Physics Revision Note and Questions

Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

Physics Revision Notes:

Electromagnetism
1. Magnetism
Magnets
Definition: Materials that produce a magnetic field, attracting ferromagnetic materials like
iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Types:
• Permanent magnets: Retain magnetism (e.g., bar magnets).
• Temporary magnets: Lose magnetism when external field is removed (e.g., soft
iron).
• Electromagnets: Produce magnetism when current flows (e.g., solenoids).
Properties of Magnets
• Poles: Every magnet has a North (N) and South (S) pole. Like poles repel, unlike
poles attract.
• Magnetic Field: The region around a magnet where magnetic force is experienced.
• Dipole Nature: Magnetic monopoles do not exist; cutting a magnet produces two
smaller dipoles.
Magnetic Domains
• Small regions in a magnetic material where atomic dipoles align in the same direction.
• Unmagnetized materials: Domains are randomly oriented.
• Magnetized materials: Domains align in one direction under an external field.
Magnetic Materials
• Ferromagnetic: Strongly attracted (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel).
• Paramagnetic: Weakly attracted (e.g., aluminum, oxygen).
• Diamagnetic: Weakly repelled (e.g., copper, water).
Magnetic Field (B)
• A vector field representing magnetic influence.
• Unit: Tesla (T) or Gauss (1 T = 10⁴ G).
• Direction: From North to South pole.
Magnetic Field Lines
• Imaginary lines representing the direction and strength of the magnetic field.
• Properties:
o Never intersect.
o Density indicates field strength.
o Form closed loops (from N to S externally, S to N internally).

2. Magnetic Forces and Fields

Magnetic Force on a Charged Particle (Lorentz Force)
Formula:

• F= force (N)
• q = charge (C)
• v = velocity (m/s)
• B = magnetic field (T)
Direction: Given by the Right-Hand Rule (RHR).

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

Path of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field

• If v⊥B: Circular motion (centripetal force = magnetic force).
o Radius:

• If v has a component parallel to B: Helical path.

Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
Formula:

• I = current (A)
• L = length vector (m)
Direction: RHR (thumb = current, fingers = field, palm = force).
Magnetic Field Around a Straight Conductor
Biot-Savart Law:

• μ0 = permeability of free space (T·m/A)

• r = distance from wire.
Right-Hand Rule (RHR) for Wires: Thumb points in current direction, fingers curl in field
direction.
Magnetic Force Between Parallel Current-Carrying Wires
Force per unit length:

• Like currents attract, opposite currents repel.

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
• Inside: Uniform field

• n = turns per unit length.

• Outside: Nearly zero.

3. Earth’s Magnetic Field

Characteristics
• Acts like a giant bar magnet with poles near geographic poles.
• Magnetic Declination: Angle between geographic and magnetic north.
• Magnetic Inclination (Dip Angle): Angle between field lines and horizontal.
Importance
• Protects Earth from solar wind via the magnetosphere.
• Essential for navigation (compasses align with Earth's field).

4. Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetic Flux (Φ)
Definition:

(measures total magnetic field passing through an area).

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

Unit: Weber (Wb).

Faraday’s Law of Induction
Induced EMF:

• N = number of turns.
• Negative sign → Lenz’s Law.
Lenz’s Law
The induced current opposes the change in flux (conservation of energy).
Types of Electromagnetic Induction
• Self-Induction: Change in current induces EMF in the same coil

• Mutual Induction: EMF induced in a nearby coil (basis of transformers).

Transformers
Principle: Mutual induction (changes AC voltage).
Equation:

• p= primary, s = secondary.
Types: Step-up (increases voltage), Step-down (decreases voltage).

