AP Physics 2

Unit 4: Magnetism

Section 4.1 – Magnetic Field………………………………….………………….……….…..74

Section 4.2 – Magnetic Force on a Charge………………………………………….…….…..78

Section 4.3 – Magnetic Forces on Current-Carrying Wires…………………….………….….81

Section 4.4 – Faraday’s Law………………..……….………………………………..…….…84

73
AP Physics 2 Unit 4: Magnetism
4.1 Magnetic Fields
Focus Question: How does pressure change with depth?

Consider an electron traveling at velocity v next to a wire with current in it.

▪ Rest Observer Reference Frame – The negative and

positive charges in the wire have the same density.

▪ Frame fixed to the moving electron – Due to length

contraction, the positive charges are more dense than the
negative charge, so there is net negative charge. As a result,
the electron is attracted to the wire.

*The Magnetism Force is simply the electrostatic force applied to moving charges.
Magnetic Fields of Permanent Magnets
▪ In permanent magnets, magnetism is due to the alignment of magnetic moments inside the
elementsmaking up the material. Only a few materials, most commonly iron, act as permanent magnets.
Non-magntized material Magnetized material
Magnetic momentums unaligned Aligned magnetic moments

▪ Magnets have two poles, known as north and south. Magnetic field lines point from north to south:
By convention, magnetic field lines outwards from north and go into south.

▪ Earth possesses a magnetic field due the amount of iron in the core, with the geographic north pole
acting as the magnetic south pole.
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Magnetic Fields Around A Wire

▪ A current-carrying wire causes a magnetic field around it. The field moves in a circle
around the wire. The direction of the current is given by the right hand rule. If you
point your right thumb in the direction of current and wrap your fingers around the
wire, the magnetic field is in the direction of your fingers.
▪ Magnetic field due to a wire:

The magnitude of a magnitude field measures how strong

the field is.
Magnetic field at a distance r from a conducting wire with
current I running through it:
𝝁𝟎 𝑰
𝑩=
𝟐𝝅𝒓
B – Magnetic field
𝑇𝑚
𝜇0 – magnetic vacuum permittivity = 4𝜋𝑥10−7 𝐴

*Magnetic Field units – Teslas (T)

*A circle represents a vector pointing out of the page. An x represents a vector into the page.

Example A: Find the direction at point P due to wires A and B for the arrangements shown.
a) b)

a) By the right-hand rule, the field is clockwise around A and counter-clockwise

around B. At point P, both fields are down, so the net field at P is down.

b) By the right-hand rule, the field is counter-clockwise around A and clockwise around B. At
point P, both fields to the right at the point.

75
Example B: Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field due to point A,
which is half way between the two wires shown, which carry currents in opposite
directions.
First, the right hand rule is used to find the directions of the fields in the region of
point P:

At point P, both field are into the page, so the net field is into the page and the magnitude of the total field can
be found by adding the field due to the top and bottom wires:
𝜇0 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝜇0 𝐼𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚
𝐵𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐵𝑡𝑜𝑝 + 𝐵𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 = +
2𝜋𝑟𝑡𝑜𝑝 2𝜋𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚
(4𝜋𝑥10−7 )(1 𝐴) (4𝜋𝑥10−7 )(2 𝐴)
→ 𝐵𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = + = 6𝑥10−6 𝑇
2𝜋(.1 𝑚) 2𝜋(.1 𝑚)
The net magnetic field at P is 6 𝜇𝑇 into the page.

Magnetic Field due to a Loop of Wire

▪ Magnetic Field due to a Single Loop of Wire

Current within the loop all points in the same direction by the right-hand rule, leading to a stronger
current.

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 ▪ A solenoid is wire wrapped in multiple loops in a cylindrical coil. Solenoids with current running them
create strong magnetic fields.

Magnetic Field due a solenoid of length L with N loops of wire with current I running through it:
𝜇0 𝑁𝐼
𝐵=
𝐿
▪ Right hand rule for solenoids – Curl fingers in direction of current, thumb points towards the magnetic
north pole.

Example C: You are given a length of conducting wire and want to create a solenoid that will produce a strong
magnetic field. Should you wind the wire in many small loops or few larger loops?

