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  4. Magnetic field lines show the direction (at every point) along which a small magnetised needle aligns. Do the magnetic field lines also represent the lines of force on a moving charge at every point?

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Q. Magnetic field lines show the direction (at every point) along which a small magnetised needle aligns. Do the magnetic field lines also represent the lines of force on a moving charge at every point?

Magnetism and Matter

Solution:

No, the magnetic force is always normal to $B$ (remember magnetic force $=q v \times B$. It is misleading to call magnetic field lines as lines of force.