Faraday's & Lenz's Laws (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Physics): Revision Note

Faraday's & Lenz's laws

• Faraday’s law tells us the magnitude of the induced e.m.f. in electromagnetic induction and is defined as:

The magnitude of the induced e.m.f. is directly proportional to the rate of change in magnetic flux linkage

• Faraday's law of induction is defined by the equation:

$\epsilon =N\frac{∆\Phi }{∆t}$

• Where:

  • ε = induced e.m.f (V)

  • N = number of turns of coil

  • ΔΦ = change in magnetic flux (Wb)

  • Δt = time interval (s)

• Lenz’s Law gives the direction of the induced e.m.f. as defined by Faraday’s law:

The induced e.m.f acts in such a direction to produce effects which oppose the change causing it

• Lenz’s law, combined with Faraday’s law, can be written as:

$\epsilon =-N\frac{∆\Phi }{∆t}$

• This equation shows:

  • When a bar magnet goes through a coil, an e.m.f. is induced within the coil due to a change in magnetic flux

  • A current is also induced, which means the coil now has its own magnetic field

  • The coil’s magnetic field acts in the opposite direction to the magnetic field of the bar magnet

• If a direct current (d.c.) power supply is replaced with an alternating current (a.c.) supply, the e.m.f. induced will also be alternating with the same frequency as the supply

Experimental evidence for Lenz’s law

• To verify Lenz’s law, the only apparatus needed is:

  • a bar magnet

  • a coil of wire

  • a sensitive ammeter

• Note: a cell is not required

• A known pole (either north or south) of the bar magnet is pushed into the coil, which induces a magnetic field in the coil

  • Using the right-hand grip rule, the curled fingers indicate the direction of the current, and the thumb indicates the direction of the induced magnetic field

• The direction of the current is observed on the ammeter

  • Reversing the magnet direction would give an opposite deflection on the meter

• The induced field (in the coil) repels the bar magnet

• This is because of Lenz’s law:

  • The direction of the induced field in the coil pushes against the change creating it, i.e. the bar magnet

Demonstrating Lenz's law

Lenz’s law can be verified using a coil connected in series with a sensitive ammeter and a bar magnet