The magnetic field for a solenoid is stronger with loops of wire and for shorter lengths. The loop density per
length, N/L, is directly proportional to the strength of the field. The actual size of the loops does not affect the
field. It is best to use many small loops.

77
AP Physics 2 Unit 4: Magnetism
4.2 Magnetic Force on Moving Charge
Focus Question: How does a magnetic field affect a moving charge?

▪ A charge particle traveling in a magnetic field will experience a magnetic force perpendicular to the
field:

𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝐹⃗𝐵

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ )
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣⃗𝑥𝐵 *charge times the cross product of speed and magnetic field

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ sin 𝜃
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞𝑣⃗𝐵

𝜃: angle between velocity and magnetic field

▪ The velocity of the charged particle, the magnetic field, and magnetic force are all perpendicular vectors.
The relation between these vectors is given by the right hand rule for a moving charge (also called the
fight palm rule:

• Thumb points in direction of velocity.

• Fingers point in direction of magnitude field.
• Force comes out of the palm.

▪ If the moving charge is negative, use the left-hand rule, which works the same way as the right-hand rule
(just obviously using the other hand).
▪

Example A: Specify the direction of the magnetic force in each of the following situations:

a) up b) right c) up
d) out of page e) out of page f) no force (v and B are not perpendicular)

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Example B: Can the magnetic force change a charged particle’s speed?

No. In order for a particle to change speed, there must in an acceleration acting in the same direction as
velocity. Since the magnetic force is always perpendicular to the particle’s velocity, there is no change in speed.
The magnetic force changes the particle’s direction only.

Example C: A proton moves at 5x106 m/s along the positive-axis. It enters a

region in which there is a magnetic field of magnitude 2.50 T, directed at an angle
of 30.0° with the x – axis in the xy plane. Find the initial magnitude and direction
of the magnetic force on the proton.

By the right hand rule, the force is in the +z direction.

𝑚
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ sin 𝜃 = (1.6𝑥10−19 𝐶)(5𝑥106
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞𝑣⃗𝐵 )(2.5 𝑇) sin 30°
𝑠
𝐹𝐵 = 1𝑥10−12 𝑁

Motion in a Circle

▪ A charge traveling in a uniform magnetic field will experience a constant force perpendicular to its
motion. When a force is always perpendicular to velocity, the
direction of the velocity constantly changes, causing the object to
travel in circular motion.
The magnetic force provides the centripetal force .
𝐹𝑀𝐴𝐺𝑁𝐸𝑇𝐼𝐶 = 𝐹𝐶𝐸𝑁𝑇𝑅𝐼𝑃𝐸𝑇𝐴𝐿
𝑚𝑣 2
𝐵𝑞𝑣 =
𝑟
𝑚𝑣
→ 𝐵𝑞 =
𝑟
▪ If the initial velocity is not perpendicular to the field than only the component of velocity perpendicular
to the field affects the radius of the orbit. In this case, the charge travels in a helical path.

Example D: A charged particle of mass m and charge q moves in a magnetic field with a flux density of B in
circular motion. Derive an expression for the frequency of its circular motion.

𝑚𝑣 2 𝐵𝑞𝑟
𝐹𝐵 = 𝐹𝑐 → 𝐵𝑞𝑣 = →𝑣=
𝑟 𝑚
𝐵𝑞𝑟
2𝜋𝑟 𝑣 𝐵𝑞
𝑇= →𝑓= →𝑓= 𝑚 →𝑓=
𝑣 2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑚

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Lorentz Force

▪ A Lorentz force is the total force on a charge particle moving both a

magnetic and electric field simultaneously.
⃗ =𝑭
𝑭 ⃗ 𝑬+𝑭 ⃗𝑩
⃗𝑭 = 𝒒𝑬
⃗⃗ + 𝒒𝒗 ⃗⃗
⃗ 𝒙𝑩

Example E: The potential difference between two parallel plates is 850 as

shown. There is a magnetic field of .76 T into the page between the plates. The
plates are 0.8 m and the particle passes undeflected between the plates.

a) Can the sign of the charge be determine?

b) What is the speed of the particle?

