Introduction to Magnetic Field and Magnetic lines

A Magnetic compass is an important navigational tool for travelers

The Magnetic compass has a magnetic needle that points North due to the Earth's Magnetic field

Once North is known, the other directions can easily be found out

Let's perform a small experiment with this Magnetic compass

Lets place a Magnetic compass near a current carrying wire

The Magnetic compass shows deflection when placed near a current carrying wire

This implies that there is a relationship between Electricity and Magnetism

This relationship was established by a Danish scientist Oersted

Let us now learn about some properties of Magnets

A bar magnet is suspended freely from the centre

The end which points towards the North is the North-seeking end

Whereas, the end that points towards the South is the South seeking end

Therefore, a magnet has both North Pole and South Pole

The like Poles repel each other and unlike Poles attract each other

Now, let us perform another experiment to observe the Magnetic behaviour of a Magnet

Fix a bar magnet on a sheet of paper

Sprinkle some iron filings on the paper and gently tap it

The iron filings will arrange themselves in a specific pattern

This is an implication that a Magnet exerts an influence around its surrounding region

The iron filings must have experienced a Force that forced them to arrange themselves in the specific pattern

The Lines along which the iron filings are arranged or aligned are the Magnetic field lines of a bar magnet

The Magnetic field lines extend in the region surrounding the Magnet, around which the Force of the magnet dominates

Magnetic Field is a quantity that has both Magnitude and Direction

Typically it is assumed that Magnetic field lines originate from the North Pole

And these Magnetic filed lines merge into the South Pole

But it is important to note that Magnetic field lines inside a magnet are directed from the South Pole to the North Pole

In this way, the Magnetic Field lines form a closed curve loop around the magnet

If the Magnetic field lines are extremely close to each other, the Magnet is said to have a strong Magnetic field

Whereas, if the Magnetic field lines are far apart from each other, the Magnet is said to have a weaker Field

By common observation, it is established that Magnetic field lines do not intersect each other

If they do, then Magnetic field lines will bi-directional, which is practically impossible

Revision

Magnetism and Electricity are related to each other

A Magnet has a North Pole and a South Pole. Like poles are said to repel, whereas unlike Poles attract

Magnetic field lines around a Magnet represent Magnetic fields

Magnetic Field has both magnitude and directions. The Magnetic field lines originate from the North Pole and merge into the South Pole

Magnetic field lines are directed from the South Pole to the North Pole inside a magnet

If the Magnetic field lines are closely apart, the Magnet is said to have a Strong Magnetic field and Vice-Versa

Magnetic Field lines do not intersect each other

The End