Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

CHAPTER 8

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

8.1 Introduction

When a conductor is moved across a magnetic field so as to cut though the lines of force
(or flux), an electromotive force (emf) is produced in the conductor. If the conductor forms
part of a closed circuit, then the emf produced causes an electric current to flow round the
circuit. Hence an emf (and thus current) is ‘induced’ in the conductor as a result of its
movement across the magnetic field. This effect is known as electromagnetic induction.

Figure 8.1 A coil of wire connected to a centre-zero galvanometer

Figure 8.1(a) shows a coil of wire connected to a centre-zero galvanometer, which is a

sensitive ammeter with the zero-current position in the centre of the scale.

(a) When the magnet is moved at constant speed towards the coil (Figure 8.1(a)), a
deflection is noted on the galvanometer showing that a current has been produced
in the coil.
(b) When the magnet is moved at the same speed as in (a) but away from the coil the
same deflection is noted but is in the opposite direction (see Figure 8.1(b))
(c) When the magnet is held stationary, even within the coil, no deflection is recorded.
(d) When the coil is moved at the same speed as in (a) and the magnet held stationary
the same galvanometer deflection is noted.
(e) When the relative speed is, say, doubled, the galvanometer deflection is doubled.
(f) When a stronger magnet is used, a greater galvanometer deflection is noted.
(g) When the number of turns of wire of the coil is increased, a greater galvanometer
deflection is noted.

Figure 8.1(c) shows the magnetic field associated with the magnet. As the magnet is moved
towards the coil, the magnetic flux of the magnet moves across, or cuts, the coil. It is the
relative movement of the magnetic flux and the coil that causes an emf and thus current, to
be induced in the coil. This effect is known as electromagnetic induction. The laws of
electromagnetic induction stated in Section 8.2 evolved from experiments such as those
described above.

8.2 Laws of Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction state:

(a) “An induced emf is set up whenever the magnetic field linking that circuit changes.”
(b) “The magnitude of the induced emf in any circuit is proportional to the rate of
change of the magnetic flux linking the circuit.”

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

Lenz’s law states:

“The direction of an induced emf is always such that it tends to set up a current
opposing the motion or the change of flux responsible for inducing that emf.”

An alternative method to Lenz’s law of determining relative directions is given by Fleming’s

Right-hand rule (often called the geneRator rule) which states:
“Let the thumb, first finger and second finger of the right hand be extended such that
they are all at right angles to each other (as shown in Figure 8.2).

If the first finger points in the direction of the magnetic field, the thumb points in the
direction of motion of the conductor relative to the magnetic field, then the second
finger will point in the direction of the induced emf.”

Figure 8.2 Fleming’s Right-hand rule

Summarising:
First finger: - Field
ThuMb: - Motion
SEcond finger: - Emf

In a generator, conductors forming an electric circuit are made to move through a magnetic
field. By Faraday’s law an emf is induced in the conductors and thus a source of emf is
created. A generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. (The action of a
simple ac generator is described in Chapter 11.) The induced emf E set up between the
ends of the conductor shown in Figure 8.3 is given by:

E = Blv volts

where
B = the flux density is measured in teslas,
l = the length of conductor in the magnetic field, is measured in metres, and
v = the conductor velocity, is measured in metres per second.

If the conductor moves at an angle  ° to the magnetic field (instead of at 90° as assumed
above) then

E = Blv sin  volts

Example 6.1 A conductor 300 mm long moves at a uniform speed of 4 m/s at right-angles
to a uniform magnetic field of flux density 1.25 T. Determine the current flowing in the

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

conductor when (a) its ends are open-circuited; (b) its ends are connected to a load of 20 Ω
resistance.

Figure 8.3 Induced emf in a conductor placed in a magnetic field

Solution 8.1 When a conductor moves in a magnetic field it will have an emf induced in it
but this emf can only produce a current if there is a closed circuit.

 300 
Induced emf E = Blv = (1.25 ) (4 ) = 1.5 V
 1000 

(a) If the ends of the conductor are open circuited no current will flow even though 1.5
V has been induced.

E 1.5
(b) From Ohm’s law, I = = = 0.075 A = 75 mA
R 20

8.3 Inductance

Inductance is the name given to the property of a circuit whereby there is an emf induced
into the circuit by the change of flux linkages produced by a current change.

When the emf is induced in the same circuit as that in which the current is changing, the
property is called self inductance, L.

When the emf is induced in a circuit by a change of flux due to current changing in an
adjacent circuit, the property is called mutual inductance, M.

The unit of inductance is the henry, H.

“A circuit has an inductance of one henry when an emf of one volt is induced in it by a
current changing at the rate of one ampere per second.”

