Electromagnetic

Induction
 Learning Objectives
Electromagnetic induction

Candidates should be able to:

1 define magnetic flux as the product of the magnetic flux density and the cross-sectional area
perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic flux density
2 recall and use Φ = BA
3 understand and use the concept of magnetic flux linkage
4 understand and explain experiments that demonstrate:
• that a changing magnetic flux can induce an e.m.f. in a circuit
• that the induced e.m.f. is in such a direction as to oppose the change producing it
• the factors affecting the magnitude of the induced e.m.f.
5 recall and use Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws of electromagnetic induction
 Electromagnetic Induction
•Electromagnetic induction is a phenomenon which occurs when an e.m.f is induced when a
conductor moves through a magnetic field
•When the conductor cuts through the magnetic field lines:
• This causes a change in magnetic flux
• Which causes work to be done
• This work is then transformed into electrical energy
•Therefore, if attached to a complete circuit, a current will be induced
•This is known as electromagnetic induction and is defined as:
The process in which an e.m.f is induced in a closed circuit due to changes in magnetic flux
•This can occur either when:
• A conductor cuts through a magnetic field
• The direction of a magnetic field through a coil changes
•Electromagnetic induction is used in:
• Electrical generators which convert mechanical energy to electrical energy
• Transformers which are used in electrical power transmission
 Electromagnetic Induction
•This phenomenon can easily be demonstrated with a magnet and a coil, or a wire and two magnets

Experiment 1: Moving a magnet through a coil

•When a coil is connected to a sensitive voltmeter, a bar
magnet can be moved in and out of the coil to induce an
e.m.f

A bar magnet is moved through a coil connected to a voltmeter to induce an

e.m.f
Electromagnetic Induction
 Electromagnetic Induction
The expected results are:
•When the bar magnet is not moving, the voltmeter shows a zero reading
• When the bar magnet is held still inside, or outside, the coil, the rate of change of flux is zero, so,
there is no e.m.f induced
•When the bar magnet begins to move inside the coil, there is a reading on the voltmeter
• As the bar magnet moves, its magnetic field lines ‘cut through’ the coil, generating a change in
magnetic flux
• This induces an e.m.f within the coil, shown momentarily by the reading on the voltmeter
•When the bar magnet is taken back out of the coil, an e.m.f is induced in the opposite direction
• As the magnet changes direction, the direction of the current changes
• The voltmeter will momentarily show a reading with the opposite sign
•Increasing the speed of the magnet induces an e.m.f with a higher magnitude
• As the speed of the magnet increases, the rate of change of flux increases
•The direction of the electric current, and e.m.f, induced in the conductor is such that it opposes the change
that produces it
 Electromagnetic Induction

•Factors that will increase the induced e.m.f are:

• Moving the magnet faster through the coil
• Adding more turns to the coil
• Increasing the strength of the bar magnet
 Electromagnetic Induction
Experiment 2: Moving a wire through a magnetic field

•When a long wire is connected to a voltmeter and moved between two magnets, an e.m.f is induced
•Note: there is no current flowing through the wire to start with

A wire is moved between two magnets connected to a

voltmeter to induce an e.m.f
 Electromagnetic Induction
The expected results are:
•When the wire is not moving, the voltmeter shows a zero reading
• When the wire is held still inside, or outside, the magnets, the rate of change of flux is zero, so, there
is no e.m.f induced
•As the wire is moved through between the magnets, an e.m.f is induced within the wire, shown momentarily
by the reading on the voltmeter
• As the wire moves, it ‘cuts through’ the magnetic field lines of the magnet, generating a change in
magnetic flux
•When the wire is taken back out of the magnet, an e.m.f is induced in the opposite direction
• As the wire changes direction, the direction of the current changes
• The voltmeter will momentarily show a reading with the opposite sign
•As before, the direction of the electric current, and e.m.f, induced in the conductor is such that it opposes the
change that produces it
•Factors that will increase the induced e.m.f are:
• Increasing the length of the wire
• Moving the wire between the magnets faster
• Increasing the strength of the magnets
 Electromagnetic Induction
Direction of the current
• The direction of the induced current in the electromagnetic inductioncan
be predicted using Fleming’s right hand rule.
• Also called Fleming's right hand (Generator Rule)
• It is opposite to that of the motor rule which included Flemings left hand
rule.
 Electromagnetic Induction
Induced E.m.f

