. In fact, the earth
itself is a big magnet. The magnetic interaction can best be described using the
concept of a field. The presence of iron filings and the behaviors of various
compasses predicted the intensity and the direction of the bar magnet at some
points in the field. With the aid of tangent galvanometer and rheostat, the earths
magnetic field is determined. It is observed that the current in a current carrying
wire is directly proportional to the magnetic field intensity and the number of
coils, and inversely proportional to the radius of the coil.
Keywords: Magnetic field, tangent galvanometer, solenoid

1. Introduction
Charged objects produce electric fields at all points in space. In a similar manner, magnetic fields are
created by charges in motion (current). In the experiment, it will be shown that a bar magnet is a source of magnetic
field (see on fig. 8.1.1). This can be demonstrated by the lining up of the iron filings into the magnetic field of a bar
magnet. Same as electric field represented by electric field lines, magnetic fields were also represented by magnetic
field lines.

Fig. 8.1.1 Bar magnet as a source of Magnetic field

The bar magnet is composed of two poles, designated as the North (N) and South (S). It is observed that
magnetic field lines leave from North pole and enter South pole. The direction of the magnetic field cannot be seen
by just observing the filings. To do so, the group considered using compasses in determining directions.
It can be noticed that when two bar magnets are hold closely to each other, like poles repel while opposites
attract as shown in fig.8.1.2. Another characteristic of magnetic poles is that they come in pairs. When a bar magnet
has been broken, two magnets have been formed, each containing both north and south pole (see in fig. 8.1.3). In
other words, magnetic monopole doesnt exist in isolation.

Fig. 8.1.2 Interaction between poles

Fig.8.1.3 Absence of magnetic monopole

Electric field has been defined as a force per unit charge. How about magnetic field? It must have been
defined in a different way due to the absence of magnetic monopoles. To be able to learn more about magnetic field,
experiment has been considered with the objectives of:
a.)
b.)
c.)
d.)

mapping magnetic field lines around a bar magnet using iron filings and compasses,
mapping magnetic field lines around a current carrying wire as well as a solenoid using compasses,
determining relationships between magnetic field intensity and radial distance from a solenoid; and
Determining earths magnetic field using a tangent galvanometer.

2. Methodology
The first part of the experiment involves mapping magnetic fields using iron filings. Bar magnets in
different configurations were placed under a piece of paper and iron fillings were sprinkled above. The pattern was
then observed and recorded. Compasses were also placed around the bar magnets and the directions were also
observed and recorded.
The second part of the experiment involves magnetic field induced by a current carrying wire. The circuit
was set-up using a battery and a rheostat. Inner and outer compasses were positioned ???cm and ???cm away from
the current carrying wire respectively.The circuit was closed and the current was measured. The directions of the
compasses were also observed. The process was repeated with the polarity of the power source reversed.
The third part of the experiment involves a magnetic field induced by solenoid. A circuit was set up and
compasses were placed around the solenoid. The current was then measured and recorded. The directions of the
compasses were also observed and recorded. The process was repeated with the polarity of the power source
reversed.
The fourth part of the experiment involves magnetic field of the earth. A circuit was setup. The plane of the
tangent galvanometer coil was aligned along the needle of the compass. The circuit was connected to the knob of the
tangent galvanometer with the smallest value. The circuit was closed and the rheostat was adjusted until it reads ????
ampere. The needle of the compass wasobserved and the angle of deflection was recorded. It was repeated using the
higher values of the knobs.

3. Results and Discussion

Iron filings are metals which are known torespond into a magnetic field in the surrounding. In the first part
of the experiment, the iron filings lined up accordingly to the theoretical magnetic field of a bar magnet.

Fig. 8.3.1 Lining up of iron filings into bar magnets magnetic field

It was observed that iron filings accumulated the most near the edges of the bar magnet. This is because the
magnetic force in a point is inversely proportional to the source of the magnetic field. This means that as a particle
moves farther away from a source of magnetic field, the magnetic force experienced by that particle decreases.
Thus, by observation of the accumulation and location of the iron filings, the magnetic field intensity at each point
can be determined, less accumulation means lesser magnetic field intensity and higher accumulation means higher
magnetic field intensity.
In order to determine the North and South Pole of a bar magnet, the position of the iron filings is not
enough to conclude the magnetic poles as they only show magnetic field lines. Several compasses were placed
around the bar magnet at different points instead.