a) The charge could be positive or negative. The magnetic force on a positive charge would be up and
the electric force would be down. The magnetic force on a negative charge would be down and the
electric force would be up. Either charge would pass undeflected between the plates.
b) For the charge to travel undeflected, 𝐹𝐸 = 𝐹𝐵
𝑉
𝑞𝐸 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 → 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵 → 𝑑 = 𝑣𝐵
𝑉 850 𝑉
𝑣 = 𝐵𝑑 = (.76 𝑇)(.8 𝑚) = 1400 𝑚/𝑠

Example F: A positively charged particle of mass m = 2 𝑛𝑔 and charge of 4 𝜇𝐶 is accelerated from rest and
reaches and speed of 2𝑥106 𝑚/𝑠 when it enters region 1, after which is has constant speed. It travels
undeflected in region 1 and then enters region 2, where it travels in a semicircle. The magnetic of the magnetic
field in both region is 0.5 T.

a) Calculate the magnetic of the potential difference that

must have been applied before it entered region 1.
b) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field in region 1.
c) Calculate the radius of the circular path the object
travels in region and specific which way the particle
curves.

a) 𝑊 = ∆𝐾
1 1 𝑚𝑣𝑓2 (2𝑥10−12 𝑘𝑔)(2𝑥106 )2
→ 𝑉𝑞 = 𝑚𝑣𝑓2 − 𝑚𝑣𝑖2 = 𝑉 = = = 1𝑥106 𝑉
2 2 2𝑞 2(4𝑥10−6 𝐶)
b) 𝐹𝐸 = 𝐹𝐵
𝑚 𝑁
→ 𝑞𝐸 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 → 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵 → 𝐸 = (2𝑥106 ) (0.5) = 1𝑥106
𝑠 𝐶
c) 𝐹𝐶 = 𝐹𝐵
𝑚𝑣 2 𝑚𝑣 (2𝑥10−12 )(2𝑥106 )
→ = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 → 𝑟 = = = 2𝑚
𝑟 𝑞𝐵 (4𝑥10−6 𝐶)(.5 𝑇)

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AP Physics 2 Unit 4: Magnetism
4.3 Magnetic Forces on Conductors
Focus Question: What is the force on current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field?

▪ A conducting wire carries a larger number of individual charges, each with a magnetic force acting:

A current carrying wire has many charged particles, each with a

magnetic force on them.
𝐹 = 𝐵𝑞𝑣
The charge is the total charge of all the electrons:
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑞 = 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑥 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑠
→ 𝑞 = 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 ∗ 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑒 = 𝑒(𝑛𝐴𝐿)
where A = cross section of the wire and L = length of the wire
𝐹 = 𝐵(𝑒𝑛𝐴𝐿)𝑣 → 𝐹 = 𝐵(𝑛𝑎𝑉𝑒)𝐿
𝑭 = 𝑩𝑰𝑳 𝑭 = 𝑩𝑰𝑳 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽

Example A: A copper wire has a mass per unit length of 100 g/cm and has a current of 3 A to the right in the
plane of this page. What is the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field requierd to counteract the wire’s
weight?

The force needs to be up and the direction of positive charge velocity is the right, so the magnetic
field would need to be into the page by the right-hand rule.
𝐹𝐵 − 𝑚𝑔 =→ 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑚𝑔 𝑚 𝑔
→ 𝐵𝐼𝐿 = 𝑚𝑔 → 𝐵 = → 𝐵 = ( )( )
𝐼𝐿 𝐿 𝐼
𝑚
𝑘𝑔 10 2
→ 𝐵 = (. 1 ) ( 𝑠 ) = .33 𝑇
𝑐𝑚 3𝐴

Example B: A mass 𝑚 is suspended by an insulating string connected to a circuit

that is partically in a magnetic field of magnitude 𝐵 as shown. The wire has a length
𝐿 horizontally in the field as shown. The circuit has a resistor of resistance 𝑅.
Determine an expression for the battery voltage required for the mass to remain
suspended.

The section of wire in the field will experience an upward force by the right-hand
rule that needs to balance out the force from the weight of the mass. There are also
forces on the two vertical sections of the wire, but these sections cancel out.

