How to determine the direction of magnetic field?

The right hand rule is used to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a positive charge.

https://iit.edu/arc/workshops/pdfs/Magnetic_Field.pdf

To determine the direction of a magnetic field, you can follow these steps:

1. Obtain a small compass or a magnetic needle that is free to rotate.
2. Place the compass near the area where you want to determine the magnetic field direction, ensuring that it is not influenced by any other magnetic sources nearby.
3. Allow the compass needle to align itself with the magnetic field. This can be done by ensuring that the compass needle is not obstructed and that it is able to move freely without any external forces acting on it.
4. Take note of the direction in which the compass needle points. This will indicate the direction of the magnetic field at that particular location.

It is important to note that the direction of the magnetic field is given by the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points. This is because the north pole of a compass needle is attracted to the south pole of a magnet, aligning itself in the direction of the magnetic field lines.

To summarize, by using a compass and observing the direction in which its needle aligns itself, you can determine the direction of a magnetic field.