Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction is a phenomenon where an e.m.f (voltage) is induced (set up) in an electric
circuit due to a changing magnetic field. It produces electricity from magnetic field.

(a) Straight wire and magnet

S N
0

When a wire is moved upwards or downwards between the poles of two magnets, a very small current
flows through the wire. This current is called induced e.mf/current. The pointer of the sensitive
centre zero galvanometer is deflected. The direction of the deflection is in opposite direction in each
case. This is because the direction current is different in each case.

When the wire is moved horizontally between the magnets no current flows and the pointer does not
move. The direction of the induced current is determined using Fleming’s Right Hand Rule, where
the thuMb indicates the direction of the force (thrust or Motion), the foreFinger indicates the
direction of the Field and the seCond finger indicates the direction of the Current. The three fingers
should be at right angles to each other.

(b) Coil and magnet

When the bar magnet moves towards the coil, there is a deflection in the sensitive centre-zero-
galvanometer, showing that an e.m.f (voltage) has been induced in the circuit. This also occurs when
the coil moves towards the magnet. When the magnet is inside the coil, there is no deflection,
meaning no e.m.f is induced. The current which flows in the circuit is called the induced current.
Conclusion: for an e.m.f (voltage) to be induced in the circuit, there has to be a change in the
magnetic field, through the movement of either the magnet or the coil.

Factors which effect the size of the induced e.m.f are:

 The number of turns of the coil, increasing the number of turns, in increases the size
of the induced e.m.f orcurrent .

 The strength of the magnet, increasing the strength of the magnet, increases the size
of the induced e.m.f or current.

 The speed of the movement of the magnet or the coil (rate of changing the magnetic
field), increasing the speed , increases the size of the induced e.m.f or current.

( b) two circuits
Coil A Coil B

DC power supply Centred-zero

galvanometer

When the switch in circuit A is closed, there is a deflection in the sensitive centre-zero-galvanometer.
Conclusion: this shows that an e.m.f (voltage) has been induced in the circuit. Explanation, when
the switch is closed, current starts to flow. The magnetic field associated with the current in the circuit
is produced. As the current inside the circuit builds up from zero to the maximum value, its magnetic
field also changes from zero to the maximum value. It is this magnetic field which cut the coil of
circuit B and causes an e.m.for current to be induced in circuit B. There is also a deflection in
galvanometer when the switch is opened. Explanation, when the switch is opened, decreases from the
maximum value to zero. The magnetic field associated with the current also decreases from the
maximum value to zero, i.e, its magnetic field changes. The change in the magnetic field causes an
e.m.f or current to be induced in the coil again.

Laws of electromagnetic induction

There are two laws of electromagnetic induction:

 Faraday’s law

 Lenz’s law
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction states that the induced e.m.f in the coil or the other
circuit is directly proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic field. This law quantifies the way
the magnetic field changes.

Lenz’s law

The diagram above shows the direction of the induced current when the magnet is moving towards the
coil and away from the coil. The deflection of the galvanometer shows that the induced current flows
in different directions when the magnet is approaching the coil (deflection is to the left) and when
moving away from the coil (deflection is to the right). The direction of the induced current is
explained by Lenz’s law. The law states that:

When a current is induced in a coil by a changing magnetic field, the electric current is in such a
direction that its own magnetic field opposes the change that produced it.

Explanation

When the magnet is approaching the coil, current is induced in the coil as the magnetic field is
changing (the number of magnetic field lines is increasing). The direction of the induced
current(deflection is to the left) is such that its own magnetic field (induced magnetic field) opposes
the increase in the magnetic field lines by creating a south pole to oppose the incoming South Pole.

