Strength of a Magnet's Field (B)
Obj: Determine bar magnet's field strength (Bm).
Methods
1. Place the compass
at the 50.0 cm mark on the meter stick with its N-S poles
aligned with the earth's magnetic field and perpendicular
to the meter stick.
2. Place the N pole
of your bar magnet 45 cm away along the length of the meter
stick; record θ on the compass.
3. Move the magnet 5
cm towards the compass and record θ.
4. Repeat until
θ reaches approximately 70o.
Results
and Analysis
1. Plot tan
θ vs.distance (x-axis), then draw a smooth line through
the data points.
2. Determine the
distance where Bmagnet
= Bearth.
[Note: Be
= 1.8 x 10-5
Teslas horizontal to the earth.]
3. Allow tan θ
= Bm/Be, then find Bm at 25 cm.
4. Using tangent
functions, at what distance is the magnet's field strength twice
that of the earth?...half the strength?
5. What relationship
exists between distance and the magnetic field strength?
6. Walk your compass
slowly through the metal doorway leading into the hall and
explain the results.
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