26

Chapter
Electromagnet
The discovery that a current-carrying
coil produces a magnetic field led to
some of the most useful inventions in
science.
A soft iron core with current-carrying
coils wrapped around it can be used
as an electromagnet.
The motor was invented after the
observation that a current-carrying
conductor experiences a force
when placed in between the poles of
a magnet.
Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 Magnetic Effect of an Electric Current
Historical background
Electromagnetism is the relationship between electricity
and magnetism.
This relationship was first discovered by Hans Oersted in
1820. He showed that a compass needle deflects when
placed near a wire that is carrying a current.
Oersted discovered that a current-carrying wire sets up a
magnetic field.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Field in a Straight Wire Conductor
The field of a current-carrying wire:

Current-carrying conductor Current-carrying conductor

carrying current OUT of the carrying current INTO the
plane of the screen plane of the screen

The field pattern consists of circular field lines.

The circular field lines get further apart from each other as we
move away from the wire. This indicates that the field gets weaker
as the distance from the wire increases.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Field in a Coil
The field in a coil consists of:
• straight lines in the centre section
• circular loops that spread out
at the sides

Field in a Solenoid
The field in a solenoid is identical
to that of a bar magnet. It consists of:
• straight lines in the centre section
• loops that spread out at the sides

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 The Right Hand Grip Rule
The direction of the magnetic field in a current-carrying wire can be
determined using the right hand grip rule.
Thumb points in the
same direction as the The right hand grips the wire such
current
that the thumb points in the same
direction as the current, the flexed
fingers will point in the same
direction as the field lines.
Magnetic field is in
anti-clockwise direction

Thumb points to The right hand grips the

the north pole solenoid so that the fingers
point in the direction of the
N S current, the thumb points to
the north pole.
Fingers point the same
way as current

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Electromagnets
An electromagnet can be made by coiling a
long length of wire around an iron bar and
then passing a current through the wires.
Since the wires will produce a magnetic
field, the magnetic field will induce the iron
rod to become a magnet.
The strength of the electromagnet can be
enhanced by:
• increasing the current in the coils,
• increasing the number of turns in the coils
and/or
• using a stronger iron core.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Simple Magnetic Relay
The other circuit has its
own power supply.

One circuit has a solenoid

or electromagnet
connected to a battery.

It also has a switch that is

made of an armature that is
fixed to a spring and is kept
open.

A component, e.g. a light bulb, is connected to the second circuit.

When a current is passed through the electromagnet, the electromagnet
attracts the armature and closes the second circuit. The bulb lights up.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 Force on a Current-carrying Conductor
1. Place two magnets facing each other.
(The north pole of one magnet facing the south pole of
the other.)

2. Connect a circuit to the copper conductor by

twirling wires at the ends of the copper
conductor.
3. Hook the copper conductor onto a spring
that is attached to a force sensor.

When a current is passed through the copper conductor, the

conductor is deflected. It experiences a force.
The direction of the force is dependent on the direction of the current,
and the direction of the magnetic field (i.e. the orientation of the
poles).

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Fleming’s Left Hand Rule

Position the thumb, first and second finger of

your left hand such that they are at right
angles to each other.
Thumb = direction of force/motion (F)
First finger = direction of magnetic field (B)
Second finger = direction of current (I)

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 Turning Effect of a Current-carrying Coil

A direct current is supplied to the coil through the

carbon brush.
The sides ab and cd experience a force in
opposite directions that causes the coil to rotate.
When the coil is vertical, the momentum will
push the coil to the other side.
The coils are moving together with the
commutator. The function of the commutator is
to reverse the contacts with the coils with every
half turn, thus reversing the current in the coils.
This causes the direction of forces on the sides
ab and cd to change when they change position
thus keeping the coil rotating in one continuous
direction.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 The turning effect can be increased by increasing:
(i) The number of turns on the coil
(ii) The magnitude of the current

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 A simple moving coil loudspeaker makes
use of the force acting on a current-carrying
coil placed in a magnetic field.
A loudspeaker consists of a cylindrical
magnet with coils placed in between
opposite poles.

• Alternating current is supplied to the loudspeaker coils

• As the current keeps reversing in direction, the coils experience a
force that keeps alternating in direction.
• The coils move in and out about the magnets, pushing the cone to
and fro. This repeated movement produces the sound waves.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 Electromagnetic Induction
This experiment shows that a changing
magnetic field can induce an e.m.f in a circuit.

As the N pole is moved into the coil,

The galvanometer registers a slight deflection

This indicates the presence of current flowing

in the circuit

Electromotive force must have been induced

when the magnet is moved into the coil

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 When the magnet is stationary inside the
coil, there is no deflection in the
galvanometer. This means that no current is
induced.

