Appendix 5 BACKGROUND

Electromagnetic Circuits
CPD August 23, 2001
Current and Magnetism

C Electromagnetism : Oerstead and Ampere discovered that a magnetic field is

generated around a conductor that carries current and that as i(t) increases the
magnetic flux, (t), increases!

C The lines of magnetic flux are continuous and form closed paths. The magnetic
field of a current carrying conductor can be strengthened by concentrating the
magnetic flux, (t), into a smaller area by,

< Forming the conductor into a loop,

< Forming the conductor into a coil (i.e., many loops),
< Wrapping the coil around a magnetic core.

C The right hand rule may be used to determine the direction of the magnetic flux,
(t), and current, i(t), in a coil or conductor as shown in Figure 5.1. For the
conductor shown on the left side of Figure 5.1, grasp the conductor in the right
hand. If the thumb is pointing in the direction of the current then the fingers will
encircle the conductor in the direction of the magnetic flux. If the conductor is
wound into a coil then each turn in the coil produces magnetic flux which adds to
the total magnetic flux emanating from one end of the coil and returning at the
other end. For the coil shown on the right side of Figure 5.1, grasp the coil in the
right hand with the fingers pointing in the direction of the current. The thumb now
points in the direction of the magnetic flux leaving the inside of the coil.

Figure 5.1. Direction of Magnetic Flux in a

Current Carrying Conductor.

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 C Forces are exerted on current carrying conductors as a result of the magnetic
fields produced. The direction of the forces for parallel conductors are illustrated
in Figure 5.2 and Figure 5.3.

Figure 5.2. Forces on Current Figure 5.3. Forces exerted on Current

Carrying Conductors. Carrying Conductors.

If a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field then a force, F(t), is

exerted on the conductor. The left hand motor rule may be used to determine the
direction of the force, F(t), current, i(t), and magnetic flux, (t), as illustrated in
Figure 5.4. The thumb, 1-st finger and 2-nd finger are held at right angles
forming an x-y-z coordinate frame with the 1-st finger pointing in the direction of
the magnetic flux, the 2-nd finger pointing in the direction of the current and the
thumb pointing in the direction of the force.

Figure 5.4

C The magnitude of the force is given by,

F(t) ' B(t) i(t) R sin(q) , (Newtons) (5.1)

where B(t) is the magnetic flux density in Webers/m2, i(t) is the conductor current

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 in Amps, R is the length of the conductor in the magnetic field and q is the angle
between the magnetic field and the current as shown in Figure 5.5.

Figure 5.5. Define the Angle, q, from

the top view of Figure 5.4.

Electromagnetic Induction

C If a conductor cuts through magnetic flux, a voltage is induced across the

terminals of the conductor! The induced voltage is called the electromotive force
or emf. If there is no relative motion between the conductor and the magnetic
flux, or the motion is parallel to (t), then no flux lines are cut and the induced
voltage is zero.

C Faraday's Law : The induced voltage is called the electromotive force or emf.
The induced emf is proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux linkage
with respect to time. Magnetic flux linkage is defined by n(t) where (t) is the
magnetic flux in the coil and n is the number of turns in the coil linked by the
magnetic flux.
d d (t)
emf ' { n (t) } ' n (5.2)
dt dt

C Lenz's Law : The induced voltage has polarities such that if there was a
resulting current flow, the induced current flow would produce an induced flux,
ind(t), that opposes the change in the original flux. This is illustrated with the
moving conductor in Figure 5.6. If an induced current flows it would flow in such
a direction that a force is produced on the conductor that opposes the original
velocity!

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Figure 5.6. Induced EMF across a Conductor
in a Changing Magnetic Field.

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