Key Takeaways
• Magnetic fields are produced by moving charges and magnets.
• Lorentz Force governs charged particle motion in fields.
• Faraday’s & Lenz’s Laws explain induction and EMF generation.
• Transformers rely on mutual induction for voltage conversion.
• Earth’s field protects life and aids navigation.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A bar magnet is divided in two pieces. Which of the following statements is true about the
force between the broken pieces if they face each other with a small separation?
A. There is an electric repulsive force between the broken pieces.
B. There is an electric attractive force between the broken pieces.
C. There is a magnetic repulsive force between the broken pieces.
D. There is a magnetic attractive force between the broken pieces.
2. A current-carrying wire is placed perpendicular to the page. Determine the direction of the
electric current from the direction of the magnetic field.
A. Into the page.
B. Out of the page.
C. Clockwise.
D. Counter-clockwise.

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

3. A positive charge moves in parallel to a current carrying wire. What is the direction of the
magnetic force on the charge?
A. Left.
B. Right.
C. To the bottom of the page.
D. To the top of the page.
4. What causes the Earth’s magnetic field?
A. The movement of liquid iron in the Earth’s outer core.
B. The gravitational field of the Earth.
C. The permanent magnet in the Earth’s core.
D. All of the above
5. Why is iron a suitable material for the core of a transformer?
A. It is a metal
B. It will not get hot
C. It is easily magnetized
D. It is an electrical conductor
6. Simon had three rods, X, Y and Z, of the same size but made from different metals. The
ends of each rod were labelled as shown below.

He brought different ends of the rods together in pairs, and recorded his
observations as follows:
A repels F
B attracts C
B attracts D
D attracts E

Which rod(s) is/are made of magnetic material?

A. All three metals
B. Metal X only
C. Metal Y only
D. Metals X and Z
7. The ability of a material to conduct magnetic flux through it.
A. Permittivity C. Reluctivity
B. Conductivity D. Permeability
8. A material which is slightly repelled by a magnetic field is known as
A. ferromagnetic material
B. diamagnetic material
C. paramagnetic material
D. conducting material

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

9. A 300 mm long conductor is carrying a current of 10 A and is situated at right angles to a

magnetic field having a flux density of 0.8 T; the force on the conductor will be
A. 240 N C. 24 N
B. 2.4 N D. 0.24 N
10. What is the magnitude and the direction of force per 1.1m length of a pair of conductors of
a direct current line carrying 10 amperes and spaced 100 mm apart?
A. 22 x 108 N C. 22 x 107 N
B. 22 x 10-6 N D. 22 x 105 N
11. How does the magnetic compass needle behave in a magnetic field?
A. It assures a position right angle to magnetic field
B. It starts rotating
C. It assures a position which follows a line of magnetic flux
D. None of the above
12. Which of the following factors is the induced charge in an electromagnetic induction
independent of?
A. Time C. Resistance of the coil
B. Change of flux D. None of the above
13. An average voltage of 10 V is induced in a 250 turns solenoid as a result of a change in flux
which occurs in 0.5 second. The total flux change is
A. 20 Wb C. 2 Wb
B. 0.2 Wb D. 0.02 W
14. Current changing from 8 A to 12 A in one second induced 20 volts in a coil. The value of
inductance is
A. 5 mH C. 10 mH
B. 5 H D. 10 H
15. Find the force acting on a conductor 3m long carrying a current of 50 amperes at right
angles to a magnetic field having a flux density of 0.67 tesla.
A. 100 N C. 400 N
B. 600 N D. 1000 N
16. An e.m.f. of 16 volts is induced in a coil of inductance 4H. The rate of change of current
must be
A. 64 A/s C. 32 A/s
B. 16 A/s D. 4 A/s
17. A 500 turns solenoid develops an average induced voltage of 60 V. Over what time interval
must a flux change of 0.06 Wb occur to produce such a voltage?
A. 0.01 s C. 0.1 s
B. 0.5 s D. 5 s
18. A conductor carries 125 amperes of current under 60° to a magnetic field of 1.1 tesla. The
force on the conductor will be nearly
A. 50 N C. 120 N
B. 240 N D. 480 N

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

19. Which one of the following best describes a step-up transformer?

20. A 75-turn square coil of wire, 0.12 m on a side, is in a 4.5  10−2 T magnetic field. The
field is perpendicular to the coil. If the coil of wire is removed from the field in 0.10 s,
what average emf is induced in the coil?
A. 6.5  10−3 V C. 1.2  10−1 V
B. 2.4  10−1 V D. 4.9  10−1 V
21. Two long, parallel conductors carry the same current I and exert an attractive force F on
each other. If the current in both conductors is doubled, what is the new force?

