Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

CHAPTER 3: ELECTROMAGNETISM
MAGNETIC EFFECT OF A CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR
Electromagnets
A bar magnet produces the magnetic fields around it. The deflection of the pointer as shown below.

An electromagnet is a temporary magnet whose magnetic field is produced by the flow of electric
current in a coil wound round a soft iron core.
An electromagnet can be made by sending an electric current through a coil of wire wound around an
iron core.
When a current flows through the coil, it produces a magnetic field. The soft iron core becomes
temporarily magnetized when the current is switched on.
When the current is switched off, it loses its magnetism.
Using the diagram, complete the steps to switch on the magnetism effect.

switch
DC
supply

Soft iron
core
Insulate
d wire
pins

Soft iron core

switch
DC
supply

Insulate
d wire

pins

Magnetic Field

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

A magnetic field pattern can be represented by field lines that show the shape of the field.
Magnetic field lines which are close together represent a strong field.
The field direction is defined as the direction indicated by a compass needle placed in the magnetic field.

Determine the direction of the magnetic field around a current- carrying wire using Right-hand Grip rule.
Grip the wire using the right hand, with your thumb pointing in the direction of the current. Your other
fingers now point round the wire in the direction of the magnetic field.
When the direction of the current is reversed, the magnetic field direction also is reversed.
Draw the same patterns from the top views as follows together with the direction shown by the compasses

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Exercise
1. Two small plotting compasses P and Q are placed near a long straight wire carrying a current as shown.
Show the directions shown by the pointers of the compasses.

2. In the diagram below, the compasses are put under the conductor. Draw the direction shown by
compasses and what happen if the compasses are put on the conductor?

3. Draw the direction of current flows and pattern of magnetic fields formed using Right-Hand grip rule.

Magnetic Field due to a Current in a Solenoid

Solenoid is combination of coils of wire wounded around on some surface or wounded around an
iron core.
The magnetic field for a solenoid has a similar pattern to the magnetic field of a bar magnet. One end
of the solenoid is a North pole while the other end is a South pole.
The polarity at the ends of the solenoid can be determined by:

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

i. Using the right-hand grip rule. Hold the solenoid using your right hand with your four fingers

curled around the solenoid along the direction of the current. The thumb will point to the end that
is the North pole.
ii. Looking at the end of the solenoid. A clockwise current indicates a South pole while an
anticlockwise current indicates a North pole.

Factors that affects the strength of an electromagnet

To study this, we need to carry out experiments as follows.

The Observation as shown below:

Factor

Condition

Number of turns
Electric current
Use of normal iron-core
Use of soft iron-core

Applications of Electromagnet

Number of paper clips attracted

Strength of electromagnetic fields

 There are many applications of electromagnets.

2. Electromagnetic Relays

3. Lifting Magnet

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

4. Telephone earpieces

5. Circuit breakers

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Exercise
1. A magnetic field is produced by the current in a long straight wire. The strength of the magnetic field
increases if.
A

The magnitude of the current increases

The distance from the wire increases

The length of the wire increases

2. Which of the following is true about the magnetic field produced by a current in a flat circular coil?.
A

It is uniform inside the coil

It is the weakest at the centre

It is the strongest at the centre

There is no magnetic field outside the coil

3. What is the effect of placing a piece of soft iron core inside a solenoid carrying current?
A

The resistance of the solenoid decreases

The current in the solenoid increases

The magnetic field becomes stronger

4. An electromagnet is used in these apparatus except

A

a compass

an a.c dynamo

a moving coil ammeter

a telephone earpiece

5. Which electromagnet is the strongest?

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Force Acting on a Current-carrying Conductor in a Magnetic Fields

An electric current produces a magnetic field around it.
When a wire carries an electric current through another magnetic field,
a force is exerted on the wire.

To investigate the force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field

Procedure:
1. Switch on the current and observe what happens to
the short copper wire.
2. Reverse the connections of the voltage supply.
3. Observe what happens to the copper wire.
4. Reverse the magnetic field and repeat step 2 and 3.
5. Align the magnetic field so that it is parallel with in
the short copper wire.
Observation:

Conclusion

When a current-carrying conductor is in a magnetic field of a permanent magnet, the

interaction between the two magnetic fields produce a force on the conductor.
The direction of the magnetic field, the current and the force acting on a conductor is
perpendicular to each other.
When the direction of magnetic field is parallel to the direction of current. The short wire
stays at rest.

The direction of the Magnetic Force

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

The magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor is in a magnetic field is due to the combination of the:
i. Magnetic field due to the current in the conductor and
ii. the external magnetic field
to produce a resultant magnetic field.
The resultant magnetic field has magnetic field lines that are stretched around the conductor. It is known as a
catapult field.

The direction of the magnetic force, F, acting on the wire can be determined by using Flemings left-hand
rule.

The magnitude of the force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field depends on:
i. The size of the current in the conductor,
ii. The strength of the magnetic field.
The current can be increased by:
Increasing the e.m.f of the power supply
Using thicker wire of the same length
Using a shorter wire

A stronger magnetic field can be produced by:

Using more powerful magnets
Using two pairs of magnets with like poles
side by side
Placing the magnets closer to each other
to narrow the gap between the poles of the
magnet

The larger the current in the conductor will result in a large force acting on it if the strength of the magnetic
field is kept constant.

