Magnetic field:
Just as an electric charge an electric field, in the same way, a magnet creates a magnetic field around it. The space surrounding a magnet in which magnetic force is exerted, is called a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field has both magnitude and direction.
- The direction of magnetic field at a point is the direction of the resultant force acting on a hypothetical north pole to the South Pole placed at the point.
Magnetic field lines:
1. The magnetic field lines are the lines down in a magnetic field along which a north magnetic pole would move.
2. The magnetic field lines always begin from the N-pole of a magnet and on the S-pole of the magnet.
We will now describe how the magnetic field lines(or magnetic field) produced by a bar magnet can be plotted on paper.
[1] To plot the magnetic field pattern due to a Bar magnet by using iron filling:
- In this experiment, you can see the direction of magnetic field.
- Magnetic field lines does not cross each other. They are separated of each other.
[2] To plot the magnetic field pattern due to a bar magnet by using a compass:
1. The magnetic field lines leave the north pole of a magnet and other its south pole we can see by compass.
2. The strength of magnetic field is indicated by the degree of closeness of the field lines. Where the field lines are the closest together, the magnetic field is the strongest.