When the magnet is moving away, current is also induced in the coil as the magnetic field is
changing again (the number of magnetic field lines is decreasing). The direction of the induced
current(deflection is to the right) is such that its own magnetic field (induced magnetic field)
opposes the decrease in the magnetic field lines by creating a North pole to oppose the going away of
the South Pole.
Examine the circuit shown above. When the switch is closed, assume the magnetic field produced by
the solenoid is very strong.

a) Explain what will happen to the copper ring (which is free to move) when the switch is closed
b)Explain what will happen to the copper ring when there is a steady current in the circuit.
c)Explain what will happen to the copper ring when the switch is opened.
d)How would your answers change if the terminals on the power supply are reversed? Explain your
answer.
Since the terminals are reversed, the current would flow in the opposite direction. This would reverse
the poles on the solenoid so that the top would be the North pole and the bottom would be the South
pole. But, all my answers in a, b, and c would remain unchanged, would they not?

For (a) the copper ring would still induce a magnetic field opposing the solenoid, the difference being
that the poles of the copper ring's magnetic field would be reversed. But, the copper ring would still
move up.
For (b) the copper ring would remain in its place of equilibrium since the solenoid is not inducing a
magnetic field when there is a steady current.
For (c) the copper ring would have a magnetic field to strengthen the solenoid and would be pulled
down towards the solenoid. The difference again being that the poles on the copper ring would be
reversed in relation to the original question.

From this I would assume that there is no change in the answers. But, I think I must be wrong because
it does not make sense that the text would ask the question if there were no changes.

A.C generator
An a.c generator consists of permanent magnets, a rectangular coil connected to slip rings and the
carbon brushes. An a.c generator converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. An a.c generator
uses the principle of electromagnetic induction. An alternating e.m.f/ current is induced in the circuit
when the coil or the magnet rotates. As the coil rotates, the magnetic field lines cutting the coil
change, thus the magnetic field is changing. The direction of the induced current is determined using
Fleming’s Right Hand Rule, where the thuMb indicates the direction of the force (thrust or
Motion), the foreFinger indicates the direction of the Field and the seCond finger indicates the
direction of the Current. The three fingers should be at right angles to each other.

The size of the induced e.m.f/current can be increased by increasing by:

 Increasing the number of turns of the coil

 Increasing the speed of rotation of the coil

 Increasing the strength of the magnets.

The relationship of the induced e.m.f with time can be represented using the following graph

+Vmax
e.m.f/V

Time/s

-Vmax

Transformers

Transformers change alternating voltages. A transformer consists of two coils, the primary and
secondary coils wound on a soft iron core.

How a transformer works

 As an alternating (changing) current is applied to the primary coil, the magnetic field
associated with it is also continuously changing.

 The changing magnetic field is transferred through the soft iron core to the secondary
coil.

 The changing magnet field cut through the secondary coil and the alternating e.m.f is
induced in the secondary.
  The size of the induced e.m.f (voltage) in the secondary coil depends on:

1. The e.m.f across the primary coil ( Vp)

2. The number of turns on the primary coil (Np)

3. The number of turns on the secondary coil (Ns)

They are linked by the equation:

Vs/Vp = Ns/Np

Example

Calculate the voltage across the secondary coil of a transformer if an alternating voltage of 12V is
applied across the primary coil. The number of turns on the primary coil is 100 and the number of
turns on the secondary coil is 500.

Solution

Types of transformer

(a) A step down transformer

A step up transformer is one:

 where the
secondary
e.m.f/current is
greater than the primary e.m.f/current.

 with more number of turns in the secondary coil than the primary coil.
 (b) A step down transformer:
Laminated iron core

Primary coil
Ip Secondary coil

Is

Vp Vs

Ns
Np

Ns<Np
Vs<Vp
A step down transformer is one

 Where the secondary e.m.f/current is less than the primary e.m.f/current

 With less number of turns in the secondary coil than the primary coil.

Power transfer in an ideal (100% efficient) transformer

For 100% efficient transformer the assumption is that there is no loose of energy along the way.

