2018 · Q29
The direction of magnetic field at any location on the earth’s surface is commonly specified in terms of
General KnowledgePhysics
- Afield declination
- Bfield inclination
- Cboth field declination and field inclination
- Dhorizontal component of the field
Explanation
The Earth's magnetic field at a point is a vector, fully described by its magnitude and direction. Direction is conventionally specified by the angle of declination (the horizontal angle between magnetic north and true north) and the angle of inclination or dip (the vertical angle the field makes with the horizontal). Either angle alone is insufficient, and the horizontal component alone gives no direction. Hence both declination and inclination are needed.