Question

The figure represents the $B - H$ curve for commercial iron. As $H$ is increased, permeability.

A) Increases and becomes constant.
B) Increases, reaches a maximum and then decreases
C) Decrease continuously till it becomes very small
D) Decreases and then increases

Answer 1

Hint: The $B - H$ curve characterises the magnetic properties of an element or an alloy. $B$ denotes the magnetic flux density and H represents the magnetic field strength. The curve shows how commercial iron responds to magnetisation. Commercial iron is the form of iron containing carbon and other impurities in small amounts.

Complete step by step solution:
The $B - H$ curve is used to study the magnetic properties of a material. Elements show different behaviour under magnetisation. The magnetic flux density, which is the number of magnetic field lines through a unit area is represented on the $Y$ axis of the graph using $B$ and the strength of the magnetic field is given on the $X$ axis denoted by $H$.
Magnetic strength of an electromagnet depends on the type of material of the core, the number of turns of the coil and the current flowing through the coil. We can increase the magnetic strength by increasing the current or the number of turns in the coil or both.
The ratio of magnetic induction to magnetic intensity is called magnetic permeability and is denoted by $\mu $. The magnetic permeability can be used to measure a material’s resistance to the magnetic field. The formula for permeability is given by
$\mu = \dfrac{B}{H}$
We know that iron is a ferromagnetic material. Materials like iron do not have a constant permeability. The permeability increases with increase in magnetic field, after reaching a maximum value it will start decreasing.

Therefore, the answer is: Option (B), Increases, reaches a maximum and then decreases.

Note: Permeability is inversely proportional to magnetic field strength. The permeability of free space ${\mu _0}$ is a constant. But the relative permeability ${\mu _r}$ is not a constant. It is a function of magnetic field intensity. In ferromagnetic materials the ratio of flux density to field strength is not constant, it varies with the flux density. The curve plotted with flux density against field strength is called the magnetization curves or magnetic hysteresis curves. This helps in studying the magnetic behaviour of different materials. The relative permeability is the ratio of permeability through a medium and the permeability through a vacuum. It is expressed as ${\mu _r} = \dfrac{\mu }{{{\mu _0}}}$.