Topic: Electromagnetic Induction

01. What is the basic cause of induced emf?

Ans: The basic cause of induced emf is the change of magnetic flux linked with a circuit.
02. Will an induced emf develop in a conductor, when moved in a direction parallel to the magnetic field?
Ans: No, because the magnetic flux linked with the conductor does not change when it is moved parallel to the magnetic
field. Moreover, the magnetic Lorentz force on the free electrons of the conductor is zero, so no emf induced across the ends
of the conductor.
03. A train is moving with uniform speed from north to south. (i) Will any induced emf appear across the ends of
its axle? (ii) Will the answer be affected if the train moves from east to west?
Ans: Yes, emf will appear because the axle is intercepting the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic field. (ii) No, here
also the axle intercepts the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic field, so emf is induced across the ends of the axle.
04. Does the change in magnetic flux induce emf of current?
Ans: The change in magnetic flux always induces emf. However, the current is induced only when the circuit is closed.
05. Induced emf is also called back emf. Why?
Ans: It is because induced emf always opposes any change in applied emf.
06. A wire kept along the north-south direction is allowed to fall freely. Will an emf be induced in the wire?
Ans: No, because neither horizontal nor vertical component of earth’s magnetic field will be intercepted by the falling wire.
07. A wire kept along east-west direction is allowed to fall freely. Will an emf be induced across the ends of the
wire?
Ans: Yes, because the horizontal component of earth’s magnetic field is intercepted by the wire.
08. A cylindrical bar magnet is kept along the axis of a circular coil. Will there be a current induced in the coil if
the magnet is rotated about its axis? Give reason.
Ans: No, because the magnetic flux linked with the circular coil does not change when the magnet is rotated about its axis.
09. A vertical metallic pole falls down through the plane of the magnetic meridian. Will any emf be produced
between its ends? Give reason for your answer.
Ans: No emf will be induced because the metallic pole neither intercepts the horizontal component B H nor the vertical
component BV of earth’s magnetic field.
10. The electric current flowing in a wire in the direction B to A decreasing. What is the direction of induced
current in the metallic loop kept above the wire as shown in fig.

A B
Ans: By right had (grip) rule, the magnetic field of the current in wire AB acts on the loop in a direction perpendicular to the
plane of paper and inwards. By Lenz’s law, the induced current should oppose the decrease in flux, i.e., it should also
produce inward/flux. So the induced current flows in the clockwise direction.
11. The current through the wire PQ is increasing. In which direction does the induced current flow in the
closed loop?

P Q
Ans: By right hand rule, the magnetic field of the current in the wire PQ acts on the loop in a direction perpendicular to the
plane of paper and outwards. By Lenz’s law, the induced current should oppose the increase of flux i.e., it should produce
inward flux. So the induced current flows in the clockwise direction.
12. Give the direction in which the induced current flows in the wire loop, when the magnet moves towards it is
shown in fig.

N S

Ans: When seen from the magnet side, the induced current flows anticlockwise in the loop.
13. Will there be any current induced in the coil shown in fig. If a bar magnet is swiftly moved towards or away
from the coil. If yes, what will be the direction of current? S N

G
Ans: Yes, induced current is set up in the coil because the magnitude flux linked with it changes when the magnet is moved.
As the induced emf opposed its cause, the induced current flows clockwise when the N-pole is moved towards the coil and
induced current flows anticlockwise when the magnet is moved away from the coil (when seen from the magnet side).
14. A copper ring is suspended by a thread in a vertical plane. One end of a bar magnet is brought horizontally
towards the ring. How will the position of the ring be affected?

S N

Ans: As the magnet is moved towards the ring, the magnetic flux through the ring increases. An induced current is set up in
the ring and the face of the ring towards the magnet develops N-polarity. So the ring is repelled away from the magnet as
shown in fig.
15. As shown in fig. a conducting rod AB moves parallel to X-axis in a uniform magnetic field, pointing in thee
positive Z-direction. The end A of the rod gets positively charged. Is this statement true? Give reason.

Y
B

A
O X
Ans: Yes, the end A becomes positively charged. According to Fleming’s left hand rule, the free electrons experience
magnetic force in the direction from A to B. Deficit of electrons makes end A positive while excess of electrons makes end B
negative.
16. Fig. shown a horizontal solenoid connected to a battery and a switch. A copper ring is placed on a
frictionless track, the axis of the ring being along the axis of the solenoid. What happens to the ring, as the
switch is closed?

