Question

Define dip at a place. How does it vary from pole to equator ?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Magnetic dip or magnetic inclination at a place is defined as the angle which the direction of the total strength of the earth’s magnetic field makes with horizontal line in magnetic meridian . It is represented by the symbol δ Dip circle is the instrument used for measuring the value of magnetic dip.

At different places on the surface of the earth δ is different. At the two magnetic poles, the magnetic needle rests vertically. The range of dip is from -90⁰ (at the South Magnetic Pole) to +90⁰ (at the North Magnetic Pole). On the magnetic equator, the angle of dip is 0 as the needle would rest horizontally at the magnetic equator. At other places the value of dip angle lies between 0 and 90 degrees.
Therefore, the angle of dip from poles to the equator varies from -90⁰ to 0⁰.