Subjective Type

What are magnetic field lines? How is the direction of a magnetic field at a point determined? Mention two important properties of magnetic field lines.

Solution

The magnetic field lines of force are the lines drawn in a magnetic field along which a hypothetical north magnetic pole would move if it is free to do so. The direction of a magnetic field at a point is the direction of the resultant force acting on a hypothetical north pole placed at that point. The tangent at any point on the magnetic field line gives the direction of magnetic field at that point. The direction of the magnetic field at a point can be found by placing a small magnetic compass at that point. The north end of the needle indicates the direction of the field.

Two important properties of the magnetic lines of force are:
(i) The magnetic lines of force start from north pole and terminate at south pole. Inside the magnet they travel from south pole to north pole. Thus, they are closed curves.
(ii) They do not intersect each other because at the point of intersection there will be two directions of same magnetic field which is impossible

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