1

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work titled “Study of

Earth's Magnetic Field Using a Compass Needle, Bar
Magnet, by Plotting Magnetic Field Lines and Tangent
Galvanometer” has been successfully carried out by:
Subhajit Saha under the guidance of:
in partial fulfillment of the Physics course curriculum
for the academic year [Year]. The project embodies the
work carried out with sincere dedication, and it meets
the standards set forth by the institution.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my

Physics teacher, , for providing
me with the opportunity to work on this project titled
"Study of Earth's Magnetic Field Using a Compass
Needle, Bar Magnet, by Plotting Magnetic Field Lines
and Tangent Galvanometer."

I am thankful for their valuable guidance, constant

support, and encouragement throughout the project. I
also appreciate their efforts in explaining complex
concepts, which helped me understand the subject
better.

My sincere thanks also extend to my family and friends

for their support and motivation throughout the
project. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone involved
directly or indirectly in helping me complete this
project successfully.
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Index
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Introduction
The Earth’s magnetic field, also known as the
geomagnetic field, acts as an invisible shield around
our planet, protecting life from the harmful effects of
solar radiation and cosmic rays. Beyond this crucial
function, it plays an important role in many everyday
technologies, like navigation systems and satellite
communications, as well as in natural phenomena such
as animal migration. Although the Earth’s magnetic
field behaves like that of a giant bar magnet, with
magnetic poles similar to the North and South, it is
actually generated deep within the planet's molten iron
core through much more complex processes.
A simple way to explore magnetic fields is by
experimenting with a bar magnet and a compass.
When you place a bar magnet on a surface, you can
visualize its magnetic field lines by observing the way a
compass needle deflects. The needle will naturally align
with the direction of the magnetic field. Similarly, the
Earth’s magnetic field can be studied by noting how a
compass needle points relative to the planet's
geographic North and South.
Alongside a compass, another valuable tool in this
investigation is the tangent galvanometer. This device is
used to measure the strength of the Earth’s magnetic
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field by leveraging the interaction between a magnetic

field produced by a circular coil of wire and the Earth’s
own magnetic field. By running a current through the
coil, we can compare the generated field with the
Earth’s field and determine its strength.
The goal of this project is to explore the Earth’s
magnetic field by plotting magnetic field lines around a
bar magnet, studying the deflection of a compass
needle, and using a tangent galvanometer to measure
the strength of the field.
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Main Body of the Project

1. Objective
The key objectives of this project are:
 To map the magnetic field lines around a bar
magnet using a compass.
 To investigate how the Earth's magnetic field
influences a compass needle.
 To use a tangent galvanometer to measure the
strength of the Earth’s magnetic field.
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2. Materials Required
 Bar magnet
 Compass
 Drawing paper
 Tangent galvanometer
 DC power supply
 Connecting wires
 Ammeter
 Protractor
 Stand or clamp
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3. Theory
a. Magnetic Field Lines Around a Bar Magnet
A bar magnet produces a magnetic field that can be
visualized by drawing its magnetic field lines. These
lines originate from the magnet's north pole and curve
around to its south pole. A compass placed near the
magnet will align itself with these field lines, allowing
us to trace the magnetic field’s direction at different
points around the magnet.
b. Earth’s Magnetic Field
The Earth generates a magnetic field that extends far
into space, driven by the motion of molten iron within
its outer core. This creates magnetic poles, which are
not perfectly aligned with the geographic poles. When
placed on Earth’s surface, a compass needle aligns
itself along the lines of the Earth's magnetic field,
pointing toward the magnetic North Pole.
c. Tangent Galvanometer
A tangent galvanometer consists of a circular coil of
wire that produces a magnetic field when an electric
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current flows through it. This field interacts with the