Power in the primary coil = power in the secondary coil. [electrical power = VI]

VpIp = VsIs where Vp = e.m.f (voltage) in the primary coil

Ip = current in the primary coil

Vs = e.m.f(voltage) in the secondary coil

Is = current in the secondary coil, thus,

Vs/Vp = Ns/Np = Ip/Is

Example

An industry operating at 10kV draws a current of 10A from the secondary coil of a 100% efficient
transformer. The input voltage to the transformer is 40kV.

(a) What is the current in the primary coil?

 (b) The transformer has 200 turns in the primary coil.

How much does it have in the secondary coil?

(c) Is the transformer a step up or a step down transformer?

It is a step down transformer.

Explain your answer

It has less voltage in the secondary coil than the primary coil/ it has less number of turns in
the secondary coil than the primary coil.

The efficiency of a transformer

Real transformers are not 100% efficient because of;

 Resistance in the coil; this is reduced by using thick copper wires with less
resistance

 Magnetic flux leakage; can be reduced by using a closed iron core

 Heat lost in the soft iron core due to Eddy currents; this can be reduced by
using a laminated iron core

Transmission of electrical power

When electrical energy is transferred from the power station to the industries, homes and
schools; some of the electrical energy is lost along the way as heat energy. Power lost
(dissipated) is equal to (current)2 x resistance, i.e , P= I2R. The power loss can be reduced
by either reducing the resistance or the current needs to be reduced.

Reducing the resistance

The resistance can only be reduced by using thicker cables with large cross sectional area. The length
cannot be reduced since the distance between the power station and the industries, homes and schools
where it will be used is constant. There are some disadvantages of reducing the power loss by using
thick cables such as:

 Increasing the thickness means the cables will be heavy hence the need for
thick pylons (electrical poles).

 Thick cables and heavy pylons are very expensive.

Reducing the current

The efficient and economical way of reducing the power loss is by reducing the current.

This is done by using a step up transformer to raise the voltage to very high levels of around 400000V
(4Kv). Using P = I2R, but I = Pout/V, since the voltage (V) will be very high it means current (I) will
be very small hence the power loss will be small.

The advantage of A.C over D.C

Electricity is mainly produced in the form of A.C instead of D.C the world over because A.C can be
stepped up or down while D.C cannot be stepped up or down.

The electromagnetic effects of a current

A current carrying conductor has a magnetic field around. The direction of the field is determined
using the Right Hand Grip Rule, where the thumb indicates the direction of the current and the rest
of the four fingers when curled indicate the direction of the field.

The Right Hand Grip Rule

The magnetic field of a solenoid

Diagram

The magnetic field of a solenoid is uniform and strong inside the solenoid and behaves as a permanent
magnet outside the solenoid. The strength of a magnetic field can be increased by:

 Increasing the current

 Increasing the number of turns

 Using a soft iron core inside the solenoid.

The force on a current- carrying conductor

Diagram

If a current carrying conductor is put between poles, a force acts on the conductor due to the
interaction between the magnetic fields of the current carrying conductor and the permanent magnet.
The direction of the force is determined using Fleming’s Left Hand Rule, where the thuMb indicates
the direction of Motion or force, the fisrt Finger indicates the direction of the Field and the seCond
finger indicates the direction of the Current. The three fingers should be held at right angle to each
other.

The force acting on the conductor can be increased by:

 Increasing the strength of the magnet

 Increasing the size of the current

 Increasing the length of the conductor

What is the effect of reversing the direction of the current and the magnetic field?

Forces on two parallel thin wires carrying a current

When two wires are placed parallel to each other, they experience a force due to the interaction of the
magnetic fields of the wires.

1. Two parallel thin wires carrying current in the same direction

For two wires carrying current in the same direction, there is attraction. The field between
the wires is weaker outside and the wires are pushed inwards.

Diagram

2. Two parallel thin wires carrying current in the opposite direction

For two wires carrying current in the opposite direction, there is repulsion.

The field between the wires is in the same direction so its combined field is stronger than that
outside. The wires move outwards.