• Home
  • NCERT Solutions
  • Class 12
  • Physics
  • Magnetism and Matter
  • Answer the following questions regarding earth's magnetism:

    (a) A vector needs three quantities for its specification. Name the three independent quantities conventionally used to specify the earth's magnetic field.

    (b) The angle of dip at a location in southern India is about 18º.

    Would you expect a greater or smaller dip angle in Britain?

    (c) If you made a map of magnetic field lines at Melbourne in Australia, would the lines seem to go into the ground or come out of the ground?

    (d) In which direction would a compass free to move in the vertical plane point to, if located right on the geomagnetic north or south pole?

    (e) The earth's field, it is claimed, roughly approximates the field due to a dipole of magnetic moment 8 x 1022 J T-1 located at its centre. Check the order of magnitude of this number in some way.

    (f ) Geologists claim that besides the main magnetic N-S poles, there are several local poles on the earth's surface oriented in different directions. How is such a thing possible at all?

Answer the following questions regarding | Class 12 Physics Chapter Magnetism and Matter, Magnetism and Matter NCERT Solutions

Q1.

Answer the following questions regarding earth's magnetism:

(a) A vector needs three quantities for its specification. Name the three independent quantities conventionally used to specify the earth's magnetic field.

(b) The angle of dip at a location in southern India is about 18º.

Would you expect a greater or smaller dip angle in Britain?

(c) If you made a map of magnetic field lines at Melbourne in Australia, would the lines seem to go into the ground or come out of the ground?

(d) In which direction would a compass free to move in the vertical plane point to, if located right on the geomagnetic north or south pole?

(e) The earth's field, it is claimed, roughly approximates the field due to a dipole of magnetic moment 8 x 1022 J T-1 located at its centre. Check the order of magnitude of this number in some way.

(f ) Geologists claim that besides the main magnetic N-S poles, there are several local poles on the earth's surface oriented in different directions. How is such a thing possible at all?

(a) The three independent quantities conventionally used for specifying earth's magnetic field are:

(i) Magnetic declination,

(ii) Angle of dip, and

(iii) Horizontal component of earth's magnetic field

(b)The angle of dip at a point depends on how far the point is located with respect to the North Pole or the South Pole. The angle of dip would be greater in Britain (it is about 70°) than in southern India because the location of Britain on the globe is closer to the magnetic North Pole.

(c)It is hypothetically considered that a huge bar magnet is dipped inside earth with its north pole near the geographic South Pole and its south pole near the geographic North Pole.

Magnetic field lines emanate from a magnetic north pole and terminate at a magnetic south pole. Hence, in a map depicting earth's magnetic field lines, the field lines at Melbourne, Australia would seem to come out of the ground.

(d)If a compass is located on the geomagnetic North Pole or South Pole, then the compass will be free to move in the horizontal plane while earth's field is exactly vertical to the magnetic poles. In such a case, the compass can point in any direction.

(e)Magnetic moment, M= 8 ×1022 J T-1

Radius of earth, r= 6.4 ×106 m

Magnetic field strength, 

Where,

 µ0 = Permeability of free space = 4π x 10-7TmA-1 

This quantity is of the order of magnitude of the observed field on earth.

(f)Yes, there are several local poles on earth's surface oriented in different directions. A magnetised mineral deposit is an example of a local N-S pole.

👍 0
👎 0
✍️ Add Answer
🚩 Report

Study Tips for Answering NCERT Questions:

NCERT questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts and theories discussed in the chapter. Here are some tips to help you answer NCERT questions effectively:

  • Read the question carefully and focus on the core concept being asked.
  • Reference examples and data from the chapter when answering questions about Magnetism and Matter.
  • Review previous year question papers to get an idea of how such questions may be framed in exams.
  • Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
  • Discuss your answers with your teachers or peers to get feedback and improve your understanding.

Important Questions & Answers

Why is this answer important for exams?

