Name: reading magnetic field lines
Uploaded: 2026-07-09T14:38:03.242Z
Duration: 1 min 19 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

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North Carolina K-12 Science Standard Course of Study

9-12

Physical Science

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Motion and Stability- Forces and Interactions

PS.PSc.6.4

Magnetic Field Lines

When iron filings are placed near the permanent magnet, they line up with the magnetic field to reveal the magnetic field lines.
The direction of magnetic field lines is defined as the direction in which the north end of a compass needle points.
The pictorial representation of magnetic field lines helps visualize the strength, and direction of the magnetic field.
The field lines are always directed from the north to south pole, along the tangent to the magnetic field at each point.
Magnetic field lines always form closed loops. They are densely packed at the poles and are widely separated away from the poles.
The magnetic field strength is proportional to the density of the field lines, implying the field is stronger near the poles and weaker away.
If field lines intersect at a point, it implies two directions of the field, which is impossible. Hence, field lines cannot intersect.
Magnetic field lines patterns produced by like and unlike magnetic poles, a straight current-carrying wire, and a horseshoe magnet are some common sources of magnetic fields.

magnetic field lines

The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:
<ol>
	<li>The direction of the magnetic field is tangent to the field line at any point in space. A small compass will point in the direction of the field line.</li>
	<li>The strength of the field is proportional to the closeness of the lines. It is proportional to the number of lines per unit area perpendicular to the lines, also called the areal density.</li>
	<li>Magnetic field lines can never intersect each other, which implies that the field is unique at any point in space.</li>
	<li>Magnetic field lines are continuous, forming closed loops without a beginning or an end. They are directed from the north pole to the south pole because the north and south poles cannot be separated.</li>
</ol>
They are distinctly different from electric field lines, which generally begin on positive charges and end on negative charges or at infinity. If isolated magnetic charges or magnetic monopoles existed, then magnetic field lines would begin and end on them.
Magnetic field lines are defined to have the direction in which a small compass points when placed at a location in the field. The strength of the field is proportional to the closeness or density of the lines.

The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the ...

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Education

JoVE Core

Physics

Unit 1

Magnetic Forces and Fields

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Learn by watching this video about Magnetic Field Lines at JoVE.com

reading magnetic field lines

Magnetic field lines show the direction and strength of a magnetic field. They make it easier to picture how a magnet acts in space. Each line forms a closed loop around the magnet.

For a bar magnet, the field lines leave the north pole and curve around to the south pole. They then continue through the magnet back to the north pole. This loop has no beginning or end.

Magnetic field lines follow clear rules. The magnetic field points tangent to a field line at any point. A small compass points in the same direction as the local field line. The field is stronger where the lines are closer together. This line density is called areal density, or the number of lines per unit area measured perpendicular to the lines.

Field lines never cross each other. If they did, the field would not have a unique direction at that point. The lines are also continuous, which means they form closed loops without breaks.

These lines are directed from north to south because the north and south poles of a magnet cannot be separated. They are different from electric field lines, which usually start on positive charges and end on negative charges or at infinity. If magnetic monopoles, or isolated magnetic charges, existed, magnetic field lines would begin and end on them.

Reading Magnetic Field Lines

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Magnetic field lines show the direction and strength of a magnetic field. They make it easier to picture how a magnet acts in space. Each line forms a closed loop around the magnet. For a bar magnet, the field lines leave the north pole and curve around to the south pole. They then continue through the magnet back to the north pole. This loop has no beginning or end. Magnetic field lines follow clear rules. The magnetic field points tangent to a field line at any point. A small compass points...

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Learn how magnetic field lines show direction, strength, and compass direction around magnets, including closed loops, line density, and why lines never cross.

Reading Magnetic Field Lines | JoVE K12

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3.1.1 9P.2.2.1.3

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Reading Magnetic Field Lines

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