NNPC FSTP Technicians

Fundamentals of
Electricity
Course Code: FY7W 04
Lesson 11

Contents

Electromagnetic Induction

Performance Objectives
Upon completion of this Course, students will be able to:
State & explain Faradays Law of Electromagnet
Induction
Describe how Faraday's Law may be demonstrated
Identify the three (3) factors which affect the strength of
the induced e.m.f.
Perform calculations using the formula:
E = Blv
Identify the two factors that affect the direction of an
induced EMF and current
Explain the differences between generators & alternators
Describe the two methods of generating an induced
e.m.f.

Introduction
The discovery of electromagnetic induction
was made by Michael Faraday in 1831.
This led to the development of the electric
generator, the transformer, the telephone,
and many other electrical devices.

Electromagnetic Induction
An electric current in a conductor produces a
magnetic field around the conductor.
Faraday showed that this process could be reversed.
He showed how a magnetic field around a
conductor can produce an electric current in the
conductor. Faraday found that when a conductor
was moved through a magnetic field an electric
current was induced in the conductor. This effect is
called Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction.
When magnetic lines of force (flux) are cut by a
conductor, an e.m.f. will be induced in the conductor.

Demonstrating Electromagnetic
Induction 1
The length of flexible wire is the conductor. The conductor is connected to
a sensitive indicating instrument, e.g. a galvanometer, a micro-ammeter,
or a micro-voltmeter. (These instruments can detect very small amounts of
electricity).

The magnet produces a magnetic field. When the conductor is moved

through the magnetic field, an e.m.f. and current are induced in the
conductor. The e.m.f. and current cause the instrument pointer to deflect
(move).

Demonstrating Electromagnetic
Induction 2
The pointer moves because electricity is induced in the conductor.

Three items are necessary for electromagnetic induction to happen:

a magnetic field (flux).
a length of wire (conductor).
movement between flux and conductor.
When these three items happen at the same time, an e.m.f. is
induced, which will cause a current to flow in a closed circuit

Factors Affecting Induced e.m.f.

The amount of induced e.m.f. depends on 3
factors.
They are:
the strength of the magnetic field
the active length of the conductor in the
magnetic field
how fast the conductor moves in the
magnetic field

Magnetic Field
If the strength of the magnetic field is changes, then
the induced e.m.f. (E) changes. The strength of the
magnetic field refers to the density of the magnetic
field
If the flux density (B) is doubled, then the induced
e.m.f. (E) is doubled
If the flux density (B) is halved, then the e.m.f. (E) is
halved
Induced e.m.f. (E) is directly proportional to the flux
density of the magnetic field

Length of Conductor 1
If the active length of the conductor changes, then the
induced e.m.f. (E) changes. The "active length" of the
conductor is the part of the conductor that is within the
magnetic field
If the active length of the conductor (l) is doubled, then
the induced EMF (E) is doubled
If the active length of the conductor (l) is halved, then
the induced EMF( E) is halved
Induced e.m.f. (E) is directly proportional to the
active length of the conductor (l).

Length of Conductor 2
A longer length conductor (i.e. more active length) will
produce a larger e.m.f. (E). The active length of the
conductor is increased by winding the conductor into a
coil.

Speed of Conductor
If you change the speed at which the conductor cuts the
magnetic flux, then the induced e.m.f. (E) changes. The
speed at which the conductor moves is called velocity
(speed is very similar to velocity)
If the velocity (v) of the conductor (l) is doubled then the
induced e.m.f. (E) is doubled
If the velocity (v) of the conductor (l) is halved then the
induced e.m.f. (E) is halved
Induced e.m.f. (E) is directly proportional to the velocity (v)
of the conductor, or the e.m.f. (E) is proportional to the rate
at which the flux is cut
These three factors can be demonstrated by repeating the
experiment shown for different values of flux density (B),
length (l), and velocity (v).

Faraday's Law of
Electromagnetic Induction
Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction states that:
Whenever relative motion exists between a conductor & a
magnetic field so that the conductor cuts the flux, an e.m.f. is
induced in the conductor. When there is no movement
between the conductor and the magnetic field, no e.m.f. is
induced.
The formula for induced EMF (E) is:

E = B. l .v

Where:
E = Induced e.m.f. (in volts).
B = Flux density of the magnetic field (in Tesla).
l = Active length of conductor (in metres).
v = Velocity (speed) of the conductor (in metres per
second)

Induced e.m.f.
Calculations

Example 1
A conductor 0.5m long, moves at a velocity of 15 m/s through a
magnetic field of density 1.1 T
Find the value of the induced e.m.f. (E)

Use the formula to find (E):

E = Blv
E = 1.1 x 0.5 x 15
E = 8.25V or E = 8250 mV
The induced e.m.f. is 8250 millivolts.

Example 2
The e.m.f. induced in a conductor 0.5m long is 6V. Find the
flux density when the conductor cuts the field at a uniform
velocity of 2m/s.
Step (1): Transpose the formula for B.
E = Blv B = E .
l.v
Step (2): Use transposed formula to find B.
B
B

=
6
0.5 x 2
= 6 Tesla

Example 3
A conductor 250mm long induces an e.m.f. of 1V when it is
moved through a magnetic field of flux density 0.1T.
Find the velocity of the conductor.
Step (1) : Transpose the formula for v.
E = Blv v = E .
l.B
Step (2):

Use transposed formula to find v.

v =
1
.
250.10-3 x 0.1
v = 40m/s

Solve Practice Problems

1)

A conductor of length 0.1m is moving in a magnetic field

of flux density 0.8T. An e.m.f. of 40V is induced in the
conductor. What is the velocity of the conductor?