This question is important because it tests key concepts from the NCERT syllabus and is frequently asked in CBSE exams.

Which NCERT concept is used in this question?

This question is based on core NCERT concepts explained in the chapter and should be revised thoroughly before exams.

What common mistakes should be avoided in this question?

Students often lose marks by skipping steps, writing incomplete explanations, or misunderstanding keywords used in the question.

What is the correct answer to: Answer the following questions regarding earth's magnetism: (a) A vector needs three quantities for its specification. Name the three independent quantities conventionally used to specify the earth's magnetic field. (b) The angle of dip at a location in southern India is about 18º. Would you expect a greater or smaller dip angle in Britain? (c) If you made a map of magnetic field lines at Melbourne in Australia, would the lines seem to go into the ground or come out of the ground? (d) In which direction would a compass free to move in the vertical plane point to, if located right on the geomagnetic north or south pole? (e) The earth's field, it is claimed, roughly approximates the field due to a dipole of magnetic moment 8 x 1022 J T-1 located at its centre. Check the order of magnitude of this number in some way. (f ) Geologists claim that besides the main magnetic N-S poles, there are several local poles on the earth's surface oriented in different directions. How is such a thing possible at all??

(a) The three independent quantities conventionally used for specifying earth's magnetic field are:

(i) Magnetic declination,

(ii) Angle of dip, and

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

How do you solve Answer the following questions regarding earth's magnetism: (a) A vector needs three quantities for its specification. Name the three independent quantities conventionally used to specify the earth's magnetic field. (b) The angle of dip at a location in southern India is about 18º. Would you expect a greater or smaller dip angle in Britain? (c) If you made a map of magnetic field lines at Melbourne in Australia, would the lines seem to go into the ground or come out of the ground? (d) In which direction would a compass free to move in the vertical plane point to, if located right on the geomagnetic north or south pole? (e) The earth's field, it is claimed, roughly approximates the field due to a dipole of magnetic moment 8 x 1022 J T-1 located at its centre. Check the order of magnitude of this number in some way. (f ) Geologists claim that besides the main magnetic N-S poles, there are several local poles on the earth's surface oriented in different directions. How is such a thing possible at all? step by step?

Step-by-step explanation:
• (a) The three independent quantities conventionally used for specifying earth's magnetic field are:

• (i) Magnetic declination,

• (ii) Angle of dip, and

Latest Blog Posts

Stay updated with our latest educational content and study tips

Simple and Compound Interest Formulas with Questions

Simple and Compound Interest Formulas with Questions

Interest is one of the most significant ideas in maths and financial calculations. It is very common in banking, loan applications, investments, saving account and competitive exams. Simple Interest and Compound Interest make it easier to find out how much more is earned and/or paid on a principal during the period of time. These Interest … Read more

Read More
Spoken English Course Topics for Beginners in 2026

Spoken English Course Topics for Beginners in 2026

In 2026, students, professionals, and job seekers must have a high level of spoken English. Spoken English is a beginner level course to enhance learners’ communication skills in English, their pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar structure and confidence in speaking English fluently. Today, the emphasis of spoken English courses is placed on actual conversations, everyday speech practice … Read more

Read More
Difference Between AI and Machine Learning

Difference Between AI and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are two of the most sought-after technologies in today’s digital era. Although these terms are often used together, they are not the same. Machine Learning is, in fact, a component of Artificial Intelligence that enables systems to learn and enhance on their own, without direct programming. AI is … Read more

Read More
Time, Speed and Distance Formulas

Time, Speed and Distance Formulas

Time, Speed, and Distance are some of the most important concepts in mathematics and aptitude. These are the concepts which are used to calculate the speed of an object, time taken for an object to move and the distance traveled during the motion. Questions from this topic are frequently seen in School Tests, Competitive Tests, … Read more

Read More

Student Discussion

Be the first to comment.

ADD NEW COMMENT

        Can’t find your school? Type full name and submit.