DHARANI VIDHYA MANTHIR

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

MANNARGUDI

affiliation to CBSE

NAME : G.M.srilakshmi

SUBJECT: physics

STREAM: maths - bio

TOPIC : to study the LENZ’S LAW

OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
What is Lenz’s Law?

Lenz’s law of electromagnetic induction

states that the direction of the current
induced in a conductor by a changing
magnetic field (as per Faraday’s law of
electromagnetic induction) is such that the
magnetic field created by the induced
current opposes the initial changing
magnetic field which produced it. The
direction of this current flow is given by
Fleming’s right hand rule.
LENZ’S LAW AND
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY:

To obey the conservation of energy, the

direction of the current induced via Lenz’s
law must create a magnetic field that
opposes the magnetic field that created it.
In fact, Lenz’s law is a consequence of the
law of conservation of energy.

Why’s that you ask? Well, let’s pretend that

wasn’t the case and see what happens.

If the magnetic field created by the induced

current is in the same direction as the field
that produced it, then these two magnetic
fields would combine and create a larger
magnetic field.

This combined larger magnetic field would,

in turn, induce another current within the
conductor twice the magnitude of the
original induced current.

And this would, in turn, create another

magnetic field that would induce yet
another current. And so on.
So we can see that if Lenz’s law did not
dictate that the induced current must create
a magnetic field that opposes the field that
created it – then we would end up with an
endless positive feedback loop, breaking the
conservation of energy (since we are
effectively creating an endless energy
source).

Lenz’s law also obeys Newton’s third law of

motion (i.e to every action there is always
an equal and opposite reaction).

If the induced current creates a magnetic

field that is equal and opposite to the
direction of the magnetic field that creates
it, then only it can resist the change in the
magnetic field in the area. This is in
accordance with Newton’s third law of
motion.
Lenz’s Law Explained
To better understand Lenz’s law, let us
consider two cases:

Case 1: When a magnet is moving towards

The coil.

When the north pole of the magnet is

approaching the coil, the magnetic flux
linking to the coil increases. According to
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction,
when there is a change in flux, an EMF, and
hence current is induced in the coil and this
current will create its own magnetic field.

Now according to Lenz’s law, this magnetic

field created will oppose its own or we can
say opposes the increase in flux through the
coil and this is possible only if the
approaching coil side attains north polarity,
as we know similar poles repel each other.

Once we know the magnetic polarity of the

coil side, we can easily determine the
direction of the induced current by applying
right-hand rule. In this case, the current
flows in the anticlockwise direction.

Case 2: When a magnet is moving away

from the coil

When the north pole of the magnet is

moving away from the coil, the magnetic
flux linking to the coil decreases. According
to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic
induction, an EMF and hence current is
induced in the coil and this current will
create its own magnetic field.

Now according to Lenz’s law, this magnetic

field created will oppose its own or we can
say opposes the decrease in flux through
the coil and this is possible only if the
approaching coil side attains south polarity,
as we know dissimilar poles attract each
other.

Once we know the magnetic polarity of the

coil side, we can easily determine the
direction of the induced current by applying
right-hand rule. In this case, the current
flows in a clockwise direction.

Note that for finding the directions of

magnetic field or current, use the right-
hand thumb rule i.e if the fingers of the right
hand are placed around the wire so that the
thumb points in the direction of current
flow, then the curling of fingers will show
the direction of the magnetic field produced
by the wire.
Lenz’s law can be stated as follows:
 If the magnetic flux Ф linking a coil
increases, the direction of current in the
coil will be such that it will oppose the
increase in flux and hence the induced
current will produce its flux in a
direction as shown below (using
Fleming’s right-hand thumb rule)

 If magnetic flux Ф linking a coil is

decreasing, the flux produced by the
current in the coil is such, that it will
aid the main flux and hence the
direction of current is as shown below.
Lenz’s Law Applications

The applications of Lenz’s law include:

 Lenz’s law can be used to understand

the concept of stored magnetic energy in
an inductor. When a source of emf is
connected across an inductor, a current
starts flowing through it. The back emf
will oppose this increase in current
through the inductor. In order to
establish the flow of current, the
external source of emf has to do some
work to overcome this opposition. This
work can be done by the emf is stored in
the inductor and it can be recovered
after removing the external source of
emf from the circuit.
 This law indicates that the induced emf
and the change in flux have opposite
signs which provide a physical
interpretation of the choice of sign in
Faraday’s law of induction.

 Lenz’s law is also applied to electric

generators. When a current is induced in
a generator, the direction of this induced
current is such that it opposes and
causes rotation of the generator (as in
accordance with Lenz’s law) and hence
the generator requires more mechanical
energy. It also provides back emf in the
case of electric motors.

 Lenz’s law is also used in

electromagnetic braking and induction
cooktops.
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that

G.M.srilakshmi of class XII has
successfully completed the research
on the project - “LENS'S LAW OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
“
under the guidance of Mrs.M.Padma
priya mam M.Sc.,M.Ed.,DCA and
has followed the instructions given.

Teacher’s sign principal’s sign

Date
 Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special

thanks to gratitude to my teacher
Mrs.M.Padmapriya mam
M.Sc.,M.Ed.,DCA as well as our
principal Mrs. D. shanthaselvi mam
M.A.,M.A.,M.Phil.,B.Ed., of
dharani vidhya manthir senior
secondary school mannargudi who
gave me the golden opportunity to
do the project on the topic “ Lenz’s
law of electromagnetic induction “ .
I am really thankful to them .
secondly I would like to thank my
parents and friends who helpes a lot
in finalysing this project within the
limited time frame.

Content table
S.NO CONTENT PAGE .NO

1. WHAT IS LENZ’S LAW ?

2. LENZ’S LAW AND

CONSERVATION OF
ENERGY

3. LENZ’S LAW EXPLAINED

4. LENZ’S LAW CAN BE

STATED AS FOLLOW

5. LENZ’S LAW APPLICATION

 THANK YOU

Submitted by:
G.M.Srilakshmi - class
XII