𝐹𝐵 − 𝑚𝑔 =→ 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑉
→ 𝐵𝐼𝐿 = 𝑚𝑔 → 𝐵 ( ) 𝐿 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑅
𝑚𝑔𝑅
𝑉=
𝐵𝐿

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Force between Conductors

▪ Wires flowing in same direction

By the right hand rule, both wires have a field that is out of the page above them and into the page below them.

Consider the magnetic force on wire 1 due to wire 2. Wire 1 is above

wire 2 so the field due to wire is out of the page. Positive charge in
wire 1 moves to the right, so by the right hand rule, the force is down.
For wire 2, it experiences field into the page due to wire 1 and have
positive charge moving to the right, so the force on wire 2 is up by the
right hand-rule, meaning the wires attract each other.

𝜇𝐼 𝜇𝐼1 𝐼2 𝐹
The magnitude of the force on wire 1 is: 𝐹 = 𝐵2 𝐼1 𝐿 → 𝐹 = (2𝜋𝑟2 ) 𝐼1 𝐹 → 𝐹 = 2𝜋𝑟

▪ Wires flowing in opposite direction

By the right hand rule, wire 1 has a field out of the page above it
and into the page below it. Wire 2 has a field into the page above it
and out of the page below it.

Consider the magnetic force on wire 1 due to wire 2. The field due
to wire 2 at the wire 1 is into the page. Positive charge in wire 1
moves to the right, so the force on wire 1 is up due to the right-hand
rule. Likewise, the force on wire 2 is down, so the wires repel each other.

𝜇𝐼2 𝜇𝐼1 𝐼2 𝐿
𝐹 = 𝐵2 𝐼1 𝐿 → ( ) 𝐼1 𝐿 → 𝐹 =
2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑟
𝝁𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐 𝑳
In either case, the force between two wires is 𝑭 = 𝟐𝝅𝒓 . If two wires flow in the same direction, the force is
attracive, if they flow in oppose directions, they repel each other. “If they flow together, they go together”.

Example C: Wire A floats 1 cm above wire B. The wires carry currents in opposite directions as shown. Both
wires have a length of 10 m and a mass of 300 g. What current must wire A carry for it to remain suspended in
the air directly over wire B?

In the region between the wires, the field due to wire B is into the field. The field
due to B in this region is:
𝜇0 𝐼 𝐵
𝐵𝐵 = where d is the distance between the wires.
2𝜋𝑑

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By the hand-rule rule, this causes a force up on wire A. This force needs to cancel out A’s weight.
𝐹𝐵 − 𝑚𝐴 𝑔 =→ 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑔
𝜇0 𝐼𝐵 𝑚𝐴 𝑔2𝜋𝑑
→ 𝐵𝐼𝐿 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑔 → (𝐼𝐴 )(𝐿) = 𝑚𝐴 𝑔 → 𝐼𝐴 =
2𝜋𝑑 𝜇0 𝐼𝐵 𝐿

𝑚
(. 3 𝑘𝑔) (10 2 ) (2𝜋)(.01 𝑚)
𝑠
→ 𝐼𝐴 = 𝑇𝑚 = 150 𝐴
(4𝜋𝑥10−7 )(100 𝐴)(10 𝑚)
𝐴

Torque on a Loop of Wire

▪ A magnetic field applied to a loop of wire causes a torque on the wire.

Each side of the square loop of wire above has current in different directions. The two horizontal portions have
current parallel to the magnetic field, so there is no magnetic force. The two sections have forces into and out of
the page on opposing sides by the right-hand rule. This causes the loop of wire to spin around an axis in its
center.
𝑏 𝑏
The total torque is 𝜏 = 𝜏𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 + 𝜏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 = 𝐵𝐼𝑎 (2) + 𝐵𝐼𝑎 (2) → 𝜏 = 𝐵𝐼𝑎𝑏

▪ Torque on a loop in a magnetic field

𝝉 = 𝑩𝑰𝑨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜶
A – area of loop 𝜶 – angle between field and plane of loop
*For multiple loops: 𝜏 = 𝑛𝐵𝐼𝐴 sin 𝛼

Example D: A 200-turncoil of wire has a radius coil of wire has a radius of 20 cm and the normal to the area
makes an and the normal to the area makes an angle of angle of 30o with a 3 mT magnetic field. What is the
torque on the loop if the current is torque on the loop if the current is 3 A?

