Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QPage 276: Q8: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Permanent Magnets Page 276: Q8 Solution: A compass needle which is allowed to move in a horizontal plane …

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often mistakenly assume the compass aligns with the magnetic field lines, forgetting that the needle is constrained to a horizontal plane. At the geomagnetic pole, the field is vertical, so the horizontal component is zero, resulting in no torque to align the needle.

A compass needle which is allowed to move in a horizontal plane is taken to a geomagnetic pole. It ______.

Multiple Choice Options

  • A will stay in north-south direction only
  • B will stay in east-west direction only
  • C will become rigid showing no movement
  • D will stay in any position

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** (d) will stay in any position. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** At a geomagnetic pole, the field is vertical. A compass needle free to move in a horizontal plane will stay in any position.

All Questions in this Chapter

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