Implication of Faradays Law and Lenzs Law on the

Relationship of Electricity and Magnetism

Abstract
This exercise is done to examine the relationship between electricity
and magnetism with the use of the laws of induction established by Faraday
and Lenz. Three set-ups were used in this exercise. The first and second setups were used to measure the induced current and induced EMF in a
solenoid, respectively. The third set-up was used to demonstrate the concept
of Lenzs law. The results showed that as the speed of the magnet increases,
the induced current also increases. This can be explained by the Faradays
Law. As well as the increase in flux results to a negative emf and current, and
a decrease in flux results to a positive emf and current, also fall in this
concept. The induction effects oppose the change in flux and it is according
to the Lenzs Law. And that when the area exposed to the magnetic field is
reduced, it takes longer time to swing a pendulum. This results to lower
magnetic flux (then lower changes in flux) then lower induced emf, finally a
lower induced current that will oppose the motion of the pendulum.

I.

Introduction

Electromagnetic induction is the production of a potential difference across a conductor when it is

exposed to changing magnetic field. Michael Faraday, an English scientist is given credit for the discovery of
electromagnetic induction in 1831, though some others had noted similar behavior in the years prior to this. The
physics equation that defines the behavior of an induced electromagnetic field from the magnetic flux was
named after him. Faradays law of induction states that the EMF induced by a change in magnetic flux is given
by,

B
t

(1)
where is the electromotive force (EMF) in volts and B is the magnetic flux in webers. For a tightly
wound coil of wire, composed of N identical turns, each with the same B, Faraday's law of induction states that

N B
t

(2)
where N is the number of turns of wire and B is the magnetic flux in webers through a single loop.
The direction of magnetic Induction is given by Lenzs law which states that, the direction of the induced
current is such as to oppose the change causing it. This is a manifestation of the conservation of energy. The
induced EMF produces a current that opposes the change in flux, because a change in flux means a change in
energy. Energy can enter or leave, but not instantaneously. Lenz law is a consequence. As the change begins,
the law says induction opposes and, thus, slows the change.
The objectives of this exercise examine the way that magnets and changing currents can induce
magnetic fields. The group will also observe the relationship between electricity and magnetism and how this
relationship is governed by Faradays law and Lenzs law.

II.

Methodology

Figure 1. Experiment setup for

measuring induced current in a
solenoid

Figure 2. Experiment setup for induced

EMF in a solenoid.

Figure 3. Swinging metal plate

through a magnetic field

The experiment is divided into three parts Induced EMF in a solenoid, measuring induced current
through in a solenoid and the test for Lenzs Law. In the first part, the magnet was dropped with north pole at the
bottom through the solenoid from a certain height above and below it at a constant speed. The induced EMF in
the solenoid was then recorded and the process was repeated with the south pole at the bottom. On the second
part, the circuit in Figure 1 was setup. A magnet was then placed inside the solenoid and the reading in the
galvanometer was recorded. After that, the half of the bar magnet with north pole in first, was slowly inserted
into the solenoid then retracted at the same rate. The same process was repeated with the bar magnet and the
solenoid but with different rate of insertion and different pole inserted first. On the last part, the setup in Figure
3 was followed but with a sensor on the side to measure the oscillation of the pendulum. Three different plates
were used in the experiment. The experiment was conducted by positioning the plate at a tilt angle of 60 and
release. The measured oscillation of the pendulum was recorded and the process was repeated with a different
plate.
III.
Results and Discussion
A. Induced EMF in a solenoid (Part 1)

Motion of
the
Magnet
Towards

Rretracted

Speed
Stationary
Slow
Fast
Stationary
Slow
Fast

Maximum Current
North Pole
South Pole
Magnitude
Direction
Magnitude
Direction
(Scale Divisions)
(+ or -)
(Scale Divisions)
(+ or -)
0
0
0.4
4.4
2.5
7.2
0
0
0.4
+
3.5
+
5.7
+
6.6
+

Table 8.1a Induced current when magnet is inserted into the solenoid
The table above shows that as the rate of moving the magnet through the solenoid increases, the
induced current also increases. This can be explained by the Faradays Law. When the time is smallest, the
induced current is in its highest, meaning that change in time is inversely proportional to emf. This is given by
the equation

,
When the magnet is placed stationary inside the solenoid, the reading in the multimeter is zero, thus there is no
induced current.

In the experiment, it is set up that when the bar magnet is moved towards the solenoid with its north pole first; it
is in the direction of the positive of the galvanometer. So when it is moved inside the solenoid, voltage is
generated in the solenoid and the galvanometer deflects to the left in response to the increasing field. When the
magnet is pulled back out, the galvanometer deflects to the right in response to the decreasing field. The polarity
of the induced emf is such that it produces a current whose magnetic field opposes the change that produces it.
The induced magnetic field inside any loop of wire always acts to keep the magnetic flux in the loop constant.
This inherent behavior of generated magnetic fields is summarized in Lenz's Law.
B.

