[figure] A bar magnet has total length 2l = 20 units and the field point P is at a distance d = 10 units from the centre of the magnet. If the relative uncertainty of length measurement is 1\%, then uncertainty of the magnetic field at point P is :
- 10%
- 5%
- 3%
- 4%
Answer
(3) 3%, (4) 4%
Solution
P lies on the perpendicular bisector (equatorial line) of the magnet:
B = 04 M(d2+l2)3/2, with l = 10, d = 10
Both lengths are measured with ll = dd = 1\%, i.e. l = d = 0.1
(d2+l2) = 2d d + 2l l = 2 + 2 = 4
(d2+l2)d2+l2 = 4200 = 2\%
(i) Magnetic moment M taken as given (no error):
BB = 32 2\% = 3\%
(ii) M = m(2l) with pole strength m fixed, so M also carries the 1% length uncertainty:
BB = ll + 32 2\% = 1\% + 3\% = 4\%
The uncertainty in B is 3% or 4%.
Answer: (3), (4)