S 1 4 : Ea r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m : M a g n e t i c D i p a n d D e c l i n a t i o n

What you already know What you will learn

➢ Magnetic dipole ➢ Earth’s magnetism : Magnetic dip

➢ Magnetic field due to current and declination
carrying ring ➢ Determination of dip
➢ Bohr’s magnetron ➢ Apparent dip
➢ Gauss’s law for magnetism
E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m The study of Earth's magnetism and its magnetic
properties is called Terrestrial Magnetism.

Geographical
North Pole

11.5°

Geographical
South Pole
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Dip
𝐵𝐸 ∶ Earth Magnetic Field
𝐵𝐻 ∶ Horizontal component
Earth Magnetic Field
Earth Magnetic 𝐵𝑉 ∶ Vertical component
Field Line Earth Magnetic Field

𝐵𝐻 = 𝐵𝐸 cos𝜃
Horizontal Line 𝜃
𝜃 ∶ Angle of dip 𝐵𝐸

𝐵𝑉
The angle made by the Earth’s magnetic field with the horizontal direction is called
Inclination or Angle of Dip at that point.
The imaginary line joining the geographical north pole and south pole is called the axis of the
earth, whereas the line perpendicular to it and passing through the earth’s centre is called
equator of the earth.
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Dip
𝐵𝐸 ∶ Earth Magnetic Field

𝐵𝐻 ∶ Horizontal component
Earth Magnetic Field

𝐵𝑉 ∶ Vertical component
Earth Magnetic Field
𝐵𝐻 = 𝐵𝐸 cos𝜃
Horizontal Line 𝜃
𝜃 ∶ Angle of dip 𝐵𝐸

𝐵𝑉
Magnetic needle of a compass gives the direction of Horizontal component of Earth
Magnetic Field as the needle is restricted to move in the horizontal plane of the compass.
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Dip

Near magnetic north pole angle of dip is 90°

and a freely suspended magnet aligns with
its North pole towards the Earth’s surface.

Near magnetic south pole angle of dip is 90° NP

and a freely suspended magnet aligns with its
South pole towards the Earth’s surface.
Near magnetic equator, Dip is zero.

SP
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Declination
Geographical
A plane passing through the geographical Geographical North Pole
poles (i.e., geographical north pole and Meridian
geographical south pole) and a given point
𝑃 (where we want to find geographical
meridian) on the earth’s surface is called
the Geographical Meridian at the point 𝑃.

Axis of rotation
𝑃
Simplistic understanding: Suppose we have
an orange and we mark a point 𝑃 on its
surface. If we cut it down vertically from top
to bottom w.r.t 𝑃, then the top of the orange
is equivalent to the north pole, the bottom of
the orange is equivalent to south pole and
the vertical plane will be equivalent to
‘Geographical meridian’.

The ‘Geographical meridian’ is not a fixed

plane rather it varies depending on the point
Geographical
we choose on the surface of the Earth. South Pole
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Declination
Geographical
North Pole

A plane passing through the Geo-

Magnetic poles and a given point 𝑃
(where we want to find magnetic 𝑃 Magnetic
meridian) on the earth’s surface is called Meridian
the Magnetic Meridian at the point 𝑃.

Similar to ‘Geographical meridian’, the

‘Magnetic meridian’ is also not a fixed
plane rather it varies depending on the
point we choose on the surface of the
Earth.
Geographical
South Pole
E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Declination
Geographical
North Pole Earth’s magnetic field can be
approximated by a giant bar magnet
(magnetic dipole) of magnetic moment
8 x 1022 𝐽 𝑇 −1 located at its centre.

The south pole of the dipole is towards

𝑃
the Magnetic north pole and north pole
towards the Magnetic south pole.

Geographical
South Pole
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Declination

The angle made by the magnetic meridian at a Geographic Magnetic

point with the geographical meridian is called al Meridian Declinatio
Declination at that point.
𝛼′ n
A freely suspending magnetic needle lies in 𝛼
magnetic meridian because magnetic meridian
consists of the Earth’s magnetic field lines. 𝑃
𝛼′ > 𝛼
(As we move closer to the Pole, Magnetic Declination
increases)

Magnetic
Meridian
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m Magnetic Declination

Geographical Magnetic The magnetic axis makes an angle of

Meridian Declination 11.5° with the Axis of Rotation (𝛼).
A freely suspended bar magnet
𝛼 always align itself towards the
magnetic field lines.