𝜏 = 𝑛𝐵𝐼𝐴 sin 𝛼

→ 𝜏 = (200)(3𝑥10−3 𝑇)(3 𝐴) sin 30° = 0.9 𝑁𝑚

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AP Physics 2 Unit 4: Magnetism
4.4 Faraday’s Law
Focus Question: How does a changing magnetic field induce a current?

Magnetic Flux

▪ Magnetic Flux – Magnetic flux is a measure of the amount of magnetic

field passing through a surface. It’s directly related to the number of
field lines that pass through a surface.
▪ Formula for magnetic flux:

𝜙𝐵 = 𝐵𝐴 cos 𝜃
𝜙𝐵 : 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥
𝐴 − 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒; there is more flux when the field passes through a larger surface
𝜃 − 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒; there is more flux when the field lines pass straight
through the surface rather than passing through at an angle.
∗units of magnetic flux – Webers, Wb
*Magnetic field is also called magnetic flux density

Example A: A loop of area 0.8 m2 is in a constant magnetic field of B = 0.15 T. What is the magnetic flux
through the loop when:

a) the loop is perpendicular to the field

b) the loop is parallel to the field

a) When the fields are perpendicular, 𝜃 = 90° b) When the fields are perpendicular, 𝜃 = 0°

𝜙𝐵 = 𝐵𝐴 cos 𝜃 = (. 15 𝑇)(. 8 𝑚2 ) cos 90 = 0 𝜙𝐵 = 𝐵𝐴 cos 𝜃 = (. 15 𝑇)(. 8 𝑚2 ) cos 0 = .12 𝑊𝑏

Induced emf

▪ When a rod is given a velocity perpendicular to a magnetic field, a current flows through the wire:

When the bar is moved to the right in a field that outs into the page as shown,
positive charge is pushed up by the right-hand rule. Since there is current in the
wire, there must be a potential difference. Charge accumulates until the electric
force caused by the potential difference cancels out the magnetic force:
𝐹𝐵 = 𝐹𝐸
𝜀
𝑞𝐵𝑣 = 𝐸𝑞 → 𝐵𝑣 =
𝑙
→ 𝜺 = 𝑩𝒗𝒍

*induced emf in a bar of length moving at speed in a magnetic field of B

84
Example B: A Boeing 787, having wingspan of 60 m, is flying through Earth’s magnetic field near Tokyo,
Japan (B = 56 T) at 265 m/s. Treating the wing as a straight wire, find the induced emf from wingtip to
wingtip.
𝑚
𝜀 = 𝐵𝑣𝑙 = (56𝑥10−6 𝑇) (265 𝑠 ) (60 𝑚) = 0.90 V

On a related note, do not fly Boeing. Apparently, their engineers didn’t do their physics homework.

Faraday’s Law
▪ If a bar moving in an electric field is connected to a closed circuit, the inducted emf causes current to
flow:

As the bar moves to the right, it covers an area of A as shown in a time ∆𝑡.
𝜙 = 𝐵𝐴 = 𝐵𝑣∆𝑡𝑙
𝜙
The time rate of change of the flux is = 𝐵𝑣𝑙 since velocity is constant. This is equal to the emf.
𝑡

▪ Faraday’s Law – The induced emf due to a changing magnetic field is equal to the time rate of change of
the magnetic flux through the surface bounded by the circuit

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑥

Induced emf = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

∆𝝓𝑩 ∆(𝑩𝑨)
𝜺=− =−
∆𝒕 ∆𝒕
Magnetic flux can be changed by changing the magnitude of the field, the area the field goes through, or
the angle between the flux and the surface it passes through.

▪ Lenz’s Law – “An induced current will have a direction such that it will oppose the change in flux
that produced it.” (the minus sign in Faraday’s law)

85
Example C: Determine the direction of the current in the wire in each of the cases below:
a) B is increasing b) B is increasing c) B is decreasing

a) The field is out of the page and increasing, so the change in flux is out of the page. The induced current
resists the change in flux by inducing a current that creates a field into the page to oppose the change in flux, so
the current is clockwise.
b) The field is into the page and increase, so the change in flux is into the page. The induced current creates a
field out of the page to oppose the direction of the change in flux, so the current is counter-clockwise.
c) The field is into the page and decreasing, meaning the change in flux is out of the page. he induced current
resists the change in flux by inducing a current that creates a field into the page to oppose the change in flux, so
the current is clockwise.