A. 0.5 F C. F
B. 2 F D. 4 F
22. A transformer connected to a 120 V ac source has an output of 24 V ac. If the primary coil
has 330 turns, how many turns of wire are there in the secondary coil?
A. 24 turns C. 66 turns
B. 330 turns D. 1650 turns
23. An electron circulates in a uniform 5. 0 10 T magnetic field as shown. If the electron
− 4

has 3.2 10−18 J of kinetic energy, what is its radius of orbit, r?

A. 2.3 x 10-7 m
B. 4.6 x 10-4 m
C. 2.5 x 10-3 m
D. 3.0 x 10-2 m
24. A compass is placed in each of the four locations around a permanent bar magnet as shown
below

In which location would the North pole of the compass needle point to the right side of the
page?
A. Location 1 B. Location 2 C. Location 3 D. Location 4
25. A square coil is perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field. Which one of the following
would increase the magnetic flux through the coil?
A. Decreasing the area of the coil.
B. Increasing the number of loops in the coil.
C. Removing the coil from the magnetic field.
D. Increasing the strength of the magnetic field.
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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

26. Two straight parallel wires are separated by 1.60 m. The first wire carries a current of 95.0
A, and the magnetic field produced by this current exerts a force of 2.50 x 10–3 N on a 2.00
m length of the second wire. What is the current in the second wire?
A. 20.9 A C. 105 A
B. 132 A D. 164 A
–3 2
27. A coil of wire of area 1.5 x 10 m consists of 40 loops. A magnetic field is perpendicular
to the face of the coil. In a period of 0.20 s the strength of the magnetic field decreases from
0.060T to0.050T in the same direction. What is the average emf induced in the coil during
this time?
A. 7.5 x 10–5 V C 1.5 x 10–3 V
B. 3.0 x 10–3 V D. 3.3 x 10–2 V
28. A particle with a charge of 3.2 10−19 C is moving at 1.2 106m/s. This particle enters a
0.25T magnetic field at right angles and travels in a circular path of 0.80m radius. What is
the mass of this particle?
A. 6.7 10 −27 kg C. 5.3 10 −26 kg
B. 6.4 10 −20 kg D. 7.7 10 −14 kg
29. Which of the following is a statement of Lenz’s law?
A. The number of magnetic lines perpendicular to the surface area enclosed by a circuit
is equal to the flux.
B. An induced current in a closed conducting loop will appear in such a direction that
it opposes the change that created it.
C. An emf is produced between the ends of a straight wire when the wire is moving
perpendicularly through a uniform magnetic field.
D. The average emf induced in a circuit is proportional to the rate of change of the
magnetic flux through that circuit.
30. In order to induce an emf in a coil, the magnetic flux must be
A. zero. C. small.
B. large. D. changing.
31. A 0.20 m conductor moves at 12 m/s through the 0.60 T field shown below. Calculate the
emf induced in the conductor while passing through the field.
A. 0 V
B. 0.13 V
C. 1.4 V
D. 1.8 V
32. For a magnet, a domain refers to ______.
A. the region between the poles of the magnet
B. the space around the magnet that is affected by the magnetic field
C. the region within the magnet in which the magnetic poles of individual atoms are
aligned
D. the region from which the magnetic material is mined
33. In the region just outside the south pole of a magnet, the magnetic field lines ______.
A. point away from the south pole
B. go around the south pole
C. are less concentrated than at the north pole
D. point toward the south pole

