6.

Fundamentals of Magnetism
CPD/WEB update February 22, 2009

Objectives
1. To investigate the magnetic field created by a current carrying conductor.
2. To investigate the force between a current carrying conductor and a static magnetic field.
3. To investigate the voltage induced across a conductor as the conductor moves through a
static magnetic field (or vice versa) and relate the observations to Faraday’s Law and Lenz’s
Law.

Equipment
1. 5V, 12V power supply,
2. 4 multimeters,
3. Compass,
4. Galvanometer,
5. Inner and outer coil,
6. Bar magnet,
7. 1 Steel rod,
8. Two or three 2 Ω power resistor, 25W,
9. 10 Ω power resistor, 25W,
10. Coil mounted on balance,
11. 100 Ω rheostat, 25W (a rheostat is a variable resistor),

Preparation and Background

Technical information and background on Experiment 6 is available in Chapters 33 and 34 of
Knight. Before coming to the lab you should read the material in chapters 33 and 34 at least,
then answer any questions and perform any calculations required in this preparation section.
Write down any questions you have and ask them of a lab instructor during the lab period. If you
do the pre-lab in advance of coming to the lab you will understand the lab better, find it easier to
do, and be finished earlier.

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Fundamentals of Magnetism

1. Determine the direction of the force exerted on the conductor in Figure 6.1. Indicate the
direction on the small copy of Figure 6.1 on the summary sheet.
2. Determine the direction of forces exerted by the electromagnets in Figure 6.2 Indicate the
direction on the small copy of Figure 6.2 on the summary sheet.

N S

Figure 6.2 Force Exerted by

Figure 6.1 Force Exerted on Conductor Electromagnets

3. A conductor moves with a constant velocity in a magnetic field in the direction shown in
Figure 6.3. What is the polarity of the voltage measured at V. Indicate your answer on the
small copy of Figure 6.3 on the summary sheet.
4. What is the polarity of the voltage measured at V in Figure 6.4 when the switch, S, is suddenly
closed at time t = 0? What happens to the voltage if the number of turns in the right side coil
are doubled? Indicate your answer on the small copy of Figure 6.4 on the summary sheet.

+ –
V

S N
+ –
V
S
Motion of
Conductor
Figure 6.4 Voltage Induced on the
Figure 6.3 Voltage Induced on Conductor Secondary Coil

Experiment
It is the Summary section beginning at page 58 that will be completed and submitted for
evaluation. Only one report per group should be submitted. Be sure that all group members in
attendance are noted at the top of the summary sheet.

Important Safety Note : In this experiment you will use some power resistors and they will be
carrying a large current. Be very careful not to touch these resistors as they get very hot and you

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 Fundamentals of Magnetism

could burn your fingers. For part 1 of the experiment, try to leave the power supply on for only
short periods of time. The resistors may become hot enough to scorch the wood.

1. Magnet Field Produced by a Current

Connect the 12 volt power supply through a
long lead to two, 2-ohm power resistors in
parallel. Hold the long lead away from the
other leads and straight up and down. Hold
compass
the compass as close to the lead (which 12V
2Ω 2Ω
should be carrying about 10 amps of current),
and observe the reaction of the compass nee-
dle as the compass is moved around the lead.
Figure 6.5 Probing a magnetic field around
Make two loops with the lead and place the a current carrying wire.
compass in the centre of the loops. Place it
above the loops, then below the loops, then
beside the loops, observing the compass as you move it around the looped wires. Take a sec-
ond long lead and insert it in the circuit and make a second pair of loops. Now put those
loops together with the first two so the current direction is the same in both loops. Place the
compass in the centre of the loops. Observe what happens. Turn one of the pairs of loops to
face in the other direction. What happens then? Answer the questions in part 1 of the sum-
mary sheets.

2. Current from Motion of a Magnet

Connect the galvanometer to the terminals
of the outer coil. Insert the north pole of the
bar magnet into the end of the coil opposite
its terminals and note the polarity of the S N
deflection of the galvanometer as shown in
Figure 6.6 (if not marked, the North pole of + –
G
the magnet is painted red). Note : you will
have to press and hold the galvanometer “on-
button” while making the measurement. Now
Figure 6.6 Creating an Induced Voltage
withdraw the north pole of the magnet and Using a Permanent Magnet in a Coil
observe the effect. What is the effect of
changing the speed of the bar magnet? What
happens if the north pole of the magnet is inserted into the other end of the coil? Now hold
the bar magnet stationary and move the coil over the bar magnet and observe the effect of
changing direction and speed of the coil.

