Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and GRADE TECHNICAL SCIENCE GR12

TERM 4 Week 1
TOPIC Electromagnetism
AIMS OF LESSON At the end of the lesson you must be able to:
• Define and apply Faraday’s Law
• Define and apply Lenz’s law to applications of electromagnetic induction
• Apply the principle of electromagnetic induction within transformers AND calculate voltage
• Distinguish between a step-up and step-down transformer.
• Define a generator as a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
• Understand the basic working of an AC and DC generator AND the differences between the
two.
• Define a motor and explain the basic principle thereof.
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
Technical Science Gr12 Textbook pg. 315- 329 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HyORmBip-w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O29FaewIrho
INTRODUCTION In previous lessons the following concepts were covered and should serve as prior knowledge:
• The magnetic effect of a current-carrying conductors
• The principle of electromagnetic induction
• Magnetic flux (𝝓) is defined as well as magnetic flux density (B)
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS Faraday’s Law : DO YOU REMEMBER?
Michael Faraday discovered that an electric • The principle of electromagnetic induction
current can be produced in a conductor by a and
changing magnetic field. This principle of • magnetic flux (number of magnetic field lines)
electromagnetic induction is explained in
Faraday’s Law: CAN YOU?
• Identify the principle of electromagnetic
Definition - When the magnetic flux linked induction within Faraday’s law ?
with the coil changes, an emf is induced in • Visualize the changing magnetic flux due to
the coil. The magnitude of the induced emf the relative motion between the coil and the
(ε) is directly proportional to the rate of magnetic field ?
change of magnetic flux.
How this works:
• Relative motion between a conductor and a magnetic field produces a change in the
number of magnetic field lines cutting/entering the conductor loop.

• This change in magnetic flux (number of field lines cutting) produces an electromotive force
(EMF) in the conductor (and a current in the conductor)
• Note:
➢ If there is no relative motion, there is no change in magnetic flux ∴ No EMF
induced
➢ The faster the magnetic field changes, the greater the induced EMF
➢ The direction of the change in the magnetic field determines the direction of the
current
➢ More turns of the coil, the larger the EMF induces

Faraday’s law represented mathematically:

𝑁∆𝜑
𝜀 (𝑒𝑚𝑓) = − with magnetic flux 𝜑 = 𝐵𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
∆𝑡

Where, N – number of turns or loops

∆𝜑 – the change in magnetic flux through the loop
∆𝑡 – the change in time

• The minus sign indicates direction and that the EMF is induced in such a way so as to oppose
the change in the magnetic flux. This is known as Lenz’s law
Lenz’s law:
Lenz’s law states that: the direction of the induced emf in the coil opposes the effect that produced
it.

• From the diagram, moving a bar magnet through

a coil induces an electric current in the (a) coil
• The current in turn sets up a second magnetic
field (𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙 ) around the coil
• This magnetic field is opposite to that of the
bar magnet so as to counter the increase (b) in flux
• Using the right-hand rule, based on the direction
of the induced field (𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙 ), the current flows in
a specific direction in the coil
• In diagram (a) the opposing magnetic field is to
The right, thus current flows anticlockwise
• In diagram (b) the opposing magnetic field is to
the left, thus current flows clockwise.

Demonstrations of Lenz’s law in technology include:

• Roller coasters, bullet trains and rotating machinery make use of electromagnetic braking
• Generators are largely used in all types of power stations to produce electricity
• Many car manufacturers are embarking on producing electric cars

Transformers:
Transformers is an application based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. It consists of:
• two coils of unequal windings (primary and a secondary coil)
• a laminated iron core
• with the primary coil connected to an AC power source

When an AC power source is connected it creates an alternating current flowing in the primary
coil:
• In turn this produces an alternating magnetic field in the iron core
• The AC magnetic field links with the secondary winding, inducing in it an EMF of the same
frequency
• This is known as mutual induction
This can be observed in the diagram below with the following mathematical relationship:

where,

𝑉𝑝 - Primary Voltage (V)