As the N pole is moved out of the coil,

The galvanometer shows a deflection in the
opposite direction

Current is induced in the opposite direction

In conclusion,
An electromotive force and hence a current, is induced whenever
there is a change in magnetic field inside a coil.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Electromagnetic Induction
This experiment shows that the direction of the induced e.m.f opposes
the change producing it

B A B A

As the north pole of the magnet When the north pole of the magnet is
approaches the coil, the direction of moving away from the coil, the direction of
In conclusion,
the induced current is such that A acts the induced current is reversed such that
The direction
as a north of the
pole . The induced
motion of thee.m.f., or current
A actsifas
present,
a southispole.
in a direction
The motionthatof the
opposes
magnet the change that gives rise to it magnet
is opposed. (Lenz’s Law).
is opposed.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Electromagnetic Induction
When the magnet is moving at a faster speed, a larger angle of deflection is seen.
This means that a larger current is produced.

Faraday’s Law ofSlower electromagnetic

speed inductionFaster
states
speed that

whenever a conductor experiences a changing magnetic

field, an
When a stronger e.m.f.
magnet willthebeangle
is used, induced acrossisits
of the deflection ends.
larger as well.

The magnitude of the e.m.f. depends on the rate of change of

Weakermagnetic
magnet flux. Stronger magnet

When the number of turns in coil is increased, the angle of deflection is also larger.
More turns
Less turns

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Faraday’s Law states that whenever a conductor
experiences a changing magnetic field, an e.m.f. will
be induced across its ends, the magnitude of which
depends on the rate of change of magnetic flux.

Lenz’s Law states that the direction of the induced

e.m.f., or current if present, is such that it opposes
the change that gives rise to it (in keeping with the
Law of Conservation of Energy).

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Electromagnetic Induction
Fleming’s Right Hand Rule
Motion (force)
The direction of the induced current can be Field
deduced by using Fleming’s right hand rule.
Induced
Where the current
Thumb = direction of force/motion
First finger = direction of magnetic field
Second finger = direction of induced current

Fleming’s Left hand rule is used to determine the direction of

the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.

Fleming’s Right hand rule and Lenz’s Law are used to predict the
direction of induced current.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 A.C. Generator
For motors Electrical energy is used to rotate the coil to
provide mechanical energy
For generators Mechanical energy is used to rotate the coil to
produce electrical energy

A generator consist of a coil fixed

between the poles of a permanent
magnet. When the coil is rotated, the
magnetic field through it changes.
Hence by Faraday’s law, a current is
induced.
P
The current then flows through the X

two slip-rings, X & Y, which are in Y

Q
Slip rings
sliding contact with the fixed carbon
brushes ,P & Q.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 A.C. Generator
Voltage Output of an A.C. Generator

When the output of a generator is

connected to a cathode ray
oscilloscope, the graph of the induced
electromotive force plotted against
time is shown in the diagram.

When the coil is horizontal, the rate at which it is cutting the magnetic lines is the
highest. Hence the induced electromotive force is maximum (as shown in
positions B and D)
When the coil is vertical, the rate at which the the coil is cutting the magnetic
lines is the lowest. Hence the induced electromotive force is minimum (as shown
in positions A,C and A’)

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism
 Transformers
A transformer is used in the transmission of electrical power.

There are two types of transformers.

A step-up transformer A step-down transformer

increases the alternating
voltage that comes from the
plants before transmission in
the cables.
The number of secondary
coils is larger than the
number of primary coils.
lowers the voltage supply that
reaches the consumers.
The number of secondary
coils is lower than the
number of primary coils.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Transformers
A transformer works by making use of electromagnetic induction.
It consists of a soft iron core with a primary coil of wires wound around one side
and a secondary coil of wires wound on the opposite side.

As the magnetic
An alternating current field lines cut the
is passed through the secondary coils, an
coils of the primary alternating e.m.f. is
coil. induced in the coils.

The current produces a magnetic field but the field will alternate in direction as
the current keeps alternating in direction. The iron core links the alternating
magnetic field to the secondary coils.

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism

 Turns Ratio
Secondary output voltage Number of turns in secondary coil
=
Primary input voltage Number of turns in primary coil
Vs Ns
= Turns ratio
Vp Np

If a transformer is 100% efficient,

Output power = Input power
Output voltage × Output current = Input voltage × Input current
VsIs = VpIp

hence,
IP Vs Ns
= =
IS Vp Np

Chapter 26: Electromagnetism