Experiment: Study of a Magnetic Dipole in a Uniform Magnetic Field
Objective:
To study the behavior of a bar magnet (or magnetic needle) placed in a uniform magnetic field and determine the torque and potential energy associated with different orientations.
Apparatus Required:
-
Small bar magnet or magnetic needle
-
Uniform magnetic field source (Helmholtz coil or Earth’s magnetic field with orientation aid)
-
Stand and pivot for suspension
-
Protractor or angle measurement setup
-
Stopwatch (if oscillations are to be studied)
-
Magnetic field measuring device (optional)
Theory:
A magnetic dipole in a magnetic field experiences a torque given by:
Where:
-
is the magnetic moment of the magnet
-
is the magnetic field vector
-
is the angle between and
The potential energy of the dipole in the field is:
This implies:
-
Minimum energy when (aligned)
-
Maximum energy when (anti-aligned)
Procedure:
-
Suspend the bar magnet or magnetic needle freely such that it can rotate in a horizontal plane.
-
Align the setup so the needle/magnet is initially in equilibrium (usually pointing along Earth's magnetic field).
-
Apply an external uniform magnetic field using Helmholtz coils or other means.
-
Vary the orientation of the magnet and measure the angle between the magnetic moment and the magnetic field.
-
Record the torque experienced at various angles using the torque formula.
-
Optionally, allow the magnet to oscillate and measure its oscillation period to indirectly estimate magnetic moment.
Observations:
-
Angle
-
Direction of torque
-
Calculated torque
-
Calculated potential energy
Result:
The torque and potential energy values confirm the theoretical behavior of a magnetic dipole in a uniform magnetic field.
Precautions:
-
Ensure the magnetic field is uniform.
-
Eliminate external magnetic interferences.
-
Ensure accurate angle measurements.