In an oscillation magnetometer, a short magnet completes 40 oscillations per minute at a location where the earth's horizontal magnetic field is 25 T . A second short magnet, possessing a magnetic moment of 1.6 A m ^2 , is positioned 20 cm east of the oscillating magnet. Calculate the new frequency of oscillation assuming the second magnet has its north pole oriented towards the south.

Step-by-step solution

The initial frequency of the oscillation magnetometer is given by: f₁ = 1 2 M' B_H I where B_H = 25 T is the Earth's horizontal magnetic field, which points towards the North. A second short magnet is placed 20 cm ( 0.2 m ) East of the oscillating magnet. Since its North pole is oriented towards the South, its magnetic moment M points towards the South (as magnetic moment is directed from the South pole to the North pole). The oscillating magnet lies on the equatorial line of this second magnet. The magnetic field