PASCO SF-8619 User Manual

Instruction Sheet
for the PASCO
Model SF-8619

012-04399C

3/95

$1.00

MAGNETIC DIP NEEDLE

Introduction

This compass needle is used to measure the dip angle of
the Earth's magnetic field. However, it may also be used
in its horizontal position as a conventional compass.

Setup Procedure

➀ Assemble the two parts of the dip needle by inserting

the banana plug connector into the hole in the black
rod on the stand, as shown in equipment setup diagram.

➃ While in the horizontal position, rotate the entire appa-

ratus to align the compass needle with the axis of ba­nana plug pivot.

➄ Without changing the orientation of the base, rotate

the dip needle at its banana plug connection until the
plastic scale is in the vertical plane.

Theory

The dip needle is a magnetized steel needle which rotates
around its center of mass. When no other magnetic fields
are present, the dip needle will align itself along the direc­tion of the Earth’s magnetic field. The dip angle, or incli­nation, is the angle between the horizontal plane and the
total Earth magnetic field. By convention, the dip angle
is positive when pointing downwards.

The dip needle apparatus measures the angle, θ between
the vertical plane and the total Earth magnetic field. In
order to obtain the dip angle, subtract θ from 90˚.

The United States Geological Survey maintains a public
domain program for IBM compatible computers which
models geomagnetic parameters including dip angle. The
user inputs their latitude, longitude and elevation and the
program calculates the dip angle. Copies of the program
are free of charge and are available over the Internet via
the following methods:

Equipment Setup

➁ Put the dip needle in a location which is far away from

any ferromagnetic materials and other magnetic fields.
If you place the dip needle on a table, be sure there are
no ferromagnetic supports under the table top.

➂ Rotate the dip needle at its banana plug connection

until the plastic scale is in the horizontal plane.

10101 Foothills Blvd. • P.O. Box 619011 • Roseville, CA 95678-9011 USA

Phone [phone] • FAX [phone] • email: [e-mail]

ftp host: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov login anonymous
gopher host: gopher.ngdc.noaa.gov no login necessary
www host: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov no login necessary

The appropriate file is pcgeomag.zip which contains the
source code, executable and documentation files along
with the current magnetic field model.

© 1990 PASCO scientific
This instruction sheet written/edited by: Ann Hanks

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ways to

teach physics

Magnetic Dip Needle 012-04399C

North

Geographic

Pole

θ

Ι

South

Magnetic

Pole

S

N

North

Magnetic

Pole

Dip Angle for Northern California

South

Geographic

Pole

Copyright Notice

The PASCO scientific Model SF-8619 Magnetic Dip
Needle manual is copyrighted and all rights reserved.
However, permission is granted to non-profit educational
institutions for reproduction of any part of this manual
providing the reproductions are used only for their labora­tories and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any
other circumstances, without the written consent of
PASCO scientific, is prohibited.

θ = Angle read from Dip Needle

I = Dip Angle = 90° - θ

Limited Warranty

PASCO scientific warrants this product to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one
year from the date of shipment to the customer. PASCO
will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the product
which is deemed to be defective in material or workman­ship. This warranty does not cover damage to the product
caused by abuse or improper use. Determination of
whether a product failure is the result of a manufacturing
defect or improper use by the customer shall be made
solely by PASCO scientific. Responsibility for the return
of equipment for warranty repair belongs to the customer.
Equipment must be properly packed to prevent damage
and shipped postage or freight prepaid. (Damage caused
by improper packing of the equipment for return ship­ment will not be covered by the warranty.) Shipping
costs for returning the equipment, after repair, will be
paid by PASCO scientific.

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