• 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
• 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

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

• 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

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

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 magnetic, 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 (EM) induction is commonly used in power generation and power transmission, most commonly:
  • Electrical generators
  • Electric motors
  • Transformers

Generators

• Generators are used inside power stations
  • It is a machine which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for transmission over power lines and for electrical power required for transport
  • Sources of mechanical energy can be from steam turbines, water turbines, or wind turbines
• An electrical generator consists of a rotor
  • This is an electromagnet made by coiling wires around two or more poles of a ferrous metal, ie. iron core
  • These are rotated between the poles of a magnet
  • As the coil rotates, the sides of the coil cut through the magnetic field lines, and current flows through the coil as an e.m.f is induced
  • This flows out from both sides of the coil through slip rings and produces an alternating current output

Motors

• Electric motors work in a similar way to generators, except they convert electrical energy to mechanical energy
• Motors also consist of a rotor between the poles of a magnet
  • The two poles of the permanent magnet remain the same, but the poles of the electromagnet reverse when the direction of electric current reverses
  • For example, the end of the electromagnet, ie. its north pole, will be attracted to the south pole of the permanent magnet
  • This pulls the electromagnet towards the permanent magnet
  • When the electric current changes direction, the same end of the electromagnet becomes its south pole
  • The electromagnet is now repelled by the south pole of the permanent magnet, and moves away from it

Transformers

• Transformers are used to:
  • Increase the voltage of electricity generated in a power station so less energy is lost as heat when the current is transmitted down power lines
  • Decrease the voltage before it reaches buildings to be used in electrical appliances
• A transformer is made up of two coils, the primary and secondary coil, each with a different number of coils wrapped around an iron core
  • The number of coils on each side determines whether the voltage will be stepped-up (increased) or stepped-down (decreased)
• When A.C is applied through the first coil (called the primary coil), a varying magnetic flux is generated inside the iron core
• The varying magnetic flux passes through the iron core to the secondary coil which induces an e.m.f in the second coil
• From Faraday’s Law, the induced e.m.f in the secondary coil can be increased by the number of turns