Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Geomagnetism, Physics) The angle of dip: The acute angle measured in a vertical plane between the direction of the Earth's magnetic field lines (or the orientation of a freely suspended magnetic needle) and the horizontal plane. It is a component used to describe the total magnetic field vector.

Usage

• The term "angle of dip" is used specifically in the fields of geomagnetism, physics, and navigation to quantify the vertical inclination of the Earth's magnetic field at a given location.
• It is a technical term. In common usage, it is often simply called the dip or magnetic dip.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The angle of dip at the magnetic poles is 90 degrees, meaning the magnetic needle points straight down.
  • To calculate the total magnetic field strength, you need to know both the horizontal intensity and the angle of dip.
  • The angle of dip increases as you move from the magnetic equator toward the magnetic poles.

Advanced Usage

• "To measure the angle of dip": To determine the inclination of the magnetic field using an instrument like a dip circle.
  • Early explorers used a dip circle to measure the angle of dip during their voyages.

Variants and Related Words

• Dip (n): A common shortened form for "angle of dip" or "magnetic dip".
• Magnetic inclination (n): A fully synonymous scientific term for "angle of dip".
• Inclination (n): In a geomagnetic context, this is synonymous with "angle of dip". (Note: In other contexts, "inclination" can refer to a slope or tilt in general.)
• Dip circle (n): An instrument historically used to measure the angle of dip.

Synonyms

• Magnetic dip
• Magnetic inclination
• Inclination (in geomagnetic contexts)

Related Phrases

• Horizontal component: The part of the Earth's magnetic field parallel to the surface, related to the angle of dip in vector analysis.
• Vertical component: The part of the Earth's magnetic field perpendicular to the surface, directly related to the tangent of the angle of dip.

Noun

1. (physics) the angle that a magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon