Magnetic Inclination

The earth's magnetic field is widely used for navigation, but it does not always point towards the north pole. In North America, for instance, a significant portion of the magnetic field points downwards into the ground. The angle formed between the earth's magnetic field and the horizontal plane is known as the magnetic inclination. To comprehend this concept, one can model the earth's magnetic field as emanating from a magnetic dipole, as illustrated in the diagram. Using this model, the magnetic inclination can be determined as a function of latitude.

You can download a free App called "Teslameter" on your smartphone, which utilizes the device's built-in 3-axis magnetic field sensors to measure the magnetic field vector. Here's what you need to do:

(1) Identify the x-, y-, and z-axes of the magnetic field sensors with respect to your phone.

(2) Measure the magnetic inclination at your current location.

(3) Employ the dipole model you created to estimate your latitude based on the magnetic inclination angle. Discuss any potential discrepancies between the estimated latitude and your actual location.