INSIGHT UPSC QUIZ

Science & Technology General Science
Q.

 Consider the following statements with reference to the ‘magnetic field’ of a bar magnet:

1. Magnetic field is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. 

2. Inside the magnet, the direction of field lines is from its south pole to north pole.

3. Magnetic field-lines of two different magnets can intersect each other.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

ANSWER: (B) 

  • Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Magnetic field is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. The direction of the magnetic field is taken to be the direction in which a north pole of the compass needle moves inside it. Therefore, it is taken by convention that the field lines emerge from north pole and merge at the south pole. Inside the magnet, the direction of field lines is from its south pole to its north pole. Thus, the magnetic field lines are closed curves. 

The relative strength of the magnetic field is shown by the degree of closeness of the field lines. The field is stronger, that is, the force acting on the pole of another magnet placed is greater where the field lines are crowded. 

  • Statement 3 is not correct.

No two field-lines are found to cross each other. If they did, it would mean that at the point of intersection, the compass needle would point towards two directions, which is not possible. 

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