Ans: The ring moves away from the coil, because the current induced in the ring opposes the growth of current in the
solenoid.
17. If the resistance of the circuit shown in fig. (a) be decreased, what will be the direction of current induced in
the circuit shown in fig. (b)

(a) (b)
Ans: When resistance R is decreased, current in circuit of fig. (a) increases. An emf is induced in circuit of fig. (b) which
opposes the growth of current in circuit of fig. (a). So the induced current in circuit of fig. (b) must flow clockwise.
18. What is the magnitude of the induced current in the circular loop KLMN, of radius ‘r’ if the straight wire PQ
carries a steady current of magnitude ‘i’ ampere? K

N L
M
P Q
Ans: Zero, because the flux linked with the loop KLMN due to the steady current in PQ is not changing.
19. Fig. shown two positions of a loop PQR in a perpendicular uniform magnetic field. In which position of the
coil is there an induced e.m.f.?

P P
Q Q
v v
R R

Ans: Induced emf is set up in the coil lying on the right hand side because as this coil moves out of the region of the
magnetic field, the magnetic flux linked with it changes.
20. In the given figure, A and B are identical magnets. Magnet A is moved away from the coil with a given speed.
Magnet B is moved towards the coil with the same speed. What is the induced emf in the coil?
Coil

A B

S N N S

Ans: No emf is induced in the coil because these are no net change in the flux linked with the coil.
21. A magnet is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow between two coils AB and CD as shown in the
figure. Suggest the direction of current in each coil. A B C D
N S

A A

Ans: By lenz’s law, the ends of both the coils closer to the magnet will behave as south poles. Hence the current induced in
both the coils will flow clockwise when seen from the magnet side.
22. The current I in a wire passing normally through the centre of a conducting loop is increasing at a constant
rate. Will any current be induced in the loop?

I
Ans: The magnetic lines of force due to the current I are parallel to the plane of the loop. The flux linked with the loop is
zero. Hence no current is induced in the loop.
23. The planes of two circular conductors are perpendicular to each other, as shown in fig. If the current in
conductor B is changed, will any current be induced in conductor A?
Ans: The magnetic lines of force due to the current in conductor B will be parallel to the plane of conductor A. The
I
magnetic flux linked with the conductor A is zero. So no current is induced in the conductor A.
B

A
24. Twelve wires of equal lengths are connected in the form of a skeleton-cube which is moving with a velocity 
D C
in the direction of a magnetic field B . Find the emf in each arm of the cube.
A B
v
G
H G

E
B F
Ans: As the direction of velocity  of any arm of the cube is parallel to the direction of field B , so no magnetic Lorentz
force is exerted on the free electrons of any are. Hence no emf is induced in any arm.
25. Why do birds fly off a high tension wire when the current is switched on?
Ans: When a high tension current is switched on, induced currents are set up in the body system of the bird, the nerve and
circulatory systems being conducting. The bird experiences a repulsion and flies off.
26. An iron bar falling through the hollow region of a thick cylindrical shell made of copper experiences a
retarding force. What can you conclude about the nature of the iron bar.
Ans: If indicates that the iron bar is a magnet. As it falls through the hollow region of the shell, the changing magnetic flux
sets up eddy currents in the shell which oppose the motion of the magnet.
27. An artificial satellite with a metal surface is orbiting the earth around the equator. Will the earth’s magnetism
induced a current in it?
Ans: The satellite intercepts only the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic field. But this component is zero at the
equator. So, no emf is induced.
28. An artificial satellite with a metal surface, is orbiting the earth around the poles? Will the earth’s magnetic
induce a current in it?
Ans: The earth’s magnetic field is totally vertical at the poles. So the satellite will intercept the magnetic flux and emf will be
induced.
29. A piece of metal and a piece of non-metallic stone are dropped from the same height near the surface of the
earth. Which will reach the ground earlier?
Ans: The non-metallic stone will reach the ground earlier than the metallic piece. As the metallic piece falls, it intercepts
earth’s magnetic field and induced currents are set in it which oppose its downward motion. No such currents are induced in
case of non-metallic stone.
30. A coil is wound on an iron core and looped back on itself, so that core has two sets of closely wound wires in
series, carrying currents in the opposite senses. What do you expect about its self-inductance? Will it be
large or small?
Ans: The self-inductance will be small. The inductive effects in the two wires will be in opposite directions and hence cancel
each other.
31. Why is spark produced in the switch of a fan, when it is switched off?
Ans: The break of circuit is very sudden. A large induced emf is set up across the gap in the switch due to which sparking
occurs.
32. A lamp connected in parallel with a large inductor glows brilliantly before going off when the switch is put
off. Why?
Ans: As the circuit breaks, a very large induced emf is set up in the inductor. This makes the bulb glow brilliantly before it
finally goes off.
33. The inductance coils are made of copper. Why?
Ans: Copper has small resistance and so induced current set up will be large.
34. How does the self-inductance of a coil change when an iron rod is introduced in it?
Ans: The soft iron has a large relative permeability (r). Its presence increases the magnetic flux r times. The self-inductance
also increases by the same ratio.
35. Why are the oscillations of a copper disc in a magnetic field lightly damped?
Ans: As the copper disc oscillates in the magnetic field, the magnetic flux linked with the changes. Eddy currents are set up
in the copper disc which oppose its oscillatory motion.
36. Two similar circular co-axial loops carry equal currents in the same direction. If the loops be brought nearer,
what will happen to the currents in them?
 Ans: As the loops are brought closer, the magnetic flux linked with them increases. An emf is induced in the each loop
which opposes the change in flux. So the current in each loop decreases.
37. Self-induction is called the inertia of electricity. Why?
Ans: Self-induction of a coil is the property by virtue of which it tends to maintain the magnetic flux linked with it and
opposes any change in the flux by inducing current in it. This property of a coil is analogous to mechanical inertia. That is
why self-induction is called inertia of electricity.
38. A solenoid with an iron core and a bulb are connected to a d.c. source. How does the brightness of the bulb
change when the iron core is removed from the solenoid?
Ans: The brightness of the bulb remains unchanged because the reactance of inductor is zero in a d.c. circuit.
39. If the self-inductance of an air core inductor increases from 0.01 mH to 10 mH on introducing an iron core
into it, what is the relative permeability of the core used?