Example D: A magnetic is dropped through a conducting loop as shown. Find the

direction of the current in the loop as the magnet falls through it.

a) The flux in the loop is down (since magnetic field comes out of
north) and increasing because the magnetic field at the loop is
getting larger as the magnet approaches. The induced current must
then oppose the increase in the flux by inducing a field in the
opposite direction. This can be done with counter-clockwise current

b) As the magnet leaves the loop from the other side, the flux is decreasing. This makes the
change in the flux up, so the induced current needs to induce a field down, making the
induced current clockwise.

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Example E: A conducting loop is placed next a current-carrying wire as
shown. Determine the direction in the loop if:

a) The current in the wire increases

b) The current in the wire decreases

By the right-hand rule, the field is into the page on the right side of the wire.

a) The field is into the page and increasing, so the change in flux is into the page. The induced current is to
produce a field of the page, which corresponds to counter-clockwise current.

b) The field is into the page and decreasing, so the change in flux is out of the page. The induced current is to
produce a field into the page, which corresponds to clockwise current.

Example F: A square loop side length s = .70 m is perpendicular to a magnetic field of 1.5
T. The field suddenly decreases to zero is 0.3 s. What current flows through the circuit as a
result?

A change in flux causes an induced current. The flux is into the page and decreasing, the
current to the right through the resistor. Gauss’s law is used to find the induced current,
which is the induced emf divided by the resistance.
∆(𝐵𝐴) 𝐵∆(𝐴)
𝜀=− →𝜀=−
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
(1.5 𝑇)(0 − (. 7 𝑚)(. 7 𝑚))
→𝜀=− = 2.45 𝑉
.3 𝑠
𝜀 2.45 𝑉
𝐼= = = 0.31 𝐴
𝑅 8Ω

▪ If there are multiple loops with flux through them, they each have the induced
emf:

An emf is induced in each loop of wire, so multiply the induced emf for one loop
by the number of loops-

∆𝝓𝑩
𝜺 = −𝑵
∆𝒕

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Example G: A coil of loop with 30 turns an radius of .25 m is perpendicular to a magnetic
field of flux density 2.2 Wb/m2. The coil is given a quarter turn in .2 s. The total resistance
of the coil is 20 Ω.
a) What current flows through the coil?
b) What charge flows through the coil during this time?
c) How much energy is dissipated in the process?

a) The flux changes due to the change in angle. A quarter-turn is 90o

∆𝜙𝐵 𝐵𝐴 cos 𝜃𝑓 −𝐵𝐴 cos 𝜃𝑖
𝜀=− =−
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
(2.2 𝑇)𝜋(.25 𝑚)2 cos 0°−(2.2 𝑇)𝜋(.25 𝑚)2 cos 90°
𝜀=− = 2.15 𝑉
.2 𝑠

𝜀 2.15 𝑉
𝐼=𝑅= = 0.11 𝐴
20 Ω

𝑞
b) 𝐼 = → 𝑞 = 𝐼𝑡 = (0.11 𝐴)(. 2 𝑠) = 0.22 𝐶
𝑡

c) Energy dissipated is equal to 𝑃 = 𝐼 2 𝑅

→ 𝑃 = (. 11 𝐴)2 )(20 Ω) = .24 𝐽

Example H: The cart shown in the figure above has mass 2.0 kg and moves towards a uniform magnitude field
of magnitude B=2.0 T into the page. Attached to the cart is a rectangular loop of wire that is 0.10 m by 0.20 m
and have a resistance of 2.0 Ω. The cart is initially at travelling at 5.0 m/s along a frictionless surface.

a) Indicate the direction of current in the loop on the cart when its front edge enters the field.
b) When the front of the cart reaches the field, it has a speed of 5 m/s. Calculate the force on the cart.
c) Calculate the force on the cