Question
Define angle of dip. Deduce the relation connecting angle of dip and horizontal component of Earth's magnetic field at a place.
Solution
Angle of dip is defined as that angle which the direction of total strength of earth's magnetic field makes with a horizontal line in magnetic meridian. It is represented by .
Let,
Be be the Earth's magnetic field,
is the angle of dip.
V is the vertical component of earth's magnetic field.
H is the horizontal component of earth's magnetic field
Now, resolving Be along horizontal and vertical direction we get,
cos =
which, is the required relation.