Q61P

Question

The magnetic field of Earth can be approximated as the magnetic field of a dipole. The horizontal and vertical components of this field at any distance r from Earth’s center are given by  BH=μ0μ4πr3×cosλm Bv=μ0μ2πr3×sinλm where lm is the magnetic latitude (this type of latitude is measured from the geomagnetic equator toward the north or south geomagnetic pole). Assume that Earth’s magnetic dipole moment has magnitude μ=  8.00 × 1022 A m2  . (a) Show that the magnitude of Earth’s field at latitude lm is given by B=μ0μ4πr3×1+3sin2λm  


  (b) Show that the inclination  ϕi of the magnetic field is related to the magnetic latitude λm  by tan ϕi=2tanλm .

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer

a. B=μ0μ4πr3×1+3sin2λm  

b. tanϕi=2tan λm


1Step 1: Listing the given quantities

BH=μ0μ4πr3×cosλm


Bv=μ0μ2πr3×sinλm

2Step 2: Understanding the concepts of magnetic field

Here, we have to use Pythagoras theorem to find the magnitude of the earth’s magnetic field. The inclination of the magnetic field is found using the equation of the tangent ratio and the vertical and the horizontal component of the magnetic field.

Formula:

 B=Bh2+Bv2

 tanϕ=BvBH

 

3Step 3: (a) Calculations of the B

B=μ0μ4πr3×cosλm2+μ0μ2πr3×sinλm2=μ0μ4πr3×(cosλm)2+(2sinλm)2=μ0μ4πr3×(1sin2λm)+4sin2λm=μ0μ4πr3×1+3sin2λm  


B=μ0μ4πr3×1+3sin2λm  

4Step 4: (b) Calculations of the inclination ϕ i of the magnetic field

tanϕi=BvBh=μ0μ2πr3×sinλmμ0μ4πr3×cosλm=2tanλm


tanϕi=2tan λm