A modification of Oersted experiment

TL;DR

This paper presents a modified Oersted experiment setup using a planar coil to produce significant needle deflection, along with theoretical analysis of torque and a method to measure Earth's magnetic component.

Contribution

It introduces a simple, effective coil setup for Oersted experiments and provides an analytical expression for torque considering field inhomogeneity and needle shape.

Findings

Needle deflection exceeds 80 degrees with 1 A current

Analytical torque expression accounts for field inhomogeneity and needle shape

Earth's magnetic component measured and estimated

Abstract

The paper describes a simple setup of Oersted experiment. A planar coil of wires has been used to deflect vigorously the magnetic needle (more than 80 angular degrees) when a current of up to 1 A flows along it. Based on theoretical analysis the torque on the magnetic field is analytically expressed taking into account the inhomogeneity of the field and the needle shape. What is more, a procedure to measure the Earth's magnetic component is implied and implemented and its magnitude has been estimated following the same steps.