Subject Code PHY 2 Physics 2

Module Code 11.0 Electromagnetic Induction

Lesson Code 11.1.2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2
Time Frame 30 minutes

Components Tasks TA1 ATA2

(min) (min)

Ignite Faraday’s Law

17
The concept of magnetic flux is very useful in our understanding
of electromagnetic induction. Figure 1 shows a loop of wire
connected to an ammeter.

Figure 1. Different ways of inducing current through the loop by a

moving magnet. The green lines depict the magnetic field, B .

In this experiment, if the magnet is moved quickly into the loop

of wire as in Figure 1a ( ~B through the loop increases), a current
is induced in the wire and the ammeter registers a current in a
particular direction. If the magnet is held steady as in Figure 1b (
~
B through the loop is constant), the ammeter reads zero current
which means there is no induced current in the loop. If the magnet

1
Time allocation suggested by the teacher.
2
Actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only).

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 1 of 7

 is quickly removed as in Figure 1c ( B ~ through the loop
decreases), a current is induced in the opposite direction.

Moreover, the ammeter also registers a current reading if the

magnet is held steady while the loop of wire is moved towards or
away from the magnet.

From these observations, we can say that a current is induced in

the circuit when there is a change in the magnetic field
through the conducting loop. It is not enough that a magnetic
flux exists through a loop to create an induced current; a change
in magnetic flux over some time interval ∆t   is required. This
change is often achieved if there is a relative motion between the
magnet and the conducting loop.

The magnet-loop and the Faraday’s induction ring experiments

are similar. In both cases, a current is induced in the circuit
whenever there is a change in the magnetic flux over time.
Faraday’s law tells us how to calculate the potential difference
that produces this induced current. The law is written in terms of
the magnetic flux and the electromotive force (denoted by emf ).
Remember that an electromotive force is not a force but a
potential difference, like the voltage across the terminals of a
battery. It has units of volt (V). Faraday’s law of electromagnetic
induction is given by:

∆ÈB
emf =   À ∆t   (eqn. 1)

where ÁÈB is the change in magnetic flux and Át is the change

in time. The faster the magnetic flux changes, the greater the
induced emf in the conducting loop.

Equation 1 contains two important concepts. The first concept is

that the magnitude of the induced emf is equal to the time rate of
change of magnetic flux through the conducting loop. The
implication of this concept will be explored later in this lesson.
The second concept is the negative sign to indicate the polarity of
the induced emf. The polarity is essential in identifying the
direction of the induced current in a conducting loop. This
concept is known as Lenz's law and will be discussed in the next
lesson.

Given that the magnetic flux through a loop is ÈB = B Acosθ  , a

change in any of the factors B , A , or Ò with time induces an
emf. Magnetic flux can be changed by:
(a) changing the magnetic field strength, B

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 2 of 7

 (b) changing the size or area of the loop, A
(c) changing the orientation of the loop with respect to the
field, Ò
(d) moving the circuit loop into or out of the magnetic field
(moving the circuit loop into the field increases the
magnetic flux; moving the circuit loop out of the field
decreases the magnetic flux)

Cases (b) and (c) are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, respectively.

Figure 2. The area of the loop of wire is reduced by pulling the sides
of the coil; the magnetic flux is decreasing.

Figure 3. The orientation of the loop, Ò , with respect to the magnetic

field is changed from parallel to perpendicular; the magnetic flux is
decreasing.

Finally, if there are N number of loops in a circuit, the induced

emf is greater. The induced emf for every loop adds up and the
Faraday’s law of induction can be rewritten as:

∆ÈB
emf =   À N ∆t   (eqn. 2)

Example 1. A square loop of wire of side l = 5:0 cm   is in a

uniform magnetic field with magnitude B = 0:16 T  directed into
the page as shown in Figure 4. What is the magnetic flux in the
loop (a) when the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the field
lines (b) when the plane of the loop is rotated at angle 30.° with

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 3 of 7

 the field lines? (c) What is the magnitude of the average induced
current in the loop if the wire has a resistance of 0:012 Ê  and it is
rotated from position (b) to position (a) in 0.14 s? (modified from
Giancoli, 2014, page 592)

Figure 4. A square loop rotating in a magnetic field.

Solution:

Given:
l = 5:0 cm  = 5:0×10À2 m ,  B = 0:16 T  , Ò , ∆t = 0:14 s   
Unknown: (a) ÈB , (b) ÈB , (c) I

(a) Calculate the magnetic flux through the loop.