Earth’s magnetic field, and the result can be observed
by the deflection of a compass needle placed at the
center of the coil. The angle of deflection helps
determine the relationship between the current in the
coil and the Earth’s magnetic field.
The strength of the Earth’s magnetic field (( B_E )) can
be calculated using the equation:
BE=μ0⋅n⋅I2r⋅tan⁡(θ)BE=2rμ0⋅n⋅I⋅tan(θ)
Where:
 ( \mu_0 ) is the permeability of free space.
 ( n ) is the number of turns in the coil.
 ( I ) is the current through the coil.
 ( r ) is the radius of the coil.
 ( \theta ) is the deflection angle of the compass
needle.
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4. Procedure
a. Plotting Magnetic Field Lines Around a Bar Magnet
1. Place the bar magnet at the center of a sheet of
paper.
2. Starting from the north pole of the magnet, use a
compass to mark the direction in which the needle
points.
3. Move the compass to various positions around the
magnet, noting the direction of the needle at each
spot.
4. Connect these points to trace the magnetic field
lines, which should curve from the north pole to
the south pole.
b. Studying the Earth’s Magnetic Field Using a Compass
1. Set the compass on a flat, stable surface, away
from any magnetic objects.
2. Record the direction in which the compass needle
points, representing the Earth’s magnetic North.
3. Rotate the compass at different angles and
observe how the needle consistently realigns with
the Earth's magnetic field.
c. Measuring the Earth’s Magnetic Field Using a
Tangent Galvanometer
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1.Place the tangent galvanometer on a horizontal

surface, ensuring its coil is aligned with the Earth’s
magnetic field.
1. Connect the coil to a DC power supply and an
ammeter to measure the current.
2. Gradually increase the current while observing the
compass needle’s deflection angle.
3. Record the current, the number of turns in the coil,
and the coil’s radius.
4. Use the equation provided to calculate the Earth’s
magnetic field strength.
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5. Observations and Calculations

Deflection Angle (( \ Magnetic Field
Current (I) theta )) (( B_E ))

_________ _________ _________

_________ _________ _________

6. Result
After completing the experiment, the calculated
strength of the Earth’s magnetic field is approximately
[value]. The plotted magnetic field lines around the bar
magnet aligned as expected, confirming the typical
behavior of magnetic fields.
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CONCLUSION

The project on the Study of Earth's Magnetic Field has

allowed me to explore how the magnetic field around
the Earth and other magnetic objects, such as bar
magnets, can be studied through simple experiments.
By using a compass needle, plotting the magnetic field
lines, and experimenting with the tangent
galvanometer, I was able to visualize and understand
the invisible magnetic forces in nature.

The project helped me appreciate the relationship

between electricity and magnetism, as well as the
scientific principles underlying the Earth's geomagnetic
field. Overall, this study has deepened my knowledge
of magnetic phenomena and its real-world
applications.
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Bibliography
1. Halliday, David, and Resnick, Robert.
Physics.
Wiley, 2010.
This book was used to understand the basics of
magnetism, including the Earth's magnetic field
and how it affects a compass needle.
2. Nelkon, Michael, and Parker, Philip.
Advanced Level Physics.
Heinemann Educational Publishers, 2005.
This textbook provided information on how to plot
magnetic field lines using a compass and bar
magnet.
3. Kumar, Satish.
Practical Physics for Class 12.
S. Chand, 2011.
This book was referred to for the practical
procedures and theory behind using a tangent
galvanometer to measure magnetic fields.
4. Sharma, B.K.
Comprehensive Physics for Class XII.
Laxmi Publications, 2012.
This book helped in understanding the theoretical
concepts of Earth’s magnetic field and its
measurement.
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5. NCERT.
Physics Textbook for Class XII.
National Council of Educational Research and
Training, 2014.
This was the primary reference for basic concepts
of magnetism and the tangent galvanometer
experiment.
6. HyperPhysics, Georgia State University.
"Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet."
Available at: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
This website was helpful in visualizing the
magnetic field lines around a bar magnet.
7. Physics Lab Manual for Class XII.
Arihant Publications, 2013.
This manual provided detailed experimental
procedures for conducting the tangent
galvanometer experiment and plotting magnetic
field lines.