Electromagnetic

Induction

Chap 28
• When current passes through a
wire it generates a magnetic
field.

• Similarly, if a changing
magnetic field passes through a
coil, an emf appears in the coil.
This phenomenon is called
electromagnetic induction
Exp.
• To demonstrate electromagnetic
induction
• (a) coil and magnet
• (b) coil and coil-one of coils
connected to ac supply – changing
magnetic field is generated in this
coil which then induces a current in
the second coil
• NOTE: The current depends on the
fact that the magnetic field is
changing .
 Magnetic flux Φ
• Magnetic flux can
be thought of as the
total no. of
magnetic field lines
passing through a
particular area.

• Φ = BA
• B = magnetic flux
density, A = area
• Magnetic flux is a scalar
quantity
• Unit = weber (Wb)

• The magnetic flux is 1 Weber if

the magnetic flux density over
an area of 1m2 is 1T
Faraday’s laws of
electromagnetic induction
• When a changing magnetic field
is applied to a coil an emf is
induced in the coil

• The size of the induced emf is

directly proportional to the rate
of change of flux
•
• Induced emf =
change in flux / time

E = (final flux – initial flux) / time

E = - dΦ / dt
The minus sign indicates the direction
of the induced emf, and can be
ignored in calculations of E
Do questions p315
Lenz’s Law
• States that the direction of the
induced emf is such as to oppose the
motion causing it.

• E.g. if the current is caused by a

north pole approaching the coil, this
is the motion the current seeks to
oppose→ the current flows in such a
direction as to make that end of the
coil into a north pole (i.e. opposes
the north pole approaching). This
means work must be done to push
the magnet towards the coil. This
loss of energy = gain of electrical
energy of the coil
• If however, the north pole is
moving away from the coil, the
current flows such that a south
pole is created at that end of
the coil ( this will attract the
north pole back, i.e. oppose the
north pole moving away)

• This is why as the magnet

moves in and out the induced
current changes direction
• If Lenz’s law were not true, then
as the north pole approaches, a
south pole could be induced.
This would attract the magnet
even faster, causing a bigger
current, causing it to go faster
etc.

• Thus both magnet and coil

would gain energy. This energy
would be coming from nowhere
and so violate the principle of
conservation of energy
 Electric generator
• -converts mechanical
energy to electrical
energy
• Opposite system to dc
motor
• In this system the coil
is turned
mechanically in the
magnetic field
• As the coil turns an emf is
produced across the coil, and a
current flows.
• Each ½ cycle the direction of
the induced current changes
direction, thus generating A.C.

• If d.c. is required a split ring

commutator is used to change
the direction every ½ cycle
• Generators are found in power
stations, alternators in cars,
dynamo of a bike
Alternating current

• Current of 50 Hz means 50
complete cycles per sec.
• This means the current changes
direction 100 times per sec.
AC values

• AC is continuously changing.
When values are quoted for a.c.
(e.g. 3A a.c.) what it actually
means is that this quantity of
a.c. generates heat at the same
rate as a direct current of 3A
would generate
Measuring ac
• Since a.c. is always changing,
when a value of a.c. current is
quoted, it must be an average of
sorts. The average used is the
root mean square value
• Irms = Io / 2

• Vrms = V0 / 2
• I0 or V0 = maximum values
• Do questions p321
Mutual induction
• If you place 2 coils near each other,
a changing magnetic field in one will
induce an emf, and hence current in
the other.
• This induced current is a.c. and so
induces a changing magnetic field in
the second coil.

• Thus the first coil is now in the

changing magnetic field due to the
second coil, so an emf is induced in
the first coil
Self induction
• When ac flows through a coil, a
magnetic field is created around
the coil. Thus the coil itself is
now sitting in a changing
magnetic field, so an emf is
induced in the coil.
• This induced emf opposes the
driving emf, according to Lenz’s
law.
Back EMF
• The effect of this induced
current is to reduce the
effective current flowing in the
coil.
• When motors are being made,
they take into account that by
virtue of the fact that a motor
spins, the coil will be in a
changing magnetic field, and so
there will be an induced back
emf.
• Thus the current which will
actually flow through the wire is
less than the initial forward
current.
• The coil is manufactured to
handle this reduced current.
• If a motor is not allowed to spin
freely, there is no back emf, and
so the current then flowing will
be bigger than what the coil
was manufactured to carry →
the coil will burn out
a.c. and inductors.
• If an inductor (coil) is used in a
circuit with an a.c. source, since the
current through the coil is always
changing, there will always be a
back emf and current which will
oppose the driving current.
• If a soft iron core is inserted in the
coil, the induced magnetic field, and
hence back emf is greater, so the
overall current is even less.
• If an induction coil is used with
a d.c. source it has no effect
(since there is no induced
changing magnetic field except
for the initial instant while the
current is building up to its
maximum value)
a.c. and capacitors
• If a capacitor is used with an
a.c. source, the capacitor starts
to charge from one side, then
when the current changes
direction the capacitor empties
from that side and starts to
charge from the other side. This
happens repeatedly so the
capacitor never gets fully
charged
• Since a capacitor only blocks
current once it is fully charged,
capacitors don’t block a.c

• In the case of d.c., other than

the initial period when the
capacitor is charging,
capacitors block d.c.
Transformers

• - a device to change the value

of an alternating voltage.
• Consists of 2 coils of wire
wound around a soft iron core
(to increase the magnetic
effect)
• An alternating voltage (Vin) and
current is applied to the primary
coil. This generates a changing
magnetic field around this coil.

• The nearby secondary coil is

now in a changing magnetic
field → an induced emf (Vout) and
current is generated across the
secondary coil.
• The relative sizes of the input and
output voltages depend on the no.
of turns of wire in primary and
secondary coils.

• Vin / Vout = Np / Ns

• If there are no energy losses in

the transformer then power stays
the same
• Pin = Pout
• But P=VI

• Vin Iin = Vout Iout

• Vin / Vout = Iout / Iin

• Do questions p327
Uses of transformers

• Used by power stations to

minimise heat losses in cables
by transforming voltages to very
high values.
• Used in many everyday
household electrical items to
supply the necessary voltages
to various parts