Induced emf in a coil of N turns,

d
E = −N volts
dt

where
d is the change in flux in Webers, and

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

dt is the time taken for the flux to change in seconds (i.e., d dt is the rate of
change of flux).

Induced emf in a coil of inductance L henrys,

dI
E = −L volts
dt

where
dI is the change in current in amperes and
dt is the time taken for the current to change in seconds (i.e., dI/dt is the rate of
change of current).

The minus sign in each of the above two equations remind us of its direction (given by
Lenz’s law).

Example 8.2 Determine the emf induced in a coil of 200 turns when there is a change of
flux of 25 mWb linking with it in 50 ms.

Solution 8.2
d  25  10 -3 
Induced emf, E = − N = −(200 )  = −100 volts
−3 
dt  50  10 

Example 8.3 Calculate the emf induced in a coil of inductance 12 H by a current

changing at the rate of 4 A/s.

Solution 8.3
dI
Induced emf, E = − L = −(12)(4 ) = −48 volts
dt

8.4 Inductors

A component called an inductor is used when the property of inductance is required in a

circuit. The basic form of an inductor is simply a coil of wire.

Factors which affect the inductance of an inductor include:

i. the number of turns of wire – the more turns the higher the inductance
ii. the cross-sectional area of the coil of wire – the greater the cross- sectional area the
higher the inductance
iii. the presence of a magnetic core – when the coil is wound on an iron core the same
current sets up a more concentrated magnetic field and the inductance is increased
iv. the way the turns are arranged – a short thick coil of wire has a higher inductance
than a long thin one.

Two examples of practical inductors are shown in Figure 8.4, and the standard electrical
circuit diagram symbols for air-cored and iron-cored inductors are shown in Figure 8.5.

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

An iron-cored inductor is often called a choke since, when used in ac. circuits, it has a
choking effect, limiting the current flowing through it. Inductance is often undesirable in a
circuit. To reduce inductance to a minimum the wire may be bent back on itself, as shown
in Figure 8.6, so that the magnetizing effect of one conductor is neutralised by that of the
adjacent conductor. The wire may be coiled around an insulator, as shown, without
increasing the inductance. Standard resistors may be non-inductively wound in this
manner.

Figure 8.4 Practical inductors

Figure 8.5 Standard electrical circuit diagram symbols for air-cored (top) and
iron-cored inductors

Figure 8.6

8.5 Energy Stored

An inductor possesses an ability to store energy. The energy stored, W, in the magnetic field
of an inductor is given by:

W = 12 LI 2 joules

Example 8.4 An 8 H inductor has a current of 3 A flowing through it. How much energy
is stored in the magnetic field of the inductor?

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

Solution 8.4
Energy stored, W = 12 LI 2 = 1
2 (8 )(3)2 = 36 joules

8.6 Inductance of a Coil

If a current changing from 0 to I amperes, produces a flux change from 0 to  Webers, then
dI = I and d = . Then, from Section 6.3, induced emf, E = N t = LI t , from which

N
Inductance of coil, L = henrys
I

Example 8.5 A flux of 25 mWb links with a 1500 turn coil when a current of 3 A passes
through the coil. Calculate (a) the inductance of the coil, (b) the energy stored in the
magnetic field, and (c) the average emf induced if the current falls to zero in 150 ms.

Solution 8.5
(a) Inductance, L = =
(
N (1500 ) 25  10 −3 )
= 12.5 H
I 3
(b) Energy stored, W = 12 LI 2 = 12 (12.5 )(3) = 56.25 J
2

dI  3−0 
(c) Induced emf, E = − L = −(12.5 ) −3 
= −250 V
dt  150  10 

 d   25  10 −3 
Alternatively, E = − N   = −(1500 )  = −250 V since if the current
−3 
 dt   150  10 
falls to zero so does the flux.

8.7 Mutual Inductance

Mutually induced emf in the second coil,

dI1
E2 = − M volts
dt

where
M is the mutual inductance between two coils, in henrys, and
dI1 dt is the rate of change of current in the first coil.

The phenomenon of mutual inductance is used in transformers (see Chapter 9, page x).

Example 8.6 The mutual inductance between two coils is 18 mH. Calculate the steady
rate of change of current in one coil to induce an emf of 0.72 V in the other.

Solution 8.6
dI1
Induced emf, E2 = M
dt

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

dI1 E 0.72
Hence rate of change of current, = 2 = = 40 A/s
dt M 0.018

Example 8.7 Two coils have a mutual inductance of 0.2 H. If the current in one coil is
changed from 10 A to 4 A in 10 ms, calculate (a) the average induced emf in the second
coil, (b) the change of flux linked with the second coil if it is wound with 500 turns.

