Question

State the characteristics of magnetic field lines.

Answer 1

Magnetic field lines are defined as the visual tool helpful in representing magnetic fields. They explain the direction of the magnetic force on a north monopole at any selected position. The density of these field lines depicts the magnitude of the field. It is a vector quantity.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us discuss the characteristics of magnetic field lines. The direction of the magnetic field will be tangential to the field line at any location in space. A small compass can be used to point in the direction of the field line. The strength of the magnetic field is found to be proportional to the closeness of the lines or the density of line. It is perfectly proportional to the number of lines per unit area perpendicular to the lines. This is known as the areal density. Magnetic field lines can never intersect each other. This means that the field is unique at every location in space. Magnetic field lines are found to be continuous which can form closed loops without a start or an end. It is directed from the North Pole to the South Pole. The last characteristic is in connection to the fact that the north and south poles are not able to be separated.in short no magnetic monopoles exist in nature. If magnetic monopoles existed, then magnetic field lines would be having a start and end.

Note:
The magnetic field is formed when a charge is in motion. There are two fundamental ways through which we can develop a magnetic field of line for a charge to be in motion. One of them is a magnetic field created by a current carrying conductor. And the other one is due to motion of electrons around the nuclei of atoms.