Magnetic inclination measurements


For the study of the characteristics of the Earth's magnetic field, Eötvös designed an instrument on the analogy of his torsion balance, called a magnetic translatometer. It diferred from the torsion balance in that the lower weight was replaced by a magnetic needle. The needle could be rotated around its horizontal axis in order to be positioned into the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. The suspending wire of the magnet became the centre of the rotation axis of the instrument.

Due to the high sensitivity of the instrument, Eötvös was able to determine the magnetic momentum of rocks and other bodies of weak magnetism. He carried out similar measurements on old bricks and clay pots. During the firing and cooling of the bricks and pots, several hundred years ago, they acquired a remanent magnetization in the direction of the ambient magnetic field. Since it was easy to recognize the sides of the bricks and the bottoms of the pots on which they had rested during firing, it was possible to stand them up in the same position. After having determined the direction of their magnetic momentum, the inclination of the magnetic field at the time of their cooling could be defined.

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