0 N 2 A N2 A  L 10
Ans: With air core, L0  With iron core, L Relative permeability, r     1000 .
l l 0 L0 0.01
40. If the speed of rotation of the armature of a generator is increased, how would it affect (i) the maximum emf
produced (ii) the frequency of the emf?

Ans: Maximum induced emf, 0 = NBA

(i) The maximum emf gets doubled when the speed of rotation is doubled.
(ii) The frequency of alternating emf also gets doubled.
41. Why is the induced emf in a coil zero when its plane is normal to the magnetic field even through maximum
magnetic flux is linked with the coil in this position?
Ans: The rate of change of magnetic flux lined with coil is zero for this position. Hence no emf is induced in the coil.
42. Why are resistance coils double wound?
Ans: To make non-inductive coils, they are made of doubled up insulated wires. In such a coil, the currents in the two wires
flow in opposite directions and so create equal and opposite magnetic fields. The net magnetic field linked with the coil is
always zero and hence inductive effects are eliminated.
43. Fig. shows two coils C1 and C2 placed facing each other. The steady current in coil C 2 produces a steady
magnetic field. Whenever the coil C2 is moved towards C1 or away from it, a current is induced in C1 as
indicated by the deflection in the galvanometer.

Answer the following questions :

(a) What would you do to obtain a large deflection of the galvanometer?
(b) How would you demonstrate the presence of an induced current in the absence of a galvanometer?
Ans: (a) To obtain a large deflection, one or more of the following steps can be taken : (i) Use a rod made of soft iron inside
the coil C2. (ii) Connect the coil to a powerful battery. (iii) Move the arrangement rapidly towards the test coil C 1.
(b) Replace the galvanometer by a small torch bulb. The relative motion between the two coils will cause the bulb to glow
and thus demonstrate the presence of an induced current.
44. Below shows planar loops of different shapes moving out of or into a region of a magnetic field which is
directed normal to the plane of the loop away from the reader. Determine the direction of induced current in
each loop using Lenz’s law.

