Topic 4

Induced Currents

Concepts:

• Magnetic forces can create a separation of charge and hence a potential di↵erence (motional
emf). In a conducting loop, this leads to an induced current.

• An emf can be induced in other ways too: all that matters is the rate of change of magnetic
flux through the loop (Faraday’s law)

• The induced current will create a magnetic field that opposes the change in the original magnetic
flux (Lenz’s law)

• Due to the power dissipated by induced currents, a force is required to keep a conductor moving
through a magnetic field (Eddy currents)

By the end of this workshop, you should be able to:

• use Lenz’s law to predict the direction of induced current

• use Faraday’s law to predict the magnitude of the induced emf

Ensure you have viewed the introductory video, completed the reading, and submitted your an-
swers to the pre-reading quiz before attending this workshop. See the course website for details.

Your pre-reading notes . . .

The relationship of magnetic flux operates in much the same way as electric flux that we studied
earlier. The main difference being the presence of a magnetic field instead of the electric field. The
magnetic flux through a loop of wire can be changed by changing the magnitude of the magnetic
field, changing the area of the loop and by changing the angle between the surface of the loop
and the magnetic field vector.

Current is only induced from a change in the magnetic field, not the magnetic field itself, contrary
to how an electric current creates a magnetic field.

Can we go over lenz's law and the directions of the current depending on the direction of the
magnetic field and if there's a change in flux

I mainly have trouble understanding all the maths behind the equations and the symbols and all
that tend to confuse me a lot.

116
4. Induced Currents

(a) Motional emf

Motional emf refers to the emf induced in conductors as a result of their motion through a magnetic
field.

Question 4.1 - Multiple Choice

A square conductor moves through a uniform magnetic field. Which of the figures below show
the charge distribution on the conductor?

I =
of # ✗
I
0

Question 4.2 - Multiple Choice

A square conductor moves through a uniform, out of the board magnetic field. Is there an
electric field inside the conductor? If so, in which direction does it point?

(A) No

(B) Yes, to the left

←E +
Reach
=
(C) Yes, to the right - ← + equilibrium
← +
(D) Yes, upwards
-

-
←
+ when
(E) Yes, downwards
IEBI =
IEEI
# v13 = E

E = v13 .

117
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.3 - Problem Solving

You slide a silver conducting rod up a gold U-shaped rail, as shown. Is there an induced current
in this circuit? If yes, in which direction?
C

(A) Clockwise
IV
✗ I
0 Counterclockwise
(B)
E=qF✗E
(C) There is no current
- -
++

c- u
Suppose B = 0.10 T, L = 20 cm and v = 0.5 m/s. If the resistance of the circuit is R = 10 ⌦,

• what is the induced current?

t moving at this speed?
• what force do you need to apply to the rod to keep in

• how much power do you dissipate?

currents : I= IV. IR

AV =
E- of = EL =
FEEL
steady state when i. eqm :
/ FEI =/ Eos )
→ ¢E=¢vB
→
☐v=¢¥-< = NBL

→ I = vB4R =
O-s-mixo-yftnxo.io#
"
check wait
-
'

= 0-001 This r .

-1

IT = INNA
In = 1 ✓ A-
'
= N c- 1mA -1 .

= 0-001 A- .

F°=
TEA het Force =D for speed constant

_E ,
£ F =D

IEA / =/ Eid =

0
ILB
-
001A ✗ 0 -20m xo
-
IT
=

-5N
118 = 2- oxo .
 work Fs
Power dissipated : Rate of W =
.

-
Fw
-5 "
Power P =

co N ✗ 0 -5ms
P =
FAN = 2 ✗

= co -5W
4. Induced Currents wines
Power dissipated as heat
, heating up
.

P = AVI = IZR
Question 4.4 - Discussion
= co
-
5W .

Ers
✗ ←
Fff ✗ → =

The figure shows an edge view of a copper sheet being pulled between two magnetic poles.

• Add a dot or a cross to each of the circles to indicate the direction in which eddy currents
are flowing in and out of the page.

• Do these currents experience magnetic forces? If so, add force vectors to the figure to
show the directions. If not, why not?

• Is there a net magnetic force on the copper sheet? If so, in which direction?

/÷÷¥¥_¥⇐
€1

119
Eddy current braking demonstration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7tIi71-AjA

Train braking
4. Induced Currents

(b) Lenz’s Law and Induced Currents

It is not just the movement of a conducting loop through a magnetic field that can cause a current.
A current can be induced in a loop by any kind of change in magnetic flux through the loop. The
direction of current is set by Lenz’s law: the induced current will create a magnetic field that opposes
the change in the original magnetic flux.
④ ☐ SI DI
= -

Question 4.5 - Multiple Choice

A conducting loop is moving from left to right into a region of steady, constant magnetic field.

É
AEB
I It

'×
What current is induced in the loop as the loop is entering (but not totally in) the region?

(A) Clockwise

:
(B) Counterclockwise

(C) No current

In what direction is the magnetic field created by the induced current?

(A) Into the page

(B) Out of the page

(C) Left

(D) Right

(E) Up

(F) Down

120
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.6 - Multiple Choice

A conducting loop is pulled towards a wire carrying a steady current. As the loop moves, is
there a current induced around the loop?

<
←
✗ ✗ ← ← ← ← -
✗ ✗

) ✗
✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ × ✗ ✗ +

a-
⇐ o k o e y →
= •

Flux is into page,

(A) Yes, clockwise

0
(B) Yes, counterclockwise increasing .

