Objective:
– To show the shape of the magnetic field surrounding bar and horseshoe magnets.
Apparatus:
- Bar and horseshoe magnets
- Two Magnetic Needle Compass Apparatus (SCIEDCO LAB 7935264-11
Method:
The magnets are placed inside the acrylic apparatus by sliding out the labelled removable sheet on each apparatus. The needles on the apparatus will follow the magnetic field lines around the two differently shaped magnets. The needles form continuous non-overlapping lines, demonstrating that the magnetic field lines do not intersect. Note that the needles on the apparatus are fabricated from a soft ferromagnetic material, meaning that they are not magnetised, but become magnetised in the presence of the magnet’s field. This also means that the needles will not reverse when the magnet is reversed.
Note:
Please slide out the acrylic sheets with care and insert the correct shaped magnet in the corresponding apparatus.