Define magnetic field lines. How do they determine magnetic field direction at a point in magnetic field?

Collegedunia Team logo

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator

Magnetic field lines are used to represent the direction and strength of magnetic fields. They are used to determine the direction of magnetic fields around a magnet or a current-carrying conductor. The magnetic field lines are closed curves that form continuous loops around the magnetic material or a current-carrying conductor.

The properties of magnetic field lines are as follows:

  • Magnetic field lines always form continuous loops around the magnet or current-carrying conductor, i.e. they are always closed curves.
  • The direction of the magnetic field lines is such that the tangent to the line at any point gives the direction of the magnetic field at that point.
  • Magnetic field lines never intersect with each other.
  • The density of magnetic field lines is directly proportional to the strength of the magnetic field at any point. Thus, the denser the magnetic field lines, the stronger the magnetic field.

For example, consider a bar magnet. When iron filings are scattered around a bar magnet, they align themselves along the magnetic field lines. The direction of the magnetic field lines can be determined by connecting the points where the iron filings lie. The lines will form closed loops, with the field lines emerging from the north pole and entering the south pole. The direction of the magnetic field at any point can be found by drawing a tangent to the magnetic field line at that point.

Similarly, the magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor can be visualized using magnetic field lines. When a current-carrying conductor is passed through a sheet of paper and iron filings are sprinkled on top, the iron filings align themselves along the magnetic field lines. The field lines form concentric circles around the conductor, with the direction of the magnetic field tangent to the circles at any point.

In summary, magnetic field lines are a useful tool to visualize the direction and strength of magnetic fields. They help to understand the behavior of magnets and current-carrying conductors and are useful in practical applications of electromagnetism.

Also check:

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    Assertion (A) : The mass of a nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons. Reason (R) : Energy is absorbed when the nucleons are bound together to form a nucleus.

      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
      • Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
      • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.

    • 2.
      Assertion (A) : All atoms have a net magnetic moment. Reason (R) : A current loop does not always behave as a magnetic dipole.

        • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
        • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
        • Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
        • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.

      • 3.
        Two heaters rated as \((P_1,V)\) and \((P_2,V)\) are connected in series across a dc source of \(V/2\) volt. The power consumed by the combination will be –

          • \((P_1+P_2)\)
          • \(\dfrac{P_1+P_2}{2}\)
          • \(\dfrac{P_1P_2}{2(P_1+P_2)}\)
          • \(\dfrac{P_1P_2}{4(P_1+P_2)}\)

        • 4.
          If Bohr’s quantization postulate (angular momentum \( = \frac{nh}{2\pi} \)) is a basic law of nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why, then, do we never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun? Explain.


            • 5.
              A square loop of side 0.50 m is placed in a uniform magnetic field of 0.4 T perpendicular to the plane of the loop. The loop is rotated through an angle of 60° in 0.2 s. The value of emf induced in the loop will be:

                • 5 V
                • 3.5 V
                • 2.5 V
                • Zero V

              • 6.
                Draw the number of scattered particles versus the scattering angle graph for scattering of alpha particles by a thin foil. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

                  CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

                  Comments


                  No Comments To Show