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Fundamentals of Magnetism

3. Inductive Coupling of Coils

Connect the inner coil in series with the
2 Ω resistor, a single pole single throw (SPST)
switch (this will be the switch on the power
supply) and the 12V supply as shown in
Figure 6.7. Carefully insert the inner coil into
2Ω
+ – the outer coil. Connect a galvanometer across
G
S the terminals of the outer coil. Observe the
12V
effect of closing the switch, S, on the galva-
nometer reading. Now observe the effect of
Figure 6.7 Creating an Induced Voltage
Using an Electromagnet in a Coil opening the switch on the galvanometer
reading.

4. Motion of Coil in Magnetic Field

Connect the galvanometer to the coil mounted on the balance as shown in Figure 6.8,
being sure to connect the coloured terminals correctly (red to red, black to black). The cur-
rent direction in the coil and the orientation of the magnet pole faces has been indicated for you on
the device. Do not, for any reason, remove or change the orientation of the magnet blocks in the
horseshoe! Note that the exposed side of the coil is free to move between the poles of the
horseshoe magnet. Note the deflection of the galvanometer as the coil is moved up through
the magnetic field and down through the magnetic field. Verify your observations with the
right hand generator rule.

Coil on
Balance

Magnet

Figure 6.8 Coil on Balance with Galvanometer

5. Current-carrying Coil in Magnetic Field

As indicated in Figure 6.9 on page 57, remove the galvanometer from the coil and connect
the coil in a series circuit with the 5V supply, an ammeter, a 10 Ω resistor, and rheostat.
Make certain that you connect the black terminal on the coil with the ground terminal on the power
supply so that the current direction is correct. The rheostat may be used to adjust the current
flow through the coil. Rotate the paddle so that the exposed side of the coil is directly
between the poles of the magnet. Observe that a force is exerted on the coil when a current
flows. What happens to the force as the current is increased and decreased? What happens if

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 Fundamentals of Magnetism

the polarity of the leads connected to the supply are reversed? Verify your observations with
the left hand motor rule.

5V
10Ω

Coil on
Balance

Magnet

Figure 6.9 Coil on Balance with External Power Supply

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 Name(s): ID(s): Lab Group:
Lab Day:
Date:

6. SUMMARY SHEET: Fundamentals of Magnetism For Marker’s

use only

Answers to Preparation Questions: Mark the diagrams below in the same manner as you did in 34
the preparation section. For Marker’s
V use only

N S
S N
4

Motion of
Conductor

Figure 5.1 Figure 5.3 V

S

Figure 5.4
Figure 5.2 For Marker’s
use only

1. What happens as you move the compass around the lead carrying the current?
6

What happens as you place the compass in the coils of wire?

What happens when the compass is outside above the loop?

What happens when you place two pairs of loops together?

What happens when you reverse the two pairs of loops?

What do you notice about the relative strength of the earth’s magnetic field as compared
to the field generated around the lead you are using?

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 Fundamentals of Magnetism

For Marker’s
2. In Part 2 of the Experiment, what is the difference in effect on the galvanometer needle of use only

moving the magnet out of the coil as compared to moving it in?

6

What is the effect on the galvanometer needle of changing the speed of motion of the bar
magnet?

What happens when the north pole of the bar magnet is inserted in the opposite end (the
one with the terminals) of the coil? Why?

What happens when the coil moves relative to the stationary magnet? Why?

For Marker’s
3. In Part 3 of the Experiment, describe the voltage measured with the galvanometer when use only

the switch is pressed; describe the voltage measured when the switch is released. Explain
the reason for the needle movements. 6

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Fundamentals of Magnetism

For Marker’s
4. From Part 4 of the Experiment, carefully label the following diagram with magnet polarity, use only

direction of conductor motion, galvanometer deflection and direction of current flow.

8

Coil on
Balance

Magnet

Figure 6.10 Coil on Balance with Galvanometer

For Marker’s
5. From Part 5 of the Experiment, carefully label the following diagram with magnet polarity, use only

direction of current flow and the direction of the force exerted on the conductor.
4

5V
10Ω

Coil on
Balance

Magnet

Figure 6.11 Coil on Balance with External Power Supply

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