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

34. Which equation gives the force for a charge moving through a magnetic field?
A. 𝐹=𝑞𝑣𝐵sin𝜃 C. 𝐹=𝐼ℓ𝐵sin𝜃
B. 𝐹=𝐼ℓ𝐵 D. F=qvB
35. A current changing at a rate of 5 A/s in a coil of inductance 5 H induces an e.m.f. of:
A. 25 V in the same direction as the applied voltage
B. 1 V in the same direction as the applied voltage
C. 25 V in the opposite direction to the applied voltage.
D. 1 V in the opposite direction to the applied voltage
36. A bar magnet is moved at a steady speed of 1.0 m/s towards a coil of wire which is
connected to a Centre zero galvanometer. The magnet is now withdrawn along the same
path at 0.5 m/s. The deflection of the galvanometer is in the:
A. same direction as previously, with the magnitude of the deflection double
B. opposite direction as previously, with the magnitude of the deflection halved
C. same direction as previously, with the magnitude of the deflection halved
D. opposite direction as previously, with the magnitude of the deflection doubled
37. An e.m.f. of 1 V is induced in a conductor moving at 10 cm/s in a magnetic field of 0.5 T.
The effective length of the conductor in the magnetic field is:
A. 20 cm C. 20 m
B. 5 m D. 50 m
38. A strong permanent magnet is plunged into a coil and left in the coil. What is the effect
produced on the coil after a short time?
A. The coil winding becomes hot
B. The insulation of the coil burns out
C. A high voltage is induced
D. There is no effect
39. Self-inductance occurs when:
A. the current is changing
B. the circuit is changing
C. the flux is changing
D. the resistance is changing
40. Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction are related to:
A. the e.m.f. of a chemical cell
B. the e.m.f. of a generator
C. the current flowing in a conductor
D. the strength of a magnetic field
41. The mutual inductance between two coils, when a current changing at 20 A/s in one coil
induces an e.m.f.
of 10 mV in the other, is:
A. 0.5 H C. 0.5 mH
B. 200 mH D. 2 H
42. A transformer has 800 primary turns and 100 secondary turns. To obtain 40 V from the
secondary winding, the voltage applied to the primary winding must be:
A. 5 V C. 20 V
B. 2.5 V D. 320 V

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Physics Revision Note and Questions
Electromagnetism
Abinet Yeshiwas

43. A step-up transformer has a turns ratio of 10. If the output current is 5 A, the input current
is:
A. 50 A C. 5 A
B. 2.5 A D. 0.5 A
44. A 440 V/110 V transformer has 1000 turns on the primary winding. The number of turns
on the secondary
winding is:
A. 550 C. 4000
B. 250 D. 25
45. A 1 kV/250 V transformer has 500 turns on the secondary winding. The number of turns
on the primary
winding is:
A. 2000 C. 125
B. 1000 D. 250
46. The power input to a mains transformer is 200 W. If the primary current is 2.5 A, the
secondary voltage
is 2 V and assuming no losses in the transformer, the turns ratio is:
A. 80:1 step-up C. 40:1 step-up
B. 80:1 step-down D. 40:1 step-down
47. A step-up transformer is used before electricity is transmitted by overhead cables. Which
statement explains why the step-up transformer is used?
A. It increases the current to increase the speed at which the electricity travels.
B. It increases the current to reduce energy loss in the cables.
C. It increases the voltage to increase the speed at which the electricity travels.
D. It increases the voltage to reduce energy loss in the cables
48. When a charge particle enters perpendicular to a magnetic field, the path followed by it is
A. A helix C. a circle
B. straight line D. ellipse
49. Particles with the same charge and mass enter a uniform magnetic field at right angles. The
radius of curvature is
A. greater for the faster particles C. the same for all the particles
B. smaller for the faster particles D. infinite, the paths are straight
50. Two parallel wires carrying opposite-direction currents will
A. be attracted to each other C. repel each other
B. not affect each other D. attract, then repel each other

Answer Key
1.B 2.B 3.C 4.A 5.C 6.C 7.D 8.B 9.B 10.D
11.C 12.A 13.D 14.B 15. A 16.D 17.B 18.C 19.C 20.D
21.D 22. B 23.D 24.C 25.D 26.C 27.B 28.C 29.B 30. D
31.C 32.C 33.D 34.A 35.C 36.B 37.C 38.D 39.A 40.B
41.C 42.D 43.B 44.B 45.A 46.D 47.B 48.C 49.A 50.C

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