Turning Effect of a Current-carrying Coil in a Magnetic Field

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

A current carrying coil in a magnetic field experiences a turning effect.

Consider a current-carrying coil ABCD placed between the poles magnet as shown in the figure below.
As the current flows through the coil from A to D, an upward (1) force acts on the arm CD whereas a
downward (3) force acts on the arms AB according to Flemings Left Hand rule.

Draw the catapult filed formed and draw arrows to show the movement of arms AB and CD.

Two important applications of the turning effect of a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field are the direct
current motor and the moving-coil galvanometer.

The direct current motor

When current flows through the horizontal coil, magnetic
field is produced around it.
The interaction between the magnetic field of the current and
the magnetic field of the permanent magnet produces a
catapult field and 2 turning force.
The direction of the force is determined by Flemings lefthand rule. The two forces produce a couple which rotates
the coil.

 When the coil gets to the upright position, the contact

between the carbon brushes with the commutator is broken.
There is no turning force on it because no current flows in
the coil. But the coil continues to rotate because of its
inertia.

When the coil in a horizontal position again, the sides of the

coil changes position.
The commutator reverses the direction of the current in the
coil to ensure that the forces on the coil turn the coil in one
direction only. So the coil is still rotating in the same
direction.
The above processes are repeated and the motor continues
to rotate.

Moving coil ammeter

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Exercise

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction is the production of an electric current by a changing magnetic field.

The induced current is produced only when there is relative motion between the conductor / coil and the
magnetic field lines.
The relative motion of a conductor across a magnetic field can be produced by:
i.
Moving a straight wire quickly across a magnetic field between two flat magnets.
ii.
Moving a permanent magnet towards one end of a solenoid.

Each time the straight wire cuts across the magnetic field, or the permanent magnet moves towards the
solenoid, a current is induced in the coil and a deflection is observed in the sensitive galvanometer.
This current is called induced current. The electromotive force that is produced is called the induced
e.m.f.
Induced e.m.f by a moving conductor

Action

Observation

Inference

The wire is moved Galvanometer

upwards
deflect to left
The wire is moved
downwards
The wire is move
horizontally
Magnet is moved
upwards

Flemings Right-hand rule can be used to determine the direction of the induction current produced.
Thumb (

First finger (

Center finger (

Form 5 chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Induced e.m.f by coil

Lenzs Law

Lenzs Law also can be used to determine the direction of induced current produced.

Lenzs Law states that the direction of the induced e.m.f is such that its magnetic effects always oppose
the change producing.

Lenzs law is an example of the Principle of Conservation of Energy. When the magnet or solenoid is
moved against the opposing force, work is done. Therefore mechanical energy is converted to electrical
energy.

Form 5 chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Faradays Law of electromagnetic induction

Faradays Law states that the magnitude of the induced e.m.f. is directly proportional to the rate of change
of magnetic flux experienced by the conductor.
The magnitude of the e.m.f in a wire increases when:
i.
ii.
iii.
The magnitude of the e.m.f in a coil/solenoid increases when:
i.
ii.
iii.
Applications of electromagnetic induction
A generator is basically the inverse of a motor. There are many coils of wire wound that can rotate in a
magnetic field. The axle is turned by some mechanical such as falling water, steam or wind turbine.
Generator functions by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Generator works based on electromagnetic induction and uses the Flemings Right hand rule.
Generator is divided into: direct current generator and alternate current generator.
Direct current generator

1. A coil of many turns rotated by an external force in

a magnetic field produced by permanent magnets.
2. Uses electromagnetic induction to generate an
e.m.f in the coil.
3. Ends of the coil connected to a split-ring
commutator.
4. The two halves of the split-ring commutator
exchange contact with the carbon brushes every
half rotation.So that the current in the outside circuit
always flows in the same direction.

Output current flows in one direction through load resistance, R.

Alternate current generator

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

1. A coil of many turns rotated by an external

force in a magnetic field produced by
permanent magnets.
2. Uses electromagnetic induction to generate an
e.m.f in the coil.
3. Ends of the coil connected to two slip rings.
4. Each slip ring is always in contact with the
same carbon brush.

The output current generated is an alternating current because the current changes direction in the
external circuit each time the coil passes the vertical position.
Assume the current flows from P to Q is positive and the current flows from Q to P is negative.
The current changes I magnitude and direction after every half rotation.

The magnitude of the output voltage increases when:

1.
2.
3.

Increasing the speed of rotation of the coil also increases the frequency of the output voltage,

Form 5 Chapter 3: Electromagnetism

Exercise
1. Which of the following is an example of induced magnetism?
A.
A compass needle pointing north
B.
A north pole attracting iron fillings
C.
A north pole repelling a north pole
D.
A coil of a motor tuning in magnetic field

2. The diagram shows a coil in magnetic field. If we want to make an a.c generator, what should to be
connected to X and Y?
A.
d.c. supply
B.

Slips rings

C.

Soft-iron core

D.

Split rings commutator

3. Which of the following represent the output voltage of an a.c generator?

4.

Which of the following can be use to determine the direction of magnetic field produced by current-carrying
conductor?
A.
Lenzs law
B.
Faradays law
C.
Flemings Left-hand rule
D.
Right-hand Grip rule

5. Figure shows an alternating current with magnitude that changes with time.
(a) What is the peak current?
(b) What is the period of the a.c. current?
(c) What is the frequency of the a.c current?