Solve for the area first, knowing that the area of a square is
given by l2 :
2
A = l2 = (5:0×10À2 m) = 2:5×10À3  m2  

Substitute the value of area, magnetic field, and the angle to the
magnetic flux equation.
ÈB = B Acosθ = (0:16 T ) (2:5×10À3  m2 ) cos 0°   

ÈB = 4:0×10À4  W b  

(b) Calculate the magnetic flux when ~ B is at an angle of 30.°

to the area of the loop.
Make the same substitutions as in (a), except the angle between
the B~ and the normal is now θ = 30:° . 
ÈB = B Acosθ = (0:16 T ) (2:5×10À3  m2 ) cos 30:°   

ÈB = 3:5×10À4  W b  

(c) Calculate the magnitude of the average induced current

during the 0.14-s interval.
We get first the magnitude of the induced emf. Since we are
getting the magnitude,
 Ì  we  Ì  get Ì  the absolute value of Ì emf.
Ì ∆ÈB Ì  Ì 3:5×10À4  W bÀ4:0×10À4  W b Ì 
emf = Ì  ∆t Ì = Ì  0:14 s
Ì  

emf = 3:6×10À4  V  

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 4 of 7

 The current in the wire loop (recall Ohm’s law from third
quarter) is:
emf À4
I = R = 3:6×10  V
0:012 Ê = 0:030 A  

Example 2: Induced emf and current (modified from Serway and

Faughn, 2006, page 713)

A coil with 55 turns of wire is wrapped around a hollow tube with

an area of 2:0 m2  . Each turn has the same area as the tube. A
uniform magnetic field is applied at a right angle to the plane of
the coil. If the field increases uniformly from 0:00 T   to 0:60 T  
in 1.5 s, find the magnitude of the induced emf in the coil. If the
resistance in the coil is 3:0 Ê  , then what is the magnitude of the
induced current in the coil?

Figure 5. The coil in Example 2.

Solution:

Given: ∆t = 1:5 s  , A = 2:0 m2  , N = 55 turns ,  B i = 0:00 T  ,

B f = 0:60 T , R = 3:0 Ê  
Unknown: emf , I

Calculate the induced emf using Faraday’s Law equation. Since

we are just getting the magnitude, we get the absolute value.
 Ì   Ì 
Ì  ∆È Ì   Ì   Ì 
emf = Ì N ∆tB Ì = Ì N ∆BA
∆t  
Ì 
 Ì   Ì 
Ì  (0:60 T À0:00 T )(2:0 m2 ) Ì 
emf = Ì (55) 1:5 s
Ì = 44 V  

Thus, the current in the wire loop (recall Ohm’s law from third
quarter) is:
emf 44 V
I= R = 3:0 Ê = 15 A

Navigate Answer the following exercises to find out how much you have
learned in this lesson. Write your answers (with pertinent

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 5 of 7

 calculations if necessary) on a clean sheet of paper. Follow your 12
teacher's instructions regarding submission.
1. Assuming all other factors remain constant, what will
happen to the induced emf if:

(a) the number of coils in a circuit is doubled?

(b) the magnetic field through the coil is doubled?
(c) the diameter of the coil is doubled?

2. A coil of wire contains three loops. If the magnetic flux

through the coil changes from À 45 W b  to   + 52 W b  in
 
0:36 s ,  what is the magnitude of the emf induced in the
coil?

3. A square current loop is placed in a uniform magnetic field

of magnitude 0.65 T directed into the page. The loop’s side
length changes from 20.0 cm to 6.0 cm in 0.50 s. (a) What
is the magnitude of the induced emf? (b) If the loop has a
resistance of 2:5 Ê  , then what is the magnitude of the
induced current?

4. A coil of wire is made of 520 turns and has an area of

0:30 m2 :   It is placed in a uniform magnetic field of
magnitude 0.40 T. This magnetic field flips its orientation
from 0.40 T in the + y -direction to 0.40 T in the À y  
-direction in 2.0 s. How much power is generated in the coil
if it has a resistance of 1200 Ê  ?

Knot According to Faraday’s law, a changing magnetic flux through a

closed conducting path (such as a loop of wire) induces an emf
1
given by:
∆ÈB
emf =   À N ∆t  

The induced emf is determined by:

(1) amount of change in magnetic flux (obtained by changing
the magnetic field strength, the area of the loop, or the
orientation of the loop with respect to the magnetic field)
(2) how fast the magnetic flux changes
(3) number of loops

References:
1. Giancoli, D. C. (2014). Physics: Principles with Applications (7th ed). Pearson Education, Inc.
2. Giordano, N. J. (2010). College Physics: Reasoning and Relationships (1st ed). Brooks/Cole.

Physics 2 Faraday’s Law, Part 2 Page 6 of 7

 3. Serway, R. A, and Vuille, C. (2012). College Physics (9th ed). Brooks/Cole.
4. Serway, R. A. and Faughn, J. S. (2006). Physics. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Prepared by: Gineth Grace C. Calis Reviewed by: Quantum Yuri B. Lubrica

Position: SST IV Position: SST III

Campus: Cordillera Administrative Region Campus: Cordillera Administrative Region Campus

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