Faraday's Law

Claimed by Ella Dragulescu Fall 2024

Note to editors: need a computational model

Faraday's Law

focuses on how a time-varying magnetic field produces a "curly" non-Coulomb electric field, thereby inducing an emf. 

Faraday's Law

Faraday's Law summarizes the ways voltage can be generated as a result of a time-varying magnetic flux. And it gives a way to connect the magnetic and electric fields in a quantifiable way (will elaborate later). Faraday's law is one of four laws in Maxwell's equations. It tells us that in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field or current (which induces a time-varying magnetic field), there is an emf with a magnitude equal to the change in magnetic flux. It serves as a succinct summary of the ways a voltage (or emf) may be generated by a changing magnetic environment. The induced emf in a coil is equal to the negative of the rate of change of magnetic flux times the number of turns in the coil. It involves the interaction of charge with the magnetic field.

Curly Electric Field

Mathematical Model

Faraday's Law

emf = [math]\displaystyle{ {\frac{-d{{Phi}}_{mag}}{dt}} }[/math]

where emf = [math]\displaystyle{ \oint\vec{E}_{NC}\bullet d\vec{l} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ {{Phi}}_{mag}\equiv\int\vec{B}\bullet\hat{n}dA }[/math]

In other words: The emf along a round-trip is equal to the rate of change of the magnetic flux on the area encircled by the path.

Direction: With the thumb of your right hand pointing in the direction of the -dB/dt, your fingers curl around in the direction of Enc.

The meaning of the minus sign: If the thumb of your right hand points in the direction of -dB/dt (that is, the opposite of the direction in which the magnetic field is increasing), your fingers curl around in the direction along which the path integral of electric field is positive. Similarly, the direction of the induced current can be explained using Lenz's Law. Lenz's law states that the induced current from the non-Coulombic electric field is induced in such a way that it produces a magnetic field that opposes the first magnetic field to keep the magnetic flux constant.

Formal Version of Faraday's Law

[math]\displaystyle{ \oint\vec{E}_{NC}\bullet d\vec{l} = {\frac{-d}{dt}}\int\vec{B}\bullet\hat{n}dA }[/math] (sign given by right-hand rule)

Fiding the direction of the induced conventional current

To find the direction of the induced conventional current by the change in the magnetic flux one must find the direction of the Non-Coulomb electric filed generated by the change in flux as the conventional current is the direction of the Non-Coulomb electric field. To find the direction of the the Non-Coulomb Electic field, one must find the direction of [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{-dB}{dt} }[/math]. Do this using the change in magnetic field as the basis of finding the [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{-dB}{dt} }[/math].

As stated previously the negative sign in front of the change in magnetic flux in the Law is a representative of Lenz's law or in other words, it's there to remind us to apply Lenz's law. Lenz's law is basically there to make us abide by the law of conservation of energy. That said, thinking in terms of conservation of energy provides the simplest way to figure out the direction of the Non-Coulomb electric field. The external magnetic field induces the Non-Coulomb electric field which drives the current which in turn creates a new magnetic field which we will call the induced magnetic field. This is the magnetic field whose direction we can deduce which in turn will help us find the direction of the current. The easiest way to do this is to imagine a loop of wire with and an external magnetic field perpendicular to the surface of the plane of the loop. There is a change in magnetic flux generated by the change in the magnitude of the magnetic field. vector for the initial external magnetic field and a vector for the final magnetic field. Then, draw the change in magnetic field vector, [math]\displaystyle{ \Delta \mathbf{B} }[/math], and then the negative vector of that change in magnetic field gives [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{-dB}{dt} }[/math]:

Pointing the thumb of your right hand in the direction of [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{-dB}{dt} }[/math] allows you to curl your fingers in the direction of [math]\displaystyle{ \mathbf{E_{NC}} }[/math].

In this chapter we have seen that a changing magnetic flux induces an emf:

according to Faraday’s law of induction. For a conductor which forms a closed loop, the emf sets up an induced current I =|ε|/R , where R is the resistance of the loop. To compute the induced current and its direction, we follow the procedure below:

1. For the closed loop of area on a plane, define an area vector A and let it point in the direction of your thumb, for the convenience of applying the right-hand rule later. Compute the magnetic flux through the loop using

Determine the sign of the magnetic flux

2. Evaluate the rate of change of magnetic flux . Keep in mind that the change could be caused by

Determine the sign of

3. The sign of the induced emf is the opposite of that of . The direction of the induced current can be found by using Lenz’s law or right-hand rule (discussed previously).