Induced EMF in a solenoid

Emf and current are produced in a circuit when the magnetic flux through it changes [1]. Since the
magnet in this experiment accelerates through the solenoid, there is an increasing rate of the increase or decrease
of the flux through the coil. It increases as it enters the solenoid until it reaches a maximum value when it is
completely inside the coil. It then decreases as it exits the coil.
Considering the emf produced when the North Pole is entered first, the increase in flux results to a
negative emf and current, and a decrease in flux results to a positive emf and current. The results are consistent
with Faradays law which states that the emf produced is equal to the negative change in flux per unit time. It
also follows that the sign of the induced current is the same as of the induced emf since I=/R. The signs
indicate the direction of the induced emf and current. When the magnet enters the coil, the magnetic flux
increases. Induced emf and current acts as to maintain the former flux, thus directed on the opposite direction,
that is why it is negative. It is stated in Lenzs law that the induction effects oppose the change in flux.
The opposite pole of a magnet produces different induction effects. The increase in flux when the
magnet enters the coil (flux becomes more negative) produces a positive emf and current while negative would
be produced when the flux decreases (flux becomes more positive) during exit. The induced emf and current
depend on the change in flux and the orientation of the magnet. When the flux is constant, there are no induction
effects.
C. Induced current in a solenoid using a power supply
The set up consists of two solenoids: one large one connected in a simple circuit and a second, smaller
one, connected to an ammeter. When the switch is closed, a DC current is established in the circuit and a steady
magnetic field is produced in the large solenoid. There is no induced current in the small solenoid as the
magnetic flux through it does not change. However, when the switch is switched on or off, an induced current is
produced. This is because for a short period of time the current changes and therefore the magnetic field

produced by the large solenoid changes as well - hence an induced current in the small solenoid. The effect of
dimensions on resistance and therefore the size of the induced current; also different materials will have
different resistivities. Changing dimensions will also affect the weight of the ring and therefore the balance
between gravitational and electromagnetic forces.

D. Lenzs Law

Figure8.4. Velocity vs. Time graph

Figure8.3. Velocity vs. Time graph
with magnet
without magnet
In the experiment, naturally, a pendulum would swing back and forth a rack for a long period of time
(even forever if there is no friction). Figure 8.3 shows the normal oscillation of a pendulum. When a U-magnet
was placed such that the path of the oscillation of the pendulum is between its gaps, the oscillation was damped.
As shown in Figure 8.4, after a swing, the pendulum halted to slower oscillations and stopped. This is so since
the current produced by the motion of the conducting pendulum is opposing the direction of its motion [1]. This
is to resist the change in flux due to the motion as stated in Lenzs Law. It was also observed that the pendulum
swings towards the magnet.
When different pendulum configurations were used, different observations were gathered. Difference in
the material in which the pendulum is made affects the resistance in the system (I=V/R). Consequently, the
larger the resistance, the smaller the induced current, thus longer time is taken to totally dampen the motion.
Conductors will more likely swing shorter time than insulators with higher resistance. The shape of the
pendulum used also affect the motion of the pendulum. In the experiment, the pendulum with most gaps takes
longer time to swing since area exposed to the magnetic field is reduced. It results to lower magnetic flux (then
lower changes in flux) then lower induced emf, finally a lower induced current that will oppose the motion of
the pendulum.

IV.

Conclusion

At the end of the experiment it was concluded that as the rate of moving the magnet through the
solenoid increases, the induced current also increases; and the increase in flux results to a negative emf and
current, and a decrease in flux results to a positive emf and current. The results are consistent with
Faradays law which states that the emf produced is equal to the negative change in flux per unit time. Then
it is also found out that the induction effects oppose the change in flux and it is according to the Lenzs
Law. Lastly, the pendulum with most gaps takes longer time to swing since area exposed to the magnetic
field is reduced. It results to lower magnetic flux (then lower changes in flux) then lower induced emf,
finally a lower induced current that will oppose the motion of the pendulum.

References:
[1] Young and Freedman, University Physics 12th Edition
[2] http://video.mit.edu/watch/mit-physics-demo-pendulum-and-magnet-3078/
[3] https://www.boundless.com/physics/induction-ac-circuits-and-electrical-technologies/magnetic-fluxinduction-and-faraday-s-law/faraday-s-law-of-induction-and-lenz-law/
[4] http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/farlaw.html
[5] https://www.boundless.com/physics/induction-ac-circuits-and-electrical-technologies/magnetic-fluxinduction-and-faraday-s-law/faraday-s-law-of-induction-and-lenz-law/