In 1820, Hans Christian Orsted noticed his compass needle

deflecting from magnetic north, when an electric current from a

nearby battery was switched on and off. In doing so he became
the first person in history to discover what we know today as
electromagnetism.
Over a decade later in 1831, Michael Faraday discovered
another phenomenon, electromagnetic induction, defined as
the generation of an emf due to relative motion between a
conductor and magnetic field. To prove this discovery, he
performed an experiment where he moved a bar magnet in and
out of a solenoid connected in series with a galvanometer. He
noticed a momentary deflection in one direction when he
moved the magnet out of the solenoid and another deflection in
the opposite direction when he moved the magnet into the
solenoid. However, when he placed the magnet inside the
solenoid at rest, there was no deflection recorded by the
galvanometer. He also noticed that the faster he moved the
magnet, the greater the deflection was on the galvanometer.
So why were there momentary deflections? This generation of
emf as noted by the galvanometer can be explained by the
change of magnetic flux when the magnet moved in or out of
the solenoid. Mathematically, this change of emf is represented
by emf= -n d / dt which is the rate of the change in magnetic
flux. Faradays Law states that this change in magnetic flux
gives rise to an induced emf that threads the conductor. So why
is there a negative sign in this emf formula you may ask? This
is due to another phenomenon known as Lenzs Law.
When an emf is induced by Faradays Law, a current will be
induced and this current with its own magnetic field will oppose
the initial change in magnetic flux. This current must oppose
the initial change in magnetic flux in order to satisfy the Law of
Conservation of energy which states that energy can not be
created.
Let us assume that Lenzs Law was reversed so that the current
would be set up to magnify the initial change in magnetic flux.

This means that the magnetic field strength would increase and
in doing so the rate of change in magnetic flux would also
increase. This means more emf would be produced as emf= -n
d / dt but this would be impossible as it would violate the Law
of Conservation of Energy since electrical energy would be
created out of nothing if this was the case. Therefore, Lenzs
Law must hold true with the induced current opposing the initial
change in magnetic flux.
So what are the real life applications of this phenomenon? In
motors, when the rotor is spinning inside an external magnetic
field, the relative motion between the coils and the magnetic
field will result in a net change in magnetic flux. By Faradays
Law, an emf is induced and by Lenzs Law the induced current
with its magnetic field will oppose the change in magnetic flux.
This induced emf is known as the back emf. To satisfy Ohms
Law that V=IR, the back emf induced ensures the current will
be reduced and this prevents our motors from burning out.
Eddy currents are another application of Lenzs Law specific to
flat conductors. They are small circular whirling currents that
are induced on the surface of these flat conductors opposing
the change in magnetic flux. Induction cooktops take
advantage of this phenomenon where an oscillating magnetic
field induces eddy currents in the base of the pan, causing it to
heat up and cook our food.
First the induction cooktop uses a coil attached to a high
frequency AC power source which sets up the oscillating
magnetic field. This changing magnetic flux threads the base of
the pan inducing an emf by Faradays Law. By Lenzs Law, eddy
currents are induced on the bottom of the pan to oppose this
change in flux and these eddy currents heat up the pan through
resistive heating, allowing food to be cooked.
Another application of eddy currents exists in electromagnetic
braking. An external magnetic field is applied across a section
of the wheel. When this wheel rotates, there will be a change in
magnetic flux threading this section of the wheel due to relative

motion. By Lenzs Law, this gives rise to eddy currents that

oppose this change in magnetic flux and these set up opposing
magnetic fields. This opposing magnetic field interacts with the
external magnetic field to produce a force by the motor effect
and this force opposes the rotation of the wheel. Thus, the
wheel brakes.