• When a conductor is not a part of complete circuit, there cannot be induced current.
• Instead negative charge will accumulate at one end of the conductor ,leaving the other end
positively charged.
• What causes these electrons to move ?
• Moving the conductor is equivalent to giving an electron within the conductor a velocity in
the direction of the motion.
• We have now induced e.m.f across the ends of the conductor.
• Is it the e.m.f or voltage?
• It is e.m.f because by pushing the wire through a magnetic field, work is done and this is
transformed into electrical energy.
• It must be e.m.f as it is a source of electrical energy.
 Magnetic Flux
Magnetic Flux Definition

• Electromagnetic induction is when an e.m.f is induced in a closed circuit conductor due to it moving
through a magnetic field
• This happens when a conductor cuts through magnetic field lines
• The amount of e.m.f induced is determined by the magnetic flux
• The amount of magnetic flux varies as the coil rotates within the field
• The flux is the total magnetic field that passes through a given area
• It is a maximum when the magnetic field lines are perpendicular to the area
• It is at a minimum when the magnetic field lines are parallel to the area

The magnetic flux is defined as:

The product of the magnetic flux density and the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the
direction of the magnetic flux density
Magnetic Flux
 Calculating Magnetic Flux
Magnetic Flux is defined by the symbol Φ (greek letter ‘phi’)
It is measured in units of Webers (Wb)
Magnetic flux can be calculated using the equation:
Φ = BA
Where:
• Φ = magnetic flux (Wb)
• B = magnetic flux density (T)
• A = cross-sectional area (m2)

•When the magnet field lines are not completely perpendicular to the area A, then the component of
magnetic flux density B perpendicular to the area is taken
•The equation then becomes:
Φ = BA cos(θ)
•Where:
• θ = angle between magnetic field lines and the line perpendicular to the plane of the area
(often called the normal line) (degrees)
Calculating Magnetic Flux
Calculating Magnetic Flux
Calculating Magnetic Flux
Calculating Magnetic Flux
 Calculating Magnetic Flux
•This means the magnetic flux is:

• Maximum = BA when cos(θ) =1 therefore θ = 0o. The magnetic field lines are perpendicular
to the plane of the area
• Minimum = 0 when cos(θ) = 0 therefore θ = 90o. The magnetic fields lines are parallel to the
plane of the area

•An e.m.f is induced in a circuit when the magnetic flux linkage changes with respect to time.
•This means an e.m.f is induced when there is:

• A changing magnetic flux density B

• A changing cross-sectional area A
• A change in angle θ
 Magnetic Flux Linkage
•The magnetic flux linkage is a quantity commonly used for solenoids which are made of N turns of
wire
•Magnetic flux linkage is defined as:
The product of the magnetic flux and the number of turns
•It is calculated using the equation:
ΦN = BAN
•Where:
• Φ = magnetic flux (Wb)
• N = number of turns of the coil
• B = magnetic flux density (T)
• A = cross-sectional area (m2)
•The flux linkage ΦN has the units of Weber turns (Wb turns)
•As with magnetic flux, if the field lines are not completely perpendicular to the plane of the area
they are passing through
•Therefore, the component of the flux density which is perpendicular is equal to:
ΦN = BAN cos(θ)
 Faraday's & Lenz's Laws
Faraday’s law tells us the magnitude of the induced e.m.f in electromagnetic induction and is
defined as:
The magnitude of the induced e.m.f is directly proportional to the rate of change in magnetic
flux linkage

Faraday's & Lenz's Laws equation 1

Where:
ε = induced e.m.f (V)
N = number of turns of coil
Δɸ = change in magnetic flux (Wb)
Δt = time interval (s)
 Faraday's & Lenz's Laws
Lenz’s Law gives the direction of the induced e.m.f as defined by Faraday’s law:
The induced e.m.f acts in such a direction to produce effects which oppose the change
causing it

Lenz’s law combined with Faraday’s law is:

This equation shows:

• When a bar magnet goes through a coil, an e.m.f is induced within the coil due to a
change in magnetic flux
• A current is also induced which means the coil now has its own magnetic field
• The coil’s magnetic field acts in the opposite direction to the magnetic field of the bar
magnet
• If a direct current (d.c) power supply is replaced with an alternating current (a.c)
supply, the e.m.f induced will also be alternating with the same frequency as the
supply
Origin of electromagnetic induction
Forces and movement
Generators