Ans: The magnetic field is directed normal to the plane of loops away from reader, i.e., into the plane of the paper.
 (a) According to lenz’s law, if the motion of the loop is such that the flux linked with it increases, the induced current will flow
in the direction so as to oppose the change, i.e., the induced current should produce magnetic field in the opposite direction
(directed out of the plane of the paper). This requires the induced current to flow in the anticlockwise sense.
(b) Similarly, if the motion of the loop is such that flux linked with it decreases, the induced current will flow in the direction
so to produce magnetic field in the same direction (directed into the plane of paper). For this the induced current must flow
in the clockwise sense.
(i) Induced current flows along abcd (anti-clockwise) because the flux linked with the loop increases.
(ii) Induced current flows along acb (clockwise) because the flux linked with the loop decreases.
(iii) Induced current flows along abcb (clockwise) because the flux linked with the loop decreases.
(iv) Induced current flows along adcb (anticlockwise) because the flux linked with the loop increases.
45. Answer the following questions :
(a) A closed loop is held stationary in the magnetic field between the north and south poles of two
permanent magnets held fixed. Can we hope to generate current in the loop by using very strong magnets?
(b) A closed conducting loop moves normal to the electric field between the plates of a large capacitor. Is a
current induced in the loop when it is (i) wholly inside the capacitor (ii) partially outside the plates of
capacitor? The electric field is normal to the plane of the loop.
(c) A rectangular loop and a circular loop are moving out of a uniform magnetic field region to a field free
region with a constant velocity. In which loop do you expect the induced emf to be constant during the
passage out of the field region? The field in normal to the loops.
        
        
    v      v
        
(d) Predict the polarity of the capacitor in the situation described by fig. (b).

Ans: (a) No. A strong magnet will only provide a large flux but current is induced only if there is a change of magnet flux.
For this change, either the magnet or the loop has to be moved.
(b) No current is induced in either case. Current is induced only due to the change in magnetic flux and not due to the
change in electric flux.
(c) In case of rectangular loop, induced emf will be constant. It is because rate of change of the area of rectangular loop is
uniform, whereas that of a circular loop is not constant.
(d) The A-end of the capacitor becomes +ve and the B-end becomes –ve. When N-pole of left magnet and S-pole of right
magnet approach the fixed loop, both induce current in the clockwise direction when seen from the right side of the loop.
46. State Lenz’s law. The closed loop PQRS is moving into a uniform magnetic field acting at right angles to the
plane of the paper as shown in fig. State the direction in which the induced current flows in the loop.
P Q

S R
Ans: Lenz’s law states that the direction of induced current is such that it opposes the cause which produces it.
As the loop moves into the magnetic field, the flux linked with the loop PQRS increases. According to Lenz’s law, the
induced current in the loop PQRS flows in such a direction so as to oppose this increase in flux. So induced current must
flow anticlockwise i.e., along the path SRQP.
47. (a) A bar magnet falls from height h’ through a metal ring fig. will its acceleration be equal to g’? Give reason
for your answer.
(b) What happens if the ring, in the above case is cut so as not to form a complete loop?
 Ans: (a) The acceleration of the falling magnet will be less than ‘g’. As the magnet falls, the magnetic flux linked with the
copper ring increases. The current induced in the ring oppose the downward motion of the magnet.
(b) When the ring has a cut, emf is induced across its ends but no induced current flows through it. Therefore, motion of the
magnet is not opposed. The magnet falls with acceleration due to gravity.

48. Three identical closed coils A, B and C are placed with their planes parallel to one another. Coils A and C
are carry currents, as shown in fig. Coils B and C are fixed in position and coil A is moved towards B with
uniform motion. Is there any current induced in B? If yes, mark its direction.

Ans: Yes, current is induced in coil B. According to Lenz’s law, the direction of current induced in B is opposite to that of
current in A. As there is no relative motion between B and C, so no current is induced in B due to C.

49. Two coils P and S are arranged as shown in fig. (i) What will be the direction of induced current when switch
is closed? (ii) What will be the direction when switch is opened?

Ans: (i) When switch is closed, current in coil P grows. Induced current in coil opposes this growth. So the current in S flows
anticlockwise.
(ii) When switch is opened, current in coil P decays. Induced current is S opposes this decay. So the current in S flows
clockwise.
50. In fig. a coil ‘B’ is connected to low voltage bulb L and placed parallel to another coil ‘A’ as shown. Explain
the following observations :
(i) Bulb lights, and
(ii) bulb gets dimmer if the coil ‘B’ is moved upwards.

Ans: (i) Bulb lights up due to the induced current set up in coil B because of alternating current in coil A.
(ii) Bulb gets dimmer when the coil B is moved upwards because the flux linked with coil B decreases and induced current
also decreases.
51. A coil A is connected to a voltmeter A and the other coil B to an alternating current source D. If large
copper sheet C, is placed between the two coils, how does the induced emf in the coil A change due to
current in the coil B?