Induce a current St
(C) No → .

this
B- field produced opposes
out of
increase → B-field
past
Question 4.7 - Multiple Choice
A current-carrying wire is pulled away from a conducting loop. As the wire moves, is there a
current induced around the loop?
I
>
✗ ✗ ✗ < <
x
-

✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
( ✗
✗ ✗ ✗
✗

-
• C - -
- - -

intro
B- field
O
(A) Yes, clockwise pase .

Flux Hhmrzh loop

(B) Yes, counterclockwise

(C) No
decreases into page .

Leng 's law : B- field into page

induced current to
from ,

oppose change .

121
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.8 - Multiple Choice

Two loops of wire (A and B) are placed near each other. A large increasing current in A is
suddenly turned on. This causes an induced current in B, which....

|
"" "

one up
&
increasing
i → induced I

direction
s.it .

B- a B-freed
is
down .

front
>

0
(A) causes the two loops to repel.

(B) causes the two loops to attract.

(C) depends on whether the current in A is clockwise or counterclockwise.

ifyagmts
(D) results in no net force.
think of
+

Hux repel -

¥1 N

t.dk

122
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.9 - Multiple Choice

A loop of wire sits in a uniform, constant magnetic field. Suddenly, the loop is bent into a
smaller area. While the loop is being bent, the induced current in the loop is...

Bfhux into
a page ,
decreases .

Induced B
✓
increases

into
page

0
(A) clockwise
OI -
SE DA -

(B) counterclockwise
= B) DA = BA .

(C) zero
☒ decreases In
decreases
Question 4.10 - Discussion
A conducting rod is free to move along a U-shaped conducting rail. If a rapidly increasing
magnetic field is suddenly turned on, how will the rod move?

l÷¥t:: 4

r
9

- a

out
at
page
& increasing
Flux
I such that
induced 13

Lenz :

B field is into pase

induced I is clockwise
→
induced current in
force
Magnetic
on

to left
nod is
I =
If B- ✗ .

123
4. Induced Currents

(c) Faraday’s Law and Induced EMF

Faraday’s law states that the emf induced in a loop is equal to the rate of change of magnetic flux
through that loop:

d m
E= . (4.1)
dt

Question 4.11 - Discussion

Is Faraday’s law dimensionally consistent? Check the units on each side of the equation.

Units : OI = AB .
MZT

→ dd¥ .
→
m÷=¥.¥=Y÷i=E=V
✓

Question 4.12 - Multiple Choice

A loop of wire is moving rapidly through a uniform magnetic field as shown below. Is an emf
induced in the loop?

(A) Yes, there is

☒ • change
①
(B) No, there isn’t isnftrex
(C) Not enough information to tell

Question 4.13 - Multiple Choice

A loop of wire is spinning continuously around a fixed axis in a uniform magnetic field. Is an
emf induced in the loop?
☒ =
SE.dk
①
(A) Yes, there is = ☐ Acosee

(B) No, there isn’t o changes

(C) Not enough information to tell in time .

124
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.14 - Multiple Choice

A rectangular wire loop rotates in a fixed external B field. At the instant shown, the loop is
out of the plane of the page with the left side of the loop above the page and coming out of the
page, the right side in going in. The induced current is ..

7
☒ is into
&
rage

0
(A) clockwise decreasing .

✓ induced
(B) counterclockwise A t B
I s .
.

(C) zero induced

into perse
C

Question 4.15 - Discussion

A circular loop rotates at constant speed about an axle through the centre of the loop. The
figure shows an edge view and defines the angle , which increase from 0 to 360 as the loop
rotates. At which angle is the flux

• at a maximum?

• at a minimum?
0=0 ; 1800
=
900,270° .
¥:|
• changing at the greatest rate?

Shea
Magnetic
OI =
SEDAN
BA cos

ld¥Jangear
=

Induced emt E =/ d¥ / = B.
f- Kind /
emf when / siuol is
largest frequent constant
Largest Wi
i.e .
90,270 .

÷¥É÷¥÷:i"
☒ I
:*
125

Note : 1%-1-1=1^-0*0 ¥1 -
= con
#
11¥ /
, = const . lsinol .
4. Induced Currents

Question 4.16 - Problem Solving

The figure below shows a 4.0 cm diameter loop with resistance 0.10 ⌦ around a 2.0 cm diameter
solenoid. The solenoid is 10 cm long, has 100 turns and carries a current shown in the graph.
A positive current is clockwise when seen from the left. Find the current in the loop at time

(a) t = 0.5 s
- B
(b) t = 1.5 s →
-

(c) t = 2.5 s

Model Infinite solenoid approx .

field inane
-
uniform B -

→
field outside
B zero
.
-

NT
Month
=
n
Inside ,
B =
,

is Tom =
Based
Flux through loop .

S Induced
ent e =
1¥71 =

Mon Idtafdfhsd .

dtad
55 = O ⇒ E =D .

t q
o
- -

at
-
,

(a)
/d÷hIl= ftp.T/=f-w-7lA-/=4oA5
.
'

I 's
s
E-
.
-

at
(b)
,

If :oioI
'

40*5
⇒ E =
4# Hoit THAT .

.to?7-o-x .
.

5
-

✓
l - 58 # co
=

current
in loop
I
induced
I - 58×0540 -
core

E
fr
=

I =

O -
16mA
=
's law
from Lenz
.

Clockwise
of current?
,

Direction
dish ⇒ E = O
=o
2.55
at time
t =
z
(c)
,

47