Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Force

Derik Robert L. Roque, Phy13L/A3

drlroque@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

Abstract

The experiment determines the movement and behaviour of a magnetic materials when a
magnet is present within the area of a field. Iron fillings and magnets from the first part of the
experiments helped the experimenters to determine the nature of its polarity. The data obtained
helped us see the attraction and repulsion of force within the field when two magnets is near to
each other.

We also have determined the factors affecting the magnetic force ,by interchanging the
magnets and other equipment involved throughtout the experiment that is equivalent to the
magnitude of force, current, voltage and the angle of coil orientation.

Keywords: Magnet, Polarity, Magnetic Force

Introduction

A field and force unseen by the naked eye but is felt by its effect of electric currents and
magnetic materials. A magnetic field are most encountered as a force by permanent magnets which
pulls ferromagnetic materials or objects like iron, cobalt, or nickel, and attract or repel other
magnets. Yet, most metals are magnetic such as the examples I gave, others arent such as gold,
silver and copper so, in this experiment, we have used the ferromagnetic material iron which is a
magnetic one.

1. Magnetic Fields
Magnetic field is the space surrounding the magnet. It can be visualized using
combination of continuous loops that leave the N pole and enter the S pole. The used these loops
and lines is magnetic flux. In addition, a current carrying wire can establish a magnetic field on
its own.

2. Magnetic Force

Magnetic Force is the attraction or repulsion that arises between electrically charged
particles because of their motion so it can be either negative or positve based on the direction of
force. It is the basic force responsible for such effects as the action of electric motors and the
attraction of magnets for iron.

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 Methodology

This experiment was divided into two parts: (1) Magnetic Field of Permanent Magnets, (2)
Magnetic Force on Current-Carrying Conductor. The materials used for the experiment is shown
below.

Fig. 1. The materials used in the experiment.

At first part of the experiment, we measured the angle of incidence and reflection ray
from the 0-degree line which is the normal line.

On the second part of the experiment, we have to set the two mirrors facing each other with
different angles and observe the number of images that can be formed. Yet, the number of images
can be computed with the formula
360
= 1 (1)

where is the angle between the plane mirrors.

As for the third part of the experiment, the experimenters used the light source and the two
other sides of the three-surfaced mirror which are the concave and convex side of it from the
materials. First thing to do is to adjust the light sources so that there would be five rays of light
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being projected unto the mirror used. The first tests required the use of the convex mirrors which
reflected the light away from the center of the mirror. Then, the projection of the convex and
concave was traced on a piece of paper to determine the point of intersection which was used to
determine the radius of the curvature and the focal length of the light reflection. The focal length
was computed with the formula,
= /2. (2)
where R is the radius of the curvature.

Lastly, for the part four, five and six is the relationship of object distance, focal length, and
image distance; Determining the focal length when object distance is greater than, less than, or
equal the image distance by interchanging the position of the light source which comes from the
fire light of candle, and the concave mirror which is used to be projected from it to the screen. To
determine the focal length, we used the formula
1 1 1
=+ (3)

where p is the object distance and q is the image distance.

Results and Discussion

Almost all of the parts of the experiment includes the use of light source or the laser pointer
so it requires the whole laboratory to have its lights turned off so we can see the reflection through
the mirrors. The only part of the experiment that does not require to have the lights off is the second
part so it is the first experiment to have been conducted. The figure below shows the second part
experiment.

Fig. 2. Part 2 Setup

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Figure 3 below supports the result of first part of the experiment which is law of reflection when
light of incidence reflected from the plane mirror. The angle of incidence and the reflected angle
from normal line is same.

Fig. 3. Part 1 Setup

Figure 4 below shows the third part of the experiment as we used the convex side of the three-
surfaced mirror that reflects the light outward. By tracing it, data was gathered.

Fig. 4. Part 3 Setup

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 The figure below shows the part 4, 5 and 6 of the experiment. Data was collected by measuring
the distance between the light source and the screen as object distance. The image distance can
be measured with the distance from screen to the concave mirror.

Fig. 5. Part 4, 5 6 Setup (L-R)

Part 2. Table 1. Magnetic Force on Current-Carrying Conductor

Voltage : maximum
Current: I = 5 Amps
Current Loop: SF42

Number of Magnetic force in gram Magnetic force in Newton

magnets

2 1.1 g 0.01078 N

3 1.7 g 0.01666 N

4 2.1 g 0.02058 N

5 2.5 g 0.0245 N

6 2.9 g 0.02842 N

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Table 2. Number of Images Formed from Two Plane Mirrors

Trial 1 Angle between plane Numbers of Images Formed

mirrors (degrees)
Observed Calculated

1 10 35 35

2 15 23 23

3 30 11 11

4 45 7 7

5 60 5 5

6 75 4 4

7 90 3 3

8 120 2 2

Table 3. Determination of Focal Length and Radius

Type of Mirror Convex Concave

Focal Length, f 5.5 cm 5.7 cm

Experimental radius of the Curvature 11 cm 11.4 cm

Actual radius of the Curvature 12 cm 12 cm

Percentage Error 8% 5%

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Table 4. Object Distance Greater than Image Distance

Trial Object Distance Image Distance Computed Focal

Length

1 30 cm 19 cm 11.6327 cm

2 25 cm 18.5 cm 10.6322 cm

3 40 cm 21.5 cm 13.9837 cm

4 35 cm 19 cm 12.3148 cm

Average Focal Length 12.1409 cm

Table 5. Image Distance Greater than Image Distance

Trial Object Distance Image Distance Computed Focal

Length

1 10 cm 36 cm 7.8261 cm

2 15 cm 38 cm 10.7547 cm

3 20 cm 42 cm 13.5484 cm

4 25 cm 46 cm 16.1972 cm

Average Focal Length 12.0816 cm

Table 6. Object Distance Equal to the Image Distance

Trial Object Distance Image Distance Computed Focal

Length

1 26 cm 26 cm 13 cm

2 27 cm 27 cm 13.5 cm

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 3 28 cm 28 cm 14 cm

4 29 cm 29 cm 14.5 cm

Average Focal Length 13.75 cm

Conclusion

With the results of the experiment, the experimenters have proven that the angle of
incidence and reflection is equal to each other. We also learned at the second part of the experiment
that the images formed by the two plane mirrors facing each other can be calculated with the
formula that always depends on the angle between the plane mirrors; The lower the angle, the
higher the image formed. We can also conclude that the convex and concave mirrors are made for
different purpose and function. To put it simply, a convex mirror can make the object image larger
than the original size of the object that is why it is mostly seen on a cars side or rear mirror to
warn the driver for danger. On the other hand, a concave can make the image smaller otherwise.
And to conclude, the focal length of a mirror does not change despite of the changes (greater than,
lesser than, or equal) we made for object distance to the image distance. The errors we have made
that makes the results slightly different to each other with a decimal point changes was mostly
from human errors like getting inaccurate values in measuring object distance and image distance
with the meter stick.

References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field
[2] https://www.britannica.com/science/magnetic-force
[3] http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/magnetism.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curved_mirror