Ans: When the copper sheet is placed between the two coils, eddy currents are induced in it which oppose the passage of
magnetic flux. The rate of change of magnetic flux linked with the coil A decreases. Hence the emf induced in coil A due to
the change in current in coil B also decreases.
52. A cylindrical bar magnet is kept along the axis of a circular coil and near it as shown in the diagram. Will
there be any induced emf at the terminals of the coil, when the magnet is rotated (a) about its own axis, and
(b) about an axis perpendicular to the length of the magnet?
 Ans: (a) When the magnet is rotated about its own axis, the magnetic flux linked with the circular coil remains unchanged.
Hence no emf is induced at its terminals.
(b) When the magnet is rotated about an axis perpendicular to its length, the orientation of its magnetic field with respect to
the coil changes continuously. The magnetic flux linked with the coil changes. Hence an emf is induced at the terminals of
the coil.

53. Predict the direction of induced current in resistance R in fig. (a) and (b). Give reason for your answer.

Ans: (a) By lenz’s law, the end of the coil closer to the magnet develops S-polarity. The current induced in the coil flows
clockwise when seen from the magnet side. Hence the induce current flows from Y to X in the resistance R.
(b) By Lenz’s law, the ends of both the coils closer to the magnet develop S-polarity. Hence the induced current in the left
coil flow from Y1 to X1 and in the right coil from Y2 to X2 in the resistance R.
54. Fig. shows an inductor L and a resistor R connected in parallel to a battery through a switch. The resistance
of R is the same as that of the coil that makes L. Two identical bulbs are put in each arm of the circuit.
(i) Which of the bulbs lights up bright when S is closed?
(ii) Will the two bulbs be equally bright after some time?
Give reason for your answer.

Ans: (i) The bulb B2 in R-arm lights up earlier than the bulb B1 in L-arm. This is because when S is closed, the induced
current set up in L opposes the growth of current in L-arm.
(ii) After steady state is attained, the self-inductance plays no role and the two bulbs will be equally bright.
55. A small resistor (say, a lamp) is usually put in parallel to the current carrying coil of an electromagnet. What
purpose does it serve?
Ans: When current in the coil of a large electromagnet is switched off, magnetic flux decreases to zero at a very high rate.
The induced emf is very high which may cause sparking and damage the insulation. The small resistor R placed in parallel
provides a conducting path to the induced current. In this way, risks of high voltages and sparking are avoided.

56. Two straight and parallel wires A and B are being brought towards each other. (i) If the wire A carries
current I, what will be the direction of induced current I in wire B? (ii) What will the effect if the wires A and
B are moved away from each other?
Ans: (i) The direction of induced current in B will be opposite to I, A and B repel each other. Their motion towards each
other is opposed.
(ii) Induced current in B will be in the direction of I.
57. State Lenz’s law. Two identical loops, one of copper and another of aluminium are rotated with the same
speed in the same magnetic field. In which case (i) the induced emf (ii) the induced current, will be more and
why?
Ans: Lenz’s law states that the direction of induced current is such that it opposes the cause which produces it.
(i) Induced emf will be same in both the loops because it does not depend on the nature of the material of the loops.
(ii) Induced current will be more in copper loop because its resistance is less than that of aluminium loop.
58. Twelve wires of equal length are connected to form a skeleton cube which moves with a velocity ‘ ’

perpendicular to the magnetic field B . What will be the induced emf in each arm of the cube?
 Ans: Arms EA, FB, GC, HD are parallel to velocity  . Induced emf in each of these arms is zero. Arm AB, EF, DC, HG are
parallel to field B , Induced emf in each of these arms is zero.
Arm AD, BC, EH and FG are perpendicular to both  and B . If l is the length of each arm, then induced emf in each of
these arms = Bl.
59. How does the self-inductance of an air core coil change, when (i) the number of turns in the coil is
decreased, (ii) an iron rod is introduced in the coil?
A copper coil L wound on a soft iron core and a lamp B are connected to a battery E through a tapping key
K. When the key is closed, the lamp glows dimly. But when the key is suddenly opened, the lamp flashes for
an instant to much greater brightness. Explain.

0 N 2 A
Ans: Self – inductance of an air-core solenoid, L
l
(i) When the number of turns N in the coil is decreased, the self-inductance decreases.
(ii) When iron core of relative permeability r is introduced, self-inductance becomes L  r L Self-inductance increases r

times.
The resistance of copper is much smaller than that of the lamp. When the key is closed, most of the battery current flows
through the copper coil and the remaining small current flows through the lamp. So the lamp glows dim.
When the key is opened, very large induced emf is set up in the coil which tends to maintain the current through the lamp.
Hence the lamp flashes for a moment to a much greater brightness.