Name: Magnetic Flux
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 6 min 44 s
Description: Magnetic flux is the total number of magnetic lines of force that are passing through a given surface. To learn more about this intriguing concept, watch the...

Question

What are the three elements of earth's magnetic field? Explain them with suitable diagrams.

Accepted Answer

Elements of Earth's Magnetism are

The earth's magnetic field at a place could be completely described with three parameters which are known as elements of earth's magnetic field. They are :

(i) Angle of declination

(ii) Angle of dip

(iii) Horizontal component of earth's magnetic field.

(i) Angle of Declination : Angle between geographical meridian and magnetic meridian at a place is called angle of declination at that given place. Geographic meridian is vertical plane passing through geographical north and the south poles. Whereas magnetic meridian is vertical plane passing through magnetic axis of a freely suspended small magnet.

Magnetic declination arises because the magnetic axis of the earth does not coincide with its geographic axis.

By knowing the declination, we could determine vertical plane in which earth's magnetic field lies.

(ii) Angle of dip : Angle made by the earth's total magnetic field with horizontal direction in magnetic meridian is called the angle of dip at any place. Angle of dip is different at different places on surface of the earth. Angle between horizontal and the final direction of dip needle gives the angle of dip at that given location.

(iii) Horizontal component of earth's magnetic Held : It is component of earth's total magnetic field Q in horizontal direction in magnetic meridian.

What are the three elements of earth's magnetic field? Explain them with suitable diagrams.

Important Questions on Properties of Magnets and Terrestrial Magnetism

Learn and Prepare for any exam you want !