Question:easy

The magnitude of the magnetic field produced by a short bar magnet at a distance of 20 cm from the centre of the magnet on the normal bisector of the magnet is found to be \(5 \times 10^{-6} \, T\). The magnetic moment of the bar magnet is:

Show Hint

On normal bisector, field \(B = (\mu_0/4\pi)(M/r^3)\). Solve for magnetic moment by rearranging formula.
Updated On: Jul 18, 2026
  • 0.1 J T\(^{-1}\)
  • 0.4 J T\(^{-1}\)
  • 0.6 J T\(^{-1}\)
  • 1.2 J T\(^{-1}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Build the equatorial field from two pole fields, instead of quoting the bar-magnet formula directly.
Picture the bar magnet as two poles, $+m_p$ and $-m_p$, separated by a small distance $2l$. At a point on the perpendicular bisector, a distance $r$ from the centre, each pole is actually $\sqrt{r^2+l^2}$ away and contributes a field of size $\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{m_p}{r^2+l^2}$ along the line joining pole to point.

Step 2: Add the axial components of the two pole fields.
The perpendicular components cancel by symmetry, and the axial components add, each picking up a factor $\frac{l}{\sqrt{r^2+l^2}}$ from the triangle geometry: \[ B = 2 \times \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{m_p}{r^2+l^2} \times \frac{l}{\sqrt{r^2+l^2}} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{2m_p l}{(r^2+l^2)^{3/2}} \]
Step 3: Use the short-magnet limit ($l \ll r$) and $M = 2m_p l$.
\[ B \approx \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{M}{r^3} \]
Step 4: Substitute the given numbers.
\[ M = \frac{Br^3}{\mu_0/4\pi} = \frac{5 \times 10^{-6} \times (0.2)^3}{10^{-7}} \]
Step 5: Work through the arithmetic.
\[ (0.2)^3 = 8 \times 10^{-3},\qquad 5 \times 10^{-6} \times 8 \times 10^{-3} = 4 \times 10^{-8} \] \[ M = \frac{4 \times 10^{-8}}{10^{-7}} = 0.4\ \text{J T}^{-1} \]
Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{0.4\ \text{J T}^{-1}} \]
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