Computational Model

The following simulations demonstrate Faraday's Law in action.

More on Faraday's Law

Moving a magnet near a coil is not the only way to induce an emf in the coil. Another way to induce emf in a coil is to bring another coil with a steady current near the first coil, thereby changing the magnetic field (and flux) surrounding the first coil, inducing an emf and a current. Also, rotating a bar magnet (or coil) near a coil produces a time-varying magnetic field in the coil since rotating the magnet changes the magnetic field in the coil. The key to inducing the emf in the second coil is to change the magnetic field around it somehow, either by bringing an object that has its own magnetic field around that coil, or changing the current in that object, changing its magnetic field.

Faraday's law can be used to calculate motional emf as well. A bar on two current-carrying rails connected by a resistor moves along the rails, using a magnetic force to induce a current in the wire. There is a magnetic field going into the page. One way to calculate the motional emf is to use the magnetic force, but an easier way is to use Faraday's law.

Faraday's law, using the change in magnetic flux, can be used to find the motional emf, where the changing factor in the magnetic flux is the area of the circuit as the bar moves, while the magnetic field is kept constant.

Examples

Simple

Adapted from the Matter & Interactions textbook, variation of P12 (4th ed).

The solenoid radius is 4 cm and the ring radius is 20 cm. B = 0.8 T inside the solenoid and approximately 0 outside the solenoid. What is the magnetic flux through the outer ring?

Solution:

Because the magnetic field outside the solenoid is 0, there is no flux between the ring and solenoid. So the flux in the ring is due to the area of the solenoid, so we use the area of the solenoid to find the flux through the outer ring rather than the area of the ring itself:

[math]\displaystyle{ \phi = BAcos(\theta) }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ = (0.8 T)(\pi)(0.04 m)^2cos(0) }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ = 4.02 x 10^{-3} T*m^2 }[/math]

Middle

Adapted from the Matter & Interactions textbook, variation of P27 (4th ed).

A very long, tightly wound solenoid has a circular cross-section of radius 2 cm (only a portion of the very long solenoid is shown). The magnetic field outside the solenoid is negligible. Throughout the inside of the solenoid the magnetic field B is uniform, to the left as shown, but varying with time t: B = (.06+.02[math]\displaystyle{ t^2 }[/math])T. Surrounding the circular solenoid is a loop of 7 turns of wire in the shape of a rectangle 6 cm by 12 cm. The total resistance of the 7-turn loop is 0.2 ohms.

(a) At t = 2 s, what is the direction of the current in the 7-turn loop? Explain briefly.

(b) At t = 2 s, what is the magnitude of the current in the 7-turn loop? Explain briefly.

Solution

(a) The direction of the current in the loop is clockwise.

(b)

B(t) = (.06+.02[math]\displaystyle{ t^2 }[/math])

A = (π)(0.02 m)^2 = .00126 [math]\displaystyle{ m^2 }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ |{ε}| = AN\frac{dB(t)}{dt} }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ |{ε}| }[/math] = (.00126 [math]\displaystyle{ m^2 }[/math])(7)[math]\displaystyle{ \frac{d(.06+.02t^2)}{dt} }[/math] = (.00882)(.02)(2t) = .0003528t

At t = 2 s:

[math]\displaystyle{ |{ε}| }[/math] = .0003528(2) = .0007056 V

[math]\displaystyle{ i = \frac{{ε}}{R} }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ i = \frac{{.0007056 V}}{0.2 ohms} }[/math] = .00353 A

Difficult

A square loop (dimensions L⇥L, total resistance R) is located halfway inside a region with uniform magnetic field B0. The magnitude of the magnetic field suddenly begins to increase linearly in time, eventually quadrupling in a time T.

(a) What current (magnitude and direction), if any, is induced in the loop at time T?

