TOPIC 1

MAGNETIC FIELD AND FIELD LINES

Learning Objectives
 Students will learn to draw magnetic field lines for a bar magnet.
 Students will learn the properties of magnetic field lines.
 Students will learn about the discovery by Oersted that electricity and
magnetism are related.
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be able to conceptualize magnetic field lines and list their
properties.
 Students will be able to identify the magnetic field strength at different
points around a magnet.
 Students will be able to relate deflection of compass needle due to
magnetic effects of electric current.
Real Life Application
When a doctor has to examine your organs, tissues, and skeletal system, he
takes you for an MRI scan. It creates high-resolution images of the insides
of the body to aid in the diagnosis of a wide range of ailments. The MRI
technique operates using a magnetic field. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
is a medical imaging technique that creates detailed images of your organs
and tissues using a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves.

Large, tube-shaped magnets are used in most MRI machines. The magnetic
field in an MRI machine realigns the water molecules in your body temporarily.
These aligned atoms emit faint signals, which are used to create the cross-
sectional MRI images, similar to slices in a loaf of bread.
This is a basic example of the use of a magnetic field in our day-to-day lives.
Let us now study what a magnetic field and field lines are in brief.
Danish physicist, H. C. Oersted observed during the course of a lecture that
there is a connection between current and magnetism. In this chapter we will
study magnetic fields and also about electromagnets and electric motors

2 Science Class X
Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
which involve the magnetic effect of electric current, and electric generators
which involve the electric effect of moving magnets.
A compass needle is a small bar magnet whose ends point approximately
towards north and south directions. The end pointing towards north is called
north seeking or north pole. The other end that points towards south is called
south seeking or south pole.
Magnetic Field
It is defined as the region around a magnet in which the force of attraction
and repulsion can be detected.
Magnetic Field Lines
These are imaginary lines drawn around a magnet which describe the
magnetic field around a magnet and indicate the direction in which a
hypothetical North pole would move if placed at that point.
Characteristics of Magnetic Lines of Force
(1) The magnetic lines of force indicate the direction in which a N-pole would
move if placed at that point.
(2) The relative strength of the magnetic field is shown by the degree of close-
ness of the field lines.
(3) No two lines of force intersect each other, for if they did, it would mean that
there would be two directions of magnetic field at the point of intersection.
(4) The direction of magnetic field at any point is found by drawing a tangent
at that point.
Example 1. Real Life Based:
Akshay made an electric circuit comprising battery of two cells, conductor,
key and a bulb. When bulb was glowing, his younger brother brought
a magnetic needle (compass needle) near the conductor. Both of them
saw that the magnetic needle gets deflected. What is the reason for the
defection?

Resistor R – +
X A
A
Long straight
Conductor +

O B –
D

C
Y ( )
K

(Understand)

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 3

Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
Total Breakdown
Marks (As per CBSE Marking Scheme)
Explain the reason for deflection of needle in two
2
points. (1m+1m)

Ans.The electric current through the conductor produces a magnetic effect

which produced magnetic field. Magnetic force exerted by the magnetic
field produced by a conductor causes the deflection in the magnetic
needle. We can also say electricity and magnetism are related to each
other.
Example 2. Real Life Based:
Advitya kept a piece of iron around 2 inches long near the S-pole of a bar
magnet. He wants to know what will happen?

N S Iron
(Understand)

Total Breakdown
Marks (As per CBSE Marking Scheme)
Explain what will happen with reference to the South
and North poles. (1m)
2 Draw a figure which shows the pattern of the
magnetic field lines in an iron piece and magnet.
(1m)

Ans. The side of iron piece which faces towards the S-Pole of this magnet
would act as N–pole and its opposite face would act as S–pole. The magnetic
field pattern is shown here:

N S N Iron S

Caution
 Students generally assume that the direction of magnetic field is always
from north to south pole but they should be clear that it is from north pole to
south pole outside the magnet and from south pole to north pole inside the
magnet.

4 Science Class X
Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
 ...
Mnemonics
 SNOW rule can be used to find the direction of deflection of north pole of
composs needle. If currect is flowing in a straight wire from South to North and
the wire is Over the magnetic needle then north pole of needle is deflected
towards the West direction.

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 5

 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A uniform magnetic field exists in the plane of paper pointing from left
to right as shown in the figure.
Proton

Uniform
magnetic
field

Electron

In the field, an electron and a proton move as shown. The electron

and the proton experience:
(a) forces both pointing into the plane of paper
(b) forces both pointing out of the plane of paper
(c) forces pointing into the plane of paper and out of the plane of
paper, respectively
(d) forces pointing opposite and along the direction of the uniform
magnetic field respectively [CBSE 2010]
Ans. (a) forces both pointing into the plane of paper
Explanation: Apply Fleming’s left hand rule and considering that the flow
of current in the direction of the movement of proton and in the direction
opposite to the flow of electron. So, the current due to both electron and
proton will be in the same direction because of which, the forces acting
on both will be in the same direction. By Fleming’s left hand rule, the
direction of force is pointing into the plane of paper.
Caution
 Students usually get confused between Fleming’s left hand rule, right hand rule
and right hand thumb rule. They should learn and be clear with the rules as all three
are different.

