Dip Needle - Physics Demonstrations - Dip Needle | Physics Undergraduate Labs

Purpose

Demonstrates the three-dimensional nature of Earth's magnetic field by measuring the magnetic inclination (dip angle). Students see that the field has a substantial vertical component at mid-latitudes, not just the horizontal component shown by a compass.

PASCO Scientific dip needle (Model SF-8619) with white rectangular base, black vertical post and horizontal arm supporting a transparent circular protractor with copper-colored magnetized needle

Older dip needle with black round base, gray triangular metal support, and circular degree scale (0–90 in four quadrants) with dark magnetized needle at center pivot

Figure 1: PASCO dip needle with transparent degree circle and magnetized needle on pivot. The base label reads "DIP NEEDLE."

Figure 2: Second dip needle variant with metal degree circle scaled 0–90° in four quadrants. The needle freely rotates to indicate inclination angle.

Dip Needle

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