2)

A conductor is 2.5 m long. It is moving at 2.5m/s so that

an e.m.f. of 6.3V is induced. What is the flux density of
the magnetic field?

3)

A conductor is moved at a velocity of 10m/s through a

magnetic field of flux density 15mT. When an e.m.f. of
0.3V is induced in the conductor what is the length of the
conductor?

4)

A conductor 80mm long moves through a magnetic field

of flux density 0.05T at a velocity of 10m/s. Calculate
the e.m.f. induced in the conductor.

Direction of the Induced e.m.f.

The direction of the induced e.m.f. (E) depends on two
factors:
The direction of the relative movement, and the
polarity of the main field
The direction of the induced current depends on the
direction of the e.m.f. This e.m.f. can only produce a
current if the conductor is part of a closed circuit.

Direction of Movement 1
If the direction of the movement of the conductor in the magnetic
field is reversed, then the induced e.m.f. will be reversed. That
current will flow because there is a complete (closed) circuit
through the meter.

In diagram (a) above, the conductor is moving left through the

magnetic field. The induced e.m.f. causes the instrument pointer
to move to the right of the meter scale (f.s.d. to the right).

Direction of Movement 2
In diagram (b), below the direction of movement of the conductor
has been reversed. The conductor is moving right through the
magnetic field. The induced e.m.f. causes the instrument pointer
to move to the left of the meter scale (f.s.d. to the left).

The direction of the induced e.m.f. and current depends on the

direction of movement between the conductor and the magnetic
field, ie: the direction of the induced e.m.f. will reverse if the
direction of movement is reversed

Direction of the Main Field 1

If the direction (polarity) of the main magnetic field is reversed,
then the induced e.m.f. (E) will be reversed.

Diagram (a) above shows the conductor is moving left through the
magnetic field. The induced e.m.f. causes the instrument pointer
to move to the right of the meter scale (f.s.d. to the right).

Direction of the Main Field 2

Diagram (b) shows the conductor is moving left through the
magnetic field. The direction of movement of the conductor has
not changed. However, the polarity (direction) of the magnetic
field has been reversed. This causes the induced e.m.f. and the
current to be reversed. This causes the pointer to move to the left
of the meter scale (f.s.d. to the left).

Direction of the Main Field 3

Therefore the direction of the induced e.m.f. and current depends on the
polarity (direction) of the magnetic field, ie: the direction of the induced
EMF and current will reverse, if the polarity of the magnetic field is
reversed.

Note: If both the direction of the movement of the conductor and the
polarity of the magnetic field are reversed, then the direction of the
induced e.m.f. is unchanged.

Direction of the Main Field 4

Induced emf by Moving Magnetic Field
Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction states that an e.m.f. is
induced when there is relative motion between a conductor and a
magnetic field. So far, we have considered what happens when
the conductor moves through the magnetic flux.
Another method of inducing an
e.m.f. is by moving the magnet
past the conductor, ie: the
conductor/coil is stationary and
the magnetic flux is moved past
the conductor/coil. When the
permanent magnet is moved
inside the coil, an e.m.f. Is
induced.
As previous, this
induced e.m.f. causes a current
to flow through the indicating
instrument

Summary
The factors which determine the amount of e.m.f. which can
be induced by a moving field are the same as for a moving
conductor, ie:
The strength of the magnetic field (flux density).
The length of the conductor/coil (active length).
The velocity (speed) of the movement of the flux.
The term relative motion means that only one of the two
things needs to move.
Either:
moving the conductor/coil past a stationary magnetic field.
moving the magnetic field past a stationary conductor/coil
When there is relative motion between the conductor/coil
and the magnetic field then an e.m.f. will be induced. If there
is no relative motion, no e.m.f. will be induced.

Methods of Generating an emf 1

Electrical energy is generated by machines called generators and
alternators.
A generator can refer to a Direct Current (DC) machine or Alternating
Current (AC) machine
An alternator refers to an Alternating Current (AC) only
AC and DC generators produce electricity in the same way. They both
generate electricity by electromagnetic induction. When conductors
(coils) cut through a magnetic field an e.m.f. is induced. There are two
methods of generating an induced e.m.f. in conductors (coils). The two
methods of generating an induced e.m.f. are:
Method (1): Moving conductors (coils) cutting through a stationary
magnetic field.
Method (2): A moving magnetic field which is cut by stationary
conductors (coils).
BOTH THESE METHODS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
ARE EMPLOYED IN THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY

Methods of Generating an emf 2

Diagram (A) shows a stationary magnetic field being cut
by a moving conductor (Method 1)

Methods of Generating an emf 2

Diagram (B) shows a stationary coil being cut by a moving
magnetic field (Method 2)

Review 1
When magnetic flux is cut by a conductor an e.m.f. is
induced in the conductor.
The three factors which affect the amount of the e.m.f. are:
the strength of the magnetic field.
the active length of the conductor.
the velocity of the conductor.
The formula for calculating induced e.m.f. (E) is E = Blv.
The direction of the induced e.m.f. and current are affected
by:
the direction of the movement.
the direction of the main magnetic field.
The polarity of the induced e.m.f. can be reversed by
reversing one of the above factors.

Review 2
Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction states that an
e.m.f. is induced when there is relative movement between
a conductor and a magnetic field.
An e.m.f. can be induced in a conductor in two (2) ways:
by moving the conductor in a magnetic field.
by moving the magnetic field past the conductor.
The three (3) factors which affect the amount of e.m.f.
produced in this way are:
the strength of the magnetic field.
the length of the conductor.
the velocity of the movement of the flux.