Fig.8.3.2 Compasses around a bar magnet

Magnetic field lines flow from south to north inside the bar magnet, thus it follows that the compass needle
at each compass points along the magnetic field direction outside the bar magnet. The illustration above can be used
as a reference in determining the magnetic poles of a bar magnet by the use of a compass.
Magnetic field lines of different arrangement of bar magnets are also noted by the same method of
observing iron filings.
The second part of the experiment was similar to the objective of the first experiment in mapping the
magnetic field of a source of magnetic field. In this experiment, a current carrying conductor was used as the source
of a magnetic field. Two instances were observed: a current flow into the page where the compasses were placed and
a current flow out of the page.

Fig. 8.3.3 Directions observed when current flows into and out of the page, respectively

Reversing the positive and negative terminals in the battery of the circuit changed the flow of the current to
the opposite direction and the position of the compass needles changed. Theoretically, the direction of the compass
needles can be determined by the right hand rule. If the current is into the page, the right thumb is pointed into the
page and the curl of the fingers show a clockwise direction. The curl of the fingers represents the magnetic field and
the compass needle points along the magnetic field in a similar way as in the first part of the experiment. For a
current flow out of the page, the magnetic field points in a counter clockwise manner.
At low currents, the magnetic field did not affect the compass needles significantly. The current for both
instances were increased and it was observed that the compass needles now point along the theoretical magnetic
field direction. Thus, it can be concluded that the current in a current carrying wire is directly proportional to the
magnetic field intensity at a point. Similar to the first part of the experiment, the distance of a point to the source is
inversely proportional to the magnetic field intensity. Thus, the magnetic field at a point near a current carrying
conductor is:

B=

2 R
Where

/2 is proportionality constant

The last part of the experiment includes the use of a tangential galvanometer which will be useful in
measuring the horizontal component of the earths geomagnetic field.

Fig. 8.3.4 Tangent Galvanometer

Where the earths magnetic field BH is given by the formula

BE=BI/tan
Where BI= oNI/d
2 Turns
Current (A)
0.475
Angle (degrees)
10
Bi
8.527 T
BE
48.36 T
Diameter of the coil: 0.14 meters

50 Turns
0.306
81
137.3 T
21.75 T

500 Turns
0.01
60
44.88 T
25.91 T

Number of turns in the tangential galvanometer per trial was increased and the rheostat was adjusted so that
the ammeter reading in the circuit was 0.5 Amperes. The increase in the number of turns in the coil resulted to an
increase in the induced magnetic field. The current is also directly proportional to the induced magnetic field as
observed in the equation above.
In each trial, the deviation from the reference angle of the compass was recorded and the Earths
geomagnetic horizontal component was calculated by dividing the induced magnetic field to the tangent of the
angular deviation
The calculated results are in agreement to the Earths actual magnetic constant which range from 25 - 65
T. This experiment proved to be accurate in determining the magnetic field of the Earth.

4. Conclusion

Magnetic interactions are happening in the environment. It is observable through the use of magnets and
compasses. In the experiment, the behaviour of the interactions between the magnets poles, the north and south
poles was observed. The behaviour between the magnets poles also follows the rule, like charges or poles repel
while unlike charges or poles attract.
A moving charge or current creates a magnetic field around it in addition to its own electric field and the
force the magnetic field is producing is always perpendicular to its moving particles velocity and the magnetic field
itself. Due to the movement of charges, it was observed through the use of compass the behaviour of the magnetic
field lines, which traverses the path from north to south; reversing the currents flow results the magnetic field
direction opposite to its original.

5. References:
1) Pictures of bar magnets retrieved from www.sciencebuddies.org
2) http://amrita.vlab.co.in/?sub=1&brch=192&sim=1049&cnt=1
3) Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (2008). University Physics with Modern Physics, 12th Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.