PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM

EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

1. Objectives:
To draw and analyze the magnetic field lines of a bar magnet.

2. Background:
The magnetic field near a bar magnet can be represented by magnetic field lines. These field lines pass
through the magnet and form closed loops around the magnet. The closed field lines enter one end of a
magnet and exit the other end. The end of the magnet from which magnetic field lines emerge is called the
north pole and the other end, where the field lines enter, is called the south pole.
Earth has a magnetic field that is produced in its core by still unknown mechanisms. On Earth’s surface, the
magnetic field can be detected with a compass which is essentially a slender bar magnet on a low friction
pivot. The bar magnet or the magnetic needle turns because its north-pole end is attracted toward the south
pole of the Earth’s magnet located near the Arctic region of the Earth. Thus the south pole of the Earth’s
magnetic field is located near the Northern Hemisphere, which is known as the geomagnetic north pole. In
the Southern Hemisphere, the magnetic field lines point out of Earth and away from the Antarctic – that is
away from Earth’s geomagnetic south pole.

Figure 1: Magnetic field due to the Earth (https://www.tes.com)

3. Required Materials: Two bar magnets, One compass, A3 white paper

4. Procedures and Observations:

Part 1: Constructing Magnetic Field Lines of a Bar Magnet:
Use one of the compasses to determine the north pole and south pole of the magnet. The arrow on the
compass is magnetic and will experience a torque so that the north pole of the compass will point towards
the south pole of the bar magnet or away from the north pole. Prior to starting the experiment, make sure
that the compass poles are properly marked by placing it close to the north/south pole of a bar magnet.

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

Follow the following steps to complete each part of the experiment:

(a) Collect an A3 white paper and tape it on the table.
(b) Make sure there are no iron objects/magnets in the vicinity of the experimental area.
(c) Place a bar magnet in the middle of the paper.
(d) Draw an outline of the magnet on the paper and mark the poles as “N” for North and “S” for South.

Magnetic Field Line # 1:

(a) Place a compass in one end of the magnet. Put dot marks at both ends of the needle.
(b) Move the compass such that the end of the needle next to the magnet is directly over the second
dot and make a new dot on the other end.
(c) Continue doing it until you reach the other end of the magnet or goes outside the paper.
(d) Draw a line through the dots and indicate an arrowhead to show the direction in which the North
end of the needle pointed, as shown in Figure 2.

N S

Figure 2: Construction of magnetic field lines around a bar magnet

Magnetic Field Line #2: Repeat the process described for Line #1, but start from about 1 cm ( ½ inch) inside
from the same end of the magnet.

In a similar way, draw two more magnetic field lines on the other side of the magnet. Are the field lines
symmetrical with respect to the magnet?

Magnetic Field Line #3: This time start from 4 – 5 cm (approximately 1.5 – 2 inches) away from the same end
and repeat the steps used for Field Line #1. Note that the center of the compass must be on the line if the
outline of the magnet is extended to that direction. Repeat this same for other end of the N pole as well.

Repeat the procedure for the south side of the magnet.

Part #2: Constructing a Magnetic Field Diagram

Get another piece of paper, if necessary, to do this part of the experiment, as shown in Figure 3. Arrange two
magnets in such a way that three compasses can fit in between the magnets. Sketch the compass needles’

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

directions as shown in the diagram below. Each position marked in the diagram is the starting point of a field
line and mark the compass position a number of times for each starting point.

Figure 3: Two magnets with opposite poles facing each other

Now reverse one magnet so that the two north poles face each other, as shown in figure 4. Follow the same
procedure as above to draw some field lines from each starting point.

Figure 4: Two magnets with like poles facing each other

Part 3: Superposition of Magnetic Fields:

Place two bar magnets at right angles to each as illustrated in Figure 5. Let P be the point that lies along the
centerlines of both magnets. Arrange the magnets so that their ends are equidistant from P (use ruler). Trace
the outlines of the two magnets and label their poles.

Step 1: Place a compass on the dot, marked as P. Mark the needle position with two dots and draw an arrow
indicating the needle’s direction.

Step 2: Now remove the Magnet #1 and indicate the compass needle’s direction in the same manner as above.
Then replace Magnet #1 to its original position and remove Magnet #2. Again indicate the needle’s direction
by drawing an arrow.

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

Figure 5: Two magnets at right angles to each other

Step 3: Now switch the position of the magnets (Magnet#1 replaced by Magnet#2 and Magnet #2 replaced
by Magnet #1) and take note of the compass direction below. How does it differ from your observation in
step 1?

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

Lab Report:

Date:

Name of the Students and IDs (1)

(2)

(3)

Note that all A3 papers used for drawing magnetic field lines must be attached with the report.

#1: Transfer the magnetic field from Part 1 of the experiment to the figure below.

#2: In Part 1 of the experiment, you have noticed that some of the magnetic field lines wander off and never
come back to the bar magnet. Which part of your bar magnet do these lines come from? Why?

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

#3: Transfer the field lines you have drawn on the A3 paper from Part 2 of this experiment to the figure below.

#4: Transfer the field lines you have drawn on the A3 paper from Part 2 of this experiment to the figure below.
(Also attach the paper) Is there any place in the diagram where the magnitude of the magnetic field is equal
to zero? Where?

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PHY 108: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
EXPERIMENT 4 : MAGNETIC FIELDS DUE TO A BAR MAGNET

#5: Two bar magnets are placed at right angles to one another. A compass is placed at point P in Figure 4. In
what direction does the needle point? Why?

#6: Are both the magnets of the same strength? Use your experimental data to justify your answer.

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