Solution 8.7
dI1  10 − 4 
(a) Induced emf, E2 = − M = −(0.2) −3 
= −120 V
dt  10  10 
d E dt
(b) Induced emf, E2 = N , hence d = 2
dt N
Thus the change of flux, d =
(
120 10  10 −3
) = 2.4 mWb
500

8.8 Problems

8.8.1 Induced emf

1. A conductor of length 15 cm is moved at 750 mm/s at right-angles to a uniform flux

density of 1.2 T. Determine the emf induced in the conductor. [0.135 V]

2. Find the speed that a conductor of length 120 mm must be moved at right angles to a
magnetic field of flux density 0.6 T to induce in it an emf of 1 .8 V. [25 m/s]

3. A 25 cm long conductor moves at a uniform speed of 8 m/s through a uniform

magnetic field of flux density 1.2 T. Determine the current flowing in the conductor
when (a) its ends are open-circuited; (b) its ends are connected to a load of 15 ohms
resistance. [(a) 0 (b) 0.16 A]

4. A car is travelling at 80 km/h. Assuming the back axle of the car is 1.76 m in length and
the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic field is 40 μT, find the emf generated in
the axle due to motion. [1.56 mV]

5. A conductor moves with a velocity of 20 m/s at an angle of (a) 90 (b) 45 (c) 30, to a
magnetic field produced between two square- faced poles of side length 2.5 cm. If the
flux on the pole face is 60 mWb, find the magnitude of the induced emf in each case.
[(a) 48 V (b) 33.9 V (c) 24 V]

8.8.2 Inductance

6. Find the emf induced in a coil of 200 turns when there is a change of flux of 30 mWb
linking with it in 40 ms. [–150 V]

7. An emf of 25 V is induced in a coil of 300 turns when the flux linking with it changes by
12 mWb. Find the time, in milliseconds, in which the flux makes the change. [144 ms]

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

8. An ignition coil having 10000 turns has an emf of 8 kV induced in it. What rate of
change of flux is required for this to happen? [0.8 Wb/s]

9. A flux of 0.35 mWb passing through a 125-turn coil is reversed in 25 ms. Find the
magnitude of the average emf induced. [3.5 V]

8.8.3 Energy Stored

10. Calculate the value of the energy stored when a current of 30 mA is flowing in a coil of
inductance 400 mH. [0.18 mJ]

11. The energy stored in the magnetic field of an inductor is 80 J when the current flowing
in the inductor is 2 A. Calculate the inductance of the coil. [40 H]

8.8.4 Inductance of a Coil

12. A flux of 30 mWb links with a 1200 turn coil when a current of 5 A is passing through
the coil. Calculate (a) the inductance of the coil, (b) the energy stored in the magnetic
field, and (c) the average emf induced if the current is reduced to zero in 0.20 s.
[(a) 7.2 H (b) 90 J (c) 180 V]

13. An emf of 2 kV is induced in a coil when a current of 5 A collapses uniformly to zero in

10 ms. Determine the inductance of the coil. [4 H]

14. An average emf of 60 V is induced in a coil of inductance 160 mH when a current of

7.5 A is reversed. Calculate the time taken for the current to reverse. [40 ms]

15. A coil of 2500 turns has a flux of 10 mWb linking with it when carrying a current of 2 A.
Calculate the coil inductance and the emf induced in the coil when the current collapses
to zero in 20 ms. [12.5 H, 1.25 kV]

16. A coil is wound with 600 turns and has a self inductance of 2.5 H. What current must
flow to set up a flux of 20 mWb? [4.8 A]

17. When a current of 2 A flows in a coil, the flux linking with the coil is 80 μWb. If the coil
inductance is 0.5 H, calculate the number of turns of the coil. [12 500]

18. A steady current of 5 A when flowing in a coil of 1000 turns produces a magnetic flux of
500 μWb. Calculate the inductance of the coil. The current of 5 A is then reversed in
12.5 ms. Calculate the emf induced in the coil. [0.1 H, 80 V]

8.8.5 Mutual Inductance

19. The mutual inductance between two coils is 150 mH. Find the magnitude of the emf
induced in one coil when the current in the other is increasing at a rate of 30 A/s.
[4.5 V]

20. Determine the mutual inductance between two coils when a current changing at 50 A/s
in one coil induces an emf of 80 mV in the other. [1.6 mH]

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Applied Electricity Chapter 8 – Electromagnetic Induction

21. Two coils have a mutual inductance of 0.75 H. Calculate the magnitude of the emf
induced in one coil when a current of 2.5 A in the other coil is reversed in 15 ms.
[250 V]

22. The mutual inductance between two coils is 240 mH. If the current in one coil changes
from 15 A to 6 A in 12 ms, calculate (a) the average emf induced in the other coil, (b)
the change of flux linked with the other coil if it is wound with 400 turns.
[(a) –180 V (b) 5.4 mWb]

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