Question

Why does a magnetic compass needle pointing North and South in the absence of a nearby magnet get deflected when a bar magnet or a current carrying loop is brought near it. Describe some salient features of magnetic lines of force concept :

Answer 1

When electric current passes through the conductor it behaves like a bar magnet and an induced EMF is created which generates magnetic lines of force around it. Thus, when a magnetic compass that is pointing in the north-south direction according to the earth's magnetic field, shows deflection with respect to the strength of the magnetic field that is superposition of magnetic field created by the current carrying conductor and of earth. Features of magnetic lines of force, The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude.Magnetic lines of force start from the North Pole and end at the South Pole. Two magnetic lines of force cannot intersect each other and they are continuous along the axis of the electromagnetic conductor. The magnetic lines of force are uniform and strong at the center or inside of the conductor and they diverge as they move away from the conductor and as the distance increases. Eventually, the strength of the magnetic field is strong inside and they weaken as they closeness decreases.