Experiment 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field

Figure 18.1: Earth’s Magnetic Field - Note that each of the 3 elements of the circuit are connected in series. Note
the large power supply: large power supply ! large current. Use the 20A jack and scale of the ammeter.

EQUIPMENT
Tangent Galvanometer
Ammeter (20A jack, 20A DCA)
Dip Needle
Large Power Supply
(2) 12” Wire Leads
(2) 36” Wire Leads

Figure 18.2: Earth’s B-Field Schematic

97
98 Experiment 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field

Advance Reading

Text: Magnetic field, vectors, right-hand rule for a wire

loop, resistivity.

Objective

The objective of this lab is to measure the magnitude

of Earth’s magnetic field in the lab.

Theory

The magnetic field of Earth resembles the field of a bar Figure 18.3
magnet. All magnetic field lines form a closed loop: a
field line originates at the north pole of a magnet, en- The direction of the magnetic field of a current car-
ters the south pole, then moves through the magnet it- rying wire is given by the right-hand rule. When the
self back to the north pole. Although we usually think thumb of the right hand points in the direction of the
of this field as two-dimensional (north, south, east, current (positive current; conventional current), the
west), remember that it is, in fact, a three-dimensional fingers will curl around the wire in the direction of the
vector field. magnetic field. Refer to Fig. 18.3.
The horizontal component of the magnetic field of
Earth is typically measured using a compass. The nee-
dle of a compass is a small magnet, which aligns with
an external magnetic field. Recall that opposite poles
attract, and like poles repel. Thus, the north pole of
the compass needle points to the south magnetic pole
of Earth, which is sometimes close to the geographic
north pole.

We will measure the horizontal component of Earth’s

~ e , then use this information to de-
magnetic field, B
termine the magnitude of the total magnetic field of
~ t.
Earth, B

Determining the magnitude of an unknown magnetic

field can be accomplished by creating an additional,
known magnetic field, then analyzing the net field. The
magnetic fields will add (vector math) to a net mag-
netic field (resultant vector).

~ net = B
B ~ known + B
~ unknown (18.1) Figure 18.4
The known magnetic field, B~ galv , will be produced by
The coil of the tangent galvanometer is first aligned
use of a tangent galvanometer. A tangent galvanome-
with the direction of an unknown field, Be , or north.
ter is constructed of wire loops with current flowing
The compass inside the tangent galvanometer allows
through the loops. The current produces a magnetic
accurate alignment. Once current begins flowing, the
field. The magnitude of this magnetic field depends
two magnetic fields will add (vector addition) to yield
on the current, the number of loops, and the radius of
a resultant magnetic field. The compass needle then
each loop:
rotates to align with the net field. The deflection angle
µ0 IN
Bgalv = (18.2) ↵ is the number of degrees the compass needle moves.
2r
↵ is measured, and Be is calculated from:
where µ0 = 4⇡ ⇥ 10 7 Tm/A is the permeability con- Bgalv
stant, I is the current, N is the number of loops, and = tan ↵ (18.3)
Be
r is the radius of the loop.
Experiment 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field 99

A typical compass is constrained to 2 dimensions and

rotates to point to Earth’s magnetic south pole, which
is (approximately) geographic north. Earth’s magnetic
field, however, is a 3 dimensional phenomenon. It has
components that point into and out of the earth, not
just along the surface. We need to measure at our lo-
cation the direction of the total magnetic field of Earth
(the angle ✓).

To determine field declination, ✓, we will use a dip nee-

dle. A dip needle (Fig. 18.5 and Fig. 18.6) is a compass
that rotates. It measures both horizontal and vertical
angles.

First, arrange the dip needle in a horizontal position,

compass needle and bracket aligned, pointing north
(normal compass). Refer to Fig. 18.5, below, for clari-
fication. The needle should align with 270 .

Figure 18.6: Dip Needle: Vertical Orientation

Figure 18.5: Dip Needle: Horizontal Orientation

Now rotate the compass 90 (Fig. 18.6) to a vertical Figure 18.7

position. The needle rotates to a new angle; the dif-
ference between the initial angle and the final angle is
the angle ✓. By determining the magnitude of the horizontal com-
ponent of Earth’s magnetic field, Be , using ↵, and mea-
From Fig. 18.6, we see that the dip needle points in suring the direction of Earth’s total magnetic field, Bt ,
the direction of Earth’s total magnetic field at our lo- using ✓, the magnitude of Bt can be determined. (Re-
cation. fer to Fig. 18.7.)
100 Prelab 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field

Name:
µ0 iN
1. What physical phenomenon does the relationship Bgalv = 2r describe? (10 pts)

2. Explain the right-hand rule for current. (10 pts)

3. Consider Fig. 18.4. Determine the following in terms of B’s (Be , Bgalv , and Bnet ). (10 pts)

sin ✓ =

cos ✓ =

tan ✓ =

4. Consider Fig. 18.7. Determine the following in terms of B’s (Be , Bz , and Bt ). (10 pts)

sin ↵ =

cos ↵ =

tan ↵ =

6
5. Given Be of 45 ⇥ 10 T and a dip angle of 55 , calculate Bz . See Fig. 18.7. (30 pts)
Prelab 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field 101

6. Consider the top-view diagram of the tangent galvanometer, Fig. 18.11. Given the galvanometer’s alignment with
North, as shown, indicate the direction that current flows through the top of the wire loops. (30 pts)

Figure 18.8: Top View - Wire loops encircle compass. Figure 18.9: Side View - Compass located inside wire
loops.

Figure 18.10: Tangent Galvanometer Figure 18.11: Compass Needle

102 Experiment 18: Earth’s Magnetic Field

PROCEDURE PART 2: Field Declination

PART 1: Horizontal Component 7. Use the dip needle to determine the direction of
magnetic north. Align the dip needle’s supporting
1. Connect the galvanometer (N = 5), ammeter (20A
arm with its compass needle (pointing north).
DCA), and power supply in series.
2. Align the galvanometer such that it creates a mag- 8. Roll the compass arm 90 until the bracket is ver-
netic field perpendicular to that of Earth’s field (the tical (and still pointing north/south).
compass needle should be parallel to the wire loop). 9. Record the declination of Earth’s magnetic field, the
Do not move the galvanometer while taking data. angle ✓ from the horizontal.
3. Turn on the power supply to flow current through
10. Use this declination to calculate the magnitude of
the galvanometer. Adjust the current until the com-
the total magnetic field of the Earth, Bt , in the lab.
pass needle on the galvanometer reaches 30 , 40 ,
Refer to Fig. 18.7.
and 50 , recording the current required for each po-
sition in the data table provided.
4. Repeat this process for N = 10 and N = 15 (a total
of nine trials). QUESTIONS

5. Calculate the average horizontal field, Be , for each 1. Calculate the total resistance of 10 loops of cop-
of the nine trials using Eq. 18.2 and Eq. 18.3. per wire of the galvanometer if the wire is 1 mm
The diameter of the coils is approximately 20 cm. in diameter and the loops are 20 cm in diameter:
[µ0 = 4⇡ ⇥ 10 7 Tm/A] R = ⇢L/A. L is the length of the wire, A is the
cross-sectional area of the wire, ⇢ is the resistivity
6. Find the average value of Be from your nine trials.
of copper; look it up in your text, a CRC text, or
online.
2. Compare your measured Bt from this experiment
to a sample value of 43 µT. This is the magnitude
of the magnetic field in Tucson, Arizona.

Figure 18.12: If leads are plugged into the left and

middle jacks, N = 5, as indicated. If plugged into
the right and middle jacks, N = 10. If plugged into
the left and right jacks, N = 15.