1. A constant current flows in a horizontal wire in the plane of the paper

from east to west as shown in the figure. The direction of a magnetic
field at a point will be north to south:

6 Science Class X
Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
 N

W E

S
W E

(a) directly above the wire

(b) directly below the wire
(c) at a point located in the plane of the paper on the north side of
the wire
(d) at a point located in the plane of the paper on the south side of
the wire
[CBSE 2010]
Ans. (b) directly below the wire
Explanation: If we observe the direction of the magnetic field by applying
the right hand thumb rule, then we will find that the direction of the
magnetic field is from north to south below the wire.

CASE BASED Questions (CBQs)

[4&5 marks ]

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
2. ikram had gone to his cousin’s apartment to celebrate holi. While
V
climbing the stairs he observed that all the electric meters and main
switches were installed on one side of the stair case. On each meter box,
apart from other information, the following was also written: kWh meter,
220V AC.

(A) How many times does AC used in India change direction in one
second?
(B) Vikram is curious to know if there is any difference between the
wire used in the element of an electric heater and the wire used in

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 7

Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
 a fuse. Explain
Ans.(A) The frequency of alternating current in India is 50 Hertz. This means
that the AC changes current every 1/100 second.
(B) The wires used in the element of an electric heater and the wire used
in a fuse differ from one another in their resistivity and melting points.
Wire used in an electric heater has high resistivity and high melting
point whereas the wire used as a fuse has low resistivity and low
melting point.

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark ]

3. The results of two experiments to determine the relationships between

current, radius and magnetic field strength are shown.
Experiment Current in
Magnetic field strength (mT)
1 the coil (mA)
Coil 1 20 50
Coil 2 25 75
Coil 3 30 100

Experiment Radius of
Magnetic field strength (mT)
2 coil (m)
Coil 1 0.10 100
Coil 2 0.25 50
Coil 3 0.50 20
Describe the relationships.
[British Council 2022]
Ans. The relationships are:
(1) Field strength increases with increasing current.
(2) Field strength decreases with increasing radius.

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks ]

4. A magnetic compass needle is placed in the plane of paper near point

A, as shown in the figure. In which plane should a straight current
carrying conductor be placed so that it passes through A and there is
no change in the deflection of the compass? Under what condition is

8 Science Class X
Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
 the deflection maximum and why?

[CBSE 2010]
S

Ans. The straight current carrying conductor should be placed in the

same plane as that of paper. According to the Right hand thumb rule,
the direction of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of
the current and if a magnetic compass is brought closer to the current
carrying conductor, the deflection is maximum. But, when the needle is
placed near the point A in the plane as that of the paper as given in the
figure, there is no deflection.

SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)

[ 3 marks ]

5.(A) Draw the pattern of magnetic field lines due to a magnetic field
through and around a current carrying circular loop.
(B) Name and state the rule to find out the direction of magnetic field
inside and around the loop. [CBSE 2020]
Ans.(A)

– +
K

Caution
 Students usually make mistakes while drawing the pattern of magnetic
field lines. Make correct diagram in order to attain good marks.
(B)The magnetic field lines are concentric circles at every point of a
current carrying circular loop. The direction of magnetic field of every
section of the circular loop can be found be using the right hand thumb
rule.
(1) The magnetic field lines are nearly circular at the points where the
current enters or leaves the coil.

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 9

Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
 (2) Within the coil, the field lines are in the same direction.
(3) Near the centre of the coil, the magnetic field lines are almost
parallel to each other.
(4) At the centre of the coil, the plane of magnetic field lines is at right
angle to the plane of the circular coil.

TOPPER’S CORNER

SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)

[ 3 marks ]
1. Draw the pattern of the field lines of the magnetic field around
a current carrying straight conductor passing through and held
perpendicular to a horizontal cardboard. State right hand thumb
rule and explain how this rule is useful to determine the direction of
the magnetic field in the above case, if the direction of current in the
conductor is vertically downwards.
Ans.

[CBSE Topper
2019]

10 Science Class X
Click here to access complete Educart book of Science (special discount)
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current 11
“ I relied on NCERT as the bible. But I also
referred different difficulty level Q's like
from PYQs and new pattern Q's that my
teachers recommended. It's a must!

ARIHANT KAPKOTI
(99.80%), CBSE Topper 2023
”
According to this year's topper Arihant Kapkoti, PYQs and New
pattern Q's all difficulties is a must for each Chapter. Keeping
this in mind, my special book covers the below things:

Ch-wise Past 10 Years Q's

(with explanations)
Ch-wise 100+ New Pattern Q's
(all difficulties with explanations)
Real-life examples of Topics
CBSE Paper Checker Tips
Topper Answers

VIEW MY BOOK

These books are the best reference books that every

CBSE student should have so they can cover each
Rita Gupta Chapter in a structured manner, along with school
HOD, Social Science teaching. The best part I found is the quality of
Reputed CBSE School answers & coverage all possible Questions

I scored 99.2% studying from Educart books. They

know exactly what the students need and it really
helped me do focused NCERT-driver revision and Arun Sharma
practice. Must buy book!!! Regional Topper
CBSE 2022-23