"A" Level Physics:

Electromagnetic Induction:

3.6

Introduction One of the greatest discoveries in the history of Science (in terms of usefulness)
was that of Electromagnetism by Michael Faraday on 29th August 1831. Like many discoveries
in Physics it came through a consideration of symmetry. Faraday was intrigued by the discovery
of Oersted in 1820 that a current flowing through a wire produces a magnetic field around it. In
1822 he wrote in his diary "convert magnetism into electricity", the opposite effect, arguing that
it should be possible to go the "other way". In 1831 he wrote up his first results confirming his
ideas and between August and November 1831 wrote his laws of electromagnetic Induction:
These notes consider these laws and their application.
3.6.2 Terminology
Induction will be described in these terms:
Magnetic Field Strength or magnetic flux density (B)
Measured in teslas

(T)

Lines of force:

imaginary lines, which make up a magnetic

field these "run" from North to South.

Magnetic Flux:

() -the product of AREA X MAGNETIC FIELD

= AX B

Example
Magnetic flux

=
=
=

B
x
A
2T
x
0.3m2
0.6 Tm2 (wb)

Magnetic Flux Linkage

flux x number of turns

Magnetic Flux Density

3.6.1 Faraday's Laws of Induction:

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(units wb turns)
(units wb/m2 or teslas)

These will be considered using both lines of force and Flux arguments. Students are advised,
however to learn the FLUX ARGUMENTS.
When lines of force are "cut" an Emf (Voltage) is induced.
Example
When the wire is moved through the B field lines of force are "cut" and an emf is "Induced".

OR:

When the magnetic flux linking a circuit is changed an emf is induced in the circuit.

when the wire is moved through the B field it "sweeps out an area" hence the magnetic flux
linked changes (since = 0 when the wire is at rest).
Magnitude of the Emf Induced (Faraday's Law)

The magnitude of the induced emf is proportional to the rate at which the lines of force
are cut.
i.e.: The quicker the lines of force are cut the bigger the emf.

Faradays Law

The magnitude of the induced emf is proportional to the rate of change of flux-linkage.
i.e.:

The quicker the area is "swept out" the bigger the emf induced:

OR

Equation

-d
dt

emf induced

- (rate of change of magnetic flux).

(2 - 1)
t

examples.
A coil of wire is rotated in a magnetic field, the angle in radians that it makes is shown below.
Mark on the graph a point where the induced emf is a maximum and explain your answer.

A coil of wire is moved at a steady speed into a magnetic field as shown below. At which
position is the induced emf a maximum ? explain your answer.

A wire of length l is moved into a magnetic field B at a speed. Show that the equation for the
emf induced E = Blv is consistent with faradays law.

Direction of the Induced emf

(Lenz's Law)

The direction of the induced emf is such as to oppose the change producing it.
This is most easily seen on a diagram.

Consider a bar magnet being pushed into a coil of wire as shown below.

3.6.4 Self Inductance

Consider a coil connected to a cell shown below, carrying a steady current. Around the coil is a
magnetic field.

What happens when the current through the coil is switched off ?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(3)

The current in the coil changes.

Since the current changes the magnetic field around the coil changes
There is a change in the magnetic flux linking the coil.
Since the coil is now linked by a changing magnetic flux a current is induced in the wire).
The direction of the induced current is such that it tries to oppose the changing magnetic
field.

NOTE:

Only one coil is involved yet there is an emf induced, this process is called SELF
INDUCTANCE.

EQUATION:

Emf induced =

self Inductance
the coils

rate of change of current

through the coil

L dI
dt

Definition of Self Inductance

* Note:self inductance measured in henrys (H) is numerically equal to the emf induced
in the coil when the current through it changes by 1A/s.
The emf is known as the BACK EMF.
Examples.
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A coil of inductance 2H carries a current of 3A. Assuming that the time taken for the current to
be switched off is 5ms and the change in current is constant, calculate the Emf induced.

An a.c. current is passed through a coil of wire and an alternating emf is induced. Sketch a
graph showing how the induced emf changes with time. Explain how you got this graph.

Graph of Current Growth v Time for an LR Circuit.

Q: explain why the current through the oil changes in this way.

Initial Rate of Change of Current and Final Current for a constant voltage LR circuit.

The Initial Rate of Change of Current

(or initial growth of current)

E
L

dI
dt

E
L

E
R

Final current
This is simply given by ohms law

Example:
A parallel cct containing 2 inductors and two resistors is connected as shown below, on the
same axis sketch a graph of the current v time relationship for each.
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A Level Physics

Induction Questions.

1.

A piece of wire, of length 10cm, is swept at right angles through a magnetic field
of strength 2mT. It takes 20ms to cover a distance of 20cm in the field.

(a)
(b)

Calculate the change in magnetic flux before the wire moves moves
Assuming that the wire moves at a uniform rate throughout the field calculate the emf
induced across the wire.

2.

Explain how the equation E=BLv where E is the emf induced across a length of
wire L moving at a speed v is consistent with Faradays law.

3.

A coil of wire of area 0.02 m2 is placed in a magnetic field which grows from 0T to
5T in 20s.

(a)
(b)

explain why there is an emf induced across the ends of the coil.
calculate the emf induced.

4.

A coil of wire of area 0.05 m2 is placed in a magnetic field which grows from 0T to
3T in 20ms. The wire has a resistance of 5 ohms.

(a)
(b)
(c)

explain why there is an emf induced across the ends of the coil.
calculate the emf induced.
calculate the current induced

5.

A coil of wire of area 0.2cm2 is placed in a magnetic field which changes at a rate
of 2T/s

(a)
(b)

calculate the area of the coil in m2

calculate the emf induced across the ends of the coil.

6.

A coil of wire of area 0.5cm2 is placed in a magnetic field which changes at a rate
of 4T/s
calculate the emf induced across the ends of the coil.

7.

A coil of wire with an inductance of 5mH has a current flowing through it which
changes at a rate of 2A/s.
Calculate the emf induced.

8.

9.

A coil of wire with an inductance of 10mH has a current flowing through it which
changes at a rate of 5A/s.
Calculate the emf induced.
A coil of wire has an emf of 50mV induced across it when the current through it
changes at a rate of 0.4A/s. Calculate the inductance of the coil.
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10.

A coil of wire has an emf of 20mV induced across it when the current through it
changes at a rate of 0.6A/s. Calculate the inductance of the coil.

11.

An inductor with inductance 10mH is connected to a battery of emf 5V and internal

resistance 2ohms.

(a)
(b)
(c)

calculate the initial rate of change of current through the coil

calculate the final current through the coil.
Sketch a graph of current v time for the inductor.

12.

An inductor with inductance 5mH is connected to a battery of emf 6V. The whole
circuit has a resistance of 20 ohms.

(a)
(b)
(b)

calculate the initial rate of change of current through the coil

calculate the final current through the coil.
sketch a graph of current v time for the inductor.

13.

An inductor connected to a battery of emf 6V is switched on and the current is

measured with time as shown on the graph below.

(a)
(b)
(c)

use the graph to calculate the rate of change of current.

calculate the maximum current that flows through the circuit.
calculate the inductance of the coil

14.

An inductor connected to a battery of emf 6V is switched on and the current is

measured with time as shown on the graph below.

(a)
(b)
(d)

use the graph to calculate the rate of change of current.

calculate the maximum current that flows through the circuit.
calculate the inductance of the coil.

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