Magnetic
Meridian
 E a r t h ’s M a g n e t i s m H o r i z o n t a l C o m p o n e n t o f 𝐵𝐸
Angle of Geographical
True North Magnetic
Declination Meridian
𝑃 NP Declination
Geographical
Meridian
𝛼
𝛼
𝐵𝐻
𝜃 𝑃
Angle of Dip
𝐵𝐸 𝐵𝑣

Magnetic North

Magnetic
Meridian SP

The angle made by the Earth’s magnetic field with the horizontal direction in the
magnetic meridian is called Inclination or Dip at that point.
 Determination of dip Dip Circle
Vertical Circular
Scale(S)

Magnetic Needle
Spirit
Level

Horizontal Angular
Scale(E)

Levelling Screws
 Determination of dip
Determination of Magnetic Meridian
When the levelling of the arrangement is done with the help of levelling
screw and sprit level, it is not necessary that the magnetic needle is in
magnetic meridian. The plane of the needle may differ from the
magnetic meridian by an angle 𝛽 , as shown in the diagram.
Consequently, the Earth’s magnetic field (𝐵𝑒 ) is different in those two
planes.
Since the plane of the needle and the magnetic meridian
have a common side along which the vertical component
exists, 𝐵𝑉 in both the planes are same.
If 𝜃 is the angle of dip and 𝐵𝐻′ is the horizontal
component of earth’s magnetic field along the
plane of the needle, then,

𝜃 ′ is the angle of dip in the plane of needle, known

as apparent dip.
 Determination of dip
Determination of Magnetic Meridian
We have:
Since the angle of dip for a specific location of Earth is a fixed quantity,
𝐵𝐻′ in that location will be zero if and only if:

This suggests that the angle between the plane of the needle and the
magnetic meridian should be 90° for 𝐵𝐻′ to be zero. Now, 𝐵𝐻′ = 0 means
the needle becomes vertical in its plane.
Therefore, rotate the box till the needle becomes vertical and reads
90° − 90° on the vertical scale. In this position, 𝐵𝐻′ = 0 .
Magnetic needle will be aligned with the vertical component (𝐵𝑉 ) of the
Earth’s magnetic field. In this position of the box, 𝛽 = 90°. Thus, the
magnetic meridian is 90° away from this orientation of the box.
Therefore, rotate the box through 90° with the help of horizontal scale
𝐸 to get the magnetic meridian plane.
Determination of dip
Measurement of Dip
Now, the box and hence the vertical scale (where the needle is
attached) is perfectly aligned along the magnetic meridian. Since
the earth’s magnetic field 𝐵 lies in the same plane as that of the
magnetic meridian, the reading on the vertical scale that the
needle is now showing w.r.t the horizontal line directly gives the
value of the dip.
 Determination of dip
Apparent dip

When the plane of rotation of the magnetic needle is

other than the plane of magnetic meridian then the dip
obtained is known as apparent dip 𝜃 ′ .

Plane of Magnetic
Meridian

Plane of rotation of
Magnetic needle
 Determination of dip
Apparent dip 𝐵𝐻
90° − 𝛽
Steps to find true angle of dip 𝜃 90° Magnetic
𝐵𝐻 Meridian
without knowing the location of 𝛽
𝐵𝐻 ′
magnetic meridian: 𝜃′
𝐵𝑉 𝐵
1. When the arrangement of dip circle
is just levelled perfectly, the needle 𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐵𝑉
will be in any arbitrary plane of 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑛
rotation. Measure the apparent dip
(𝜃 ′ ) for this this plane of rotation of
the magnetic needle.
2. Now, rotate the vertical scale of the
dip circle arrangement by 90°. This
plane will be 90° away from the 1st
plane. Measure the apparent dip
(𝜃 ′′ ) for this 2nd plane.
Plane of rotation of
Therefore,
Magnetic needle
 Determination of dip
Apparent dip 90° − 𝛽
90° Magnetic
Squaring equation (1) and (2) individually and adding them, we get, 𝐵𝐻 Meridian
𝛽
𝐵𝐻 ′
𝜃′

Now, we have: 𝐵𝑉
′′
𝐵𝐻
cot 𝜃 ′′ =
𝐵𝑉

Substituting the values of 𝐵𝐻′ and 𝐵𝐻′′ in the above equation, we get,

Plane of rotation of
Magnetic needle
𝐵 1
Since =
𝐵𝑉 sin 𝜃
 Determination of dip
Apparent dip

cot 2 𝜃′ + cot 2 𝜃′′ = cot 2 𝜃

90° − 𝛽
90° Magnetic
𝐵𝐻 Meridian
𝛽
𝐵𝐻 ′ This expression helps one to know the value of
𝜃′ true dip without knowing the magnetic meridian.
𝐵𝑉

Plane of rotation of
Magnetic needle