[math]\displaystyle{ |emf| = \frac{-{Φ}_{B}}{Δt} = \frac{A(B_f - B_i)}{T} = \frac{L^2(4B_o - B_o)}{T} = \frac{3B_oL^2}{T} }[/math]

emf = IR = [math]\displaystyle{ \frac{3B_oL^2}{TR} }[/math]

(b) What net force (magnitude and direction), if any, is induced on the loop at time T?

[math]\displaystyle{ F_{top} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ F_{bottom} }[/math] cancel out. [math]\displaystyle{ F_{left} }[/math] = 0 because the left side is out of [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{B} }[/math] region.

[math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F} }[/math] = [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{right} }[/math] = I [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{L} \times \vec{B} = (ILB)[(\hat{y} \times - \hat{z} )] = \frac{3B_oL^2}{TR}(4B_o L)(- \hat{x}) = \frac{3{B_o}^2 L^3}{TR}(- \hat{x}) }[/math]

(c) What net torque (magnitude and direction), if any, is induced on the loop at time T?

[math]\displaystyle{ \vec{τ} = \vec{μ} \times \vec{B} = 0 }[/math] because [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{μ} }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{B} }[/math] are anti-parallel.

Connectedness

Faraday's Law is one of Maxwell's equations which describe the essence of electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell's equations effectively summarize and connect all that we have learned throughout the course of Physics 2.

As an electrical engineer, Faraday's Law is relevant to my major.

Faraday’s Law Applications

Generators / The most common application of Faraday's Law is in the generation of electricity. Most power plants rely on Faraday's law to convert mechanical energy (whether it be hydroelectric, nuclear, thermal, etc) into electrical energy. A generator contains a coil of wire, called an armature, and a magnet. As the armature rotates within the magnetic field, the changing magnetic flux produces an induced emf (electromotive force, just as described in Faraday's Law. This electric current can now be used to power electronics such as lights, appliances, and electronic devices.

Hydroelectric Generators

    Generators create energy by transforming mechanical motion into electrical energy, but hydroelectric generators use the power of falling water to turn a large turbine which is connected to a large magnet. Around this magnet is a large coil of tightly wound wire. The conceptual creation of electricity is the same as Faraday’s Law except alternating current is being produced, but the idea that a changing magnetic field in a coil of wire induces an electromotive force is still the same. The difference is the magnetic field changes sign and flips resulting in the same thing to occur in the induced EMF. Although the calculations here are slightly more difficult the concepts are the same.

Transformers

Transformers use a similar concept for Faraday’s Law but it’s slightly different. The job of a transformer is to either step up or step down the voltage on the power line. Transformers have a constant magnetic field associated with it due to an iron core. The power supply voltage is adjusted by altering the number of turns of wire around the iron core which in turn alters the EMF of the electricity.

Cartoon of Hydroelectric Plant https://etrical.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/hydrohow.jpg Turbine Picture http://theprepperpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/108-All-About-Hydro-Power-Generators-1054x500.jpg Transformer Diagram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer#/media/File:Transformer3d_col3.svg

History

In 1831, eletromagnetic induction was discovered by Michael Faraday.

Faraday's Law Experiment

Faraday showed that no current is registered in the galvanometer when bar magnet is stationary with respect to the loop. However, a current is induced in the loop when a relative motion exists between the bar magnet and the loop. In particular, the galvanometer deflects in one direction as the magnet approaches the loop, and the opposite direction as it moves away.

Faraday’s experiment demonstrates that an electric current is induced in the loop by changing the magnetic field. The coil behaves as if it were connected to an emf source. Experimentally it is found that the induced emf depends on the rate of change of magnetic flux through the coil.

Test it out yourself here

See also

Further Readings

Matter and Interactions, Volume II: Electric and Magnetic Interactions, 4th Edition

The Electric Life of Michael Faraday (2009) by Alan Hirshfield

Electromagnetic Induction Phenomena (2012) by D. Schieber

External Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGTZPTnZBFE

https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/electroinduction.htm

http://www.famousscientists.org/michael-faraday/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/faraday_michael.shtml

References

Matter and Interactions, 4th Edition

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/farlaw.html

https://files.t-square.gatech.edu/access/content/group/gtc-970b-7c13-52a7-9627-cdc3154438c6/Test%20Preparation/Old%20Test/2212_Test4_Key-1.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday%27s_law_of_induction