𝑉𝑠 - Secondary Voltage (V)

𝐼𝑝 - Primary Current (A)

𝐼𝑠 - Secondary Current (A)

𝑁𝑝 - number of Primary coil turns

𝑁𝑠 - number of secondary coil turns

* The ratio of the voltage per number of primary windings = voltage per number of secondary
windings*

Depending on the number of primary and secondary windings, we classify two types of
transformers. A step-up and a step-down transformer:
Generators:
Step-up Transformer Step-down Transformer

• More windings on the secondary coil • More windings on the primary coil
• Induced secondary voltage higher then • Induced secondary voltage lower than
primary voltage primary voltage
• 𝑁𝑝 less than 𝑁𝑠 AND 𝑉𝑝 smaller than 𝑉𝑠 • 𝑁𝑝 more than 𝑁𝑠 AND 𝑉𝑝 greater than 𝑉𝑠
• 𝐼𝑝 greater than 𝐼𝑠 • 𝐼𝑝 less than 𝐼𝑠

• Defined as a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy to be used by

some external load
• It is a third application based on the principle of electromagnetic induction
• By rotating a coil in an external magnetic field, an EMF is induced in the coil
• Two types of generators - alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) generator

Operating principle of an AC generator:

• From the accompanying diagram a wire loop rotates
in an external magnetic field
• The current is induced in the coil due to the changing
magnetic flux
• A slip-ring commutator carries the AC current to the
load of the external circuit via the brushes
 Generating Alternating Current:
• The coil cuts the magnetic flux setup between the magnets poles at different angles
• As the coil rotates electrons begin to flow in one direction
• Per half turn of the coil, the electrons change direction in the coil
• Once a full revolution is reached, a single sine wave is produced for the EMF

Operating principle of an DC generator:

• on the same principle as an AC generator
• Instead of a slip-ring commutator it has a split-ring commutator
• The function of the split-ring is to periodically reverse the
electrical contacts from the coil
• In turn this also reverses the direction of the current in coil every
half turn
• This ensures that direct current (DC) is produced in the external circuit.

Motors:
• Defined as a device that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy
• It is constructed in exactly the same way as a generator
• Except a power source us provides the electrical energy
Left-Hand Rule
• The motor operates using the motor effect
• A current carrying conductor experiences a force in a magnetic field.
• The direction of the force depends on the direction of the current
flowing in the coil (Use Left-Hand rule):
 Works

The Direct Current (Electric) Motor:

• A direct current (AC) source is connected to a wire coil
via a split-ring commutator and brushes
• Current will flow through the wire coil
• This creates a magnetic field around the current-carrying
conductor (magnetic effect in working)
• This magnetic field interacts with the permanent magnetic field
• This interaction creates a rotational movement on the coil,
causing it to rotate on its axis

Note: Due to the function of the split ring and the DC power source, the coil experiences a
constant rotational force in the same direction:
ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT In Technical Science learner textbook study the following examples and exercises:
Transformers – Examples 4-8 P. 318-320
– Exercise 3.3 P. 321
Chapter revision – Questions 1-24 P. 327-329

CONSOLIDATION To recap, the principle of electromagnetic induction is present in the application of transformers,
generators and motors. Faraday’s law explains the basis of electromagnetic induction together
with Lenz’s law. These processes also illustrate the operating principle of the magnetic effect.

These two sides of the same coin have been used over the decades to advance technology in
many industries. To name a few industries, power generation as well as transportation would not be
as we know it today if not for the group of scientists who formulated the field of electromagnetism

VALUES The most important contribution to the field of electromagnetism came from the British physicist
Michael Faraday. It is said that in 1832 he unintentionally created the first known electric motor. And
in his quest to understand his ‘experimental mistake’, paved the way to further understand
electromagnetism.