Determining the magnetic field of a bar magnet experimentally?

In summary, to experimentally determine the magnetic field of a bar magnet, you can use a many-turn air coil, slip it over the bar magnet and measure the flux output with a voltage integrator. You can also rotate the magnet in a solenoid and use Faraday's Law, or use methods such as Hall Effect, NMR, Flux gate, Rotating coil, SQUID, or calculate the moment of inertia and magnetic moment of the bar magnet.
  • #1
Xyius
508
4
I would I go about determining the magnetic field of a bar magnet experimentally? Any ideas?
 
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  • #2
Use a many-turn (N > 100) air coil slightly larger than the bar magnet and slip it over the bar magnet down to the middle. Turn on a voltage integrator - see my post # 27 in

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=70290&highlight=flip+coil&page=2

and pull the coil off the end and away from the magnet. This measures the volt-seconds of the coil voltage output, which is equal to the magnetic flux Φ. This will measure the total flux Φ out of one end. Divide the measured flux Φ by the area A of the end of the bar magnet to get the flux density B.

Bob S
 
  • #3
Awesome thanks a lot!
 
  • #4
Xyius said:
Awesome thanks a lot!
You can double the voltage integrator output signal if you flip the coil over and slide it back on the bar magnet.

Bob S
 
  • #5
I am currently in undergraduate Physics, and have little experience setting up circuits and I feel that is beyond by capabilities due to the lack of knowledge I currently have. Is there any easier way? It doesn't have to be extremely precise.

EDIT:

What if I create an EMF by rotating the magnet in a solenoid and using faradays Law?
 
Last edited:
  • #6
Xyius said:
What if I create an EMF by rotating the magnet in a solenoid and using faradays Law?
If the bar magnet is less than ~2 times longer than it is wide, you can do it this way. The equipment for this is very similar to the voltage integrator/ flip coil method I describe above and in the referenced post. The flip coil can be built using parts at the local electronics store (voltmeter, dc power supply, soldering iron, op-amp, resistor, capacitor, wire, coil form).

Here is a list of various methods suitable for your magnetic field measurement application.

Hall Effect
NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance)
Flux gate
Rotating coil
SQUID
Flip coil

Look them up on the web. Here is another method.

Calculate the moment of inertia of your bar magnet.

Tie a thread to it and measure the oscillation period (torsional pendulum) in Earth's magnetic field.

Calculate magnetic moment of bar magnet. From dimension of magnet, calculate the pole tip field strength.

Bob S
 
  • #7
Thanks A lot man, I can tell you know your stuff!
 

FAQ: Determining the magnetic field of a bar magnet experimentally?

How do you set up the experiment to determine the magnetic field of a bar magnet?

To set up the experiment, you will need a bar magnet, a ruler, a compass, and a piece of paper. Place the magnet on the paper and use the ruler to draw a line from one end of the magnet to the other. Then, place the compass next to the magnet and adjust it until the needle lines up with the drawn line on the paper.

What is the purpose of using a compass in this experiment?

A compass is used to measure the direction of the magnetic field. By aligning the compass needle with the magnet, you can determine the direction of the magnetic field lines and use this information to calculate the strength of the magnetic field.

How do you calculate the magnetic field strength using this experiment?

To calculate the magnetic field strength, you will need to measure the distance between the magnet and the compass, as well as the angle between the magnet and the compass needle. Then, you can use the tangent function to calculate the magnetic field strength, which is equal to the tangent of the angle multiplied by the distance.

Can this experiment be used to determine the magnetic field of any type of magnet?

Yes, this experiment can be used to determine the magnetic field of any type of magnet, as long as the magnet has a consistent shape and orientation. However, the method of using a compass may not be accurate for magnets with a complex or irregular shape.

What are some sources of error in this experiment?

Some sources of error in this experiment may include the inaccuracy of the compass, variations in the strength of the magnet, and external magnetic fields interfering with the measurement. It is important to repeat the experiment multiple times and take an average to minimize these errors.

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