The horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic field is zero at
magnetic equator
magnetic poles
South and North Poles
nowhere
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019
– At the magnetic poles (where a compass needle points vertically downwards or upwards), the magnetic field lines are essentially perpendicular to the Earth’s surface. Therefore, the magnetic field vector has only a vertical component, and the horizontal component is zero.
– At the magnetic equator, the magnetic field lines are approximately parallel to the Earth’s surface. Therefore, the magnetic field vector is primarily horizontal, and the vertical component is zero.
– The geographic poles (South and North Poles) are points on the Earth’s rotational axis and do not necessarily coincide with the magnetic poles. The horizontal component is generally not zero at the geographic poles unless they happen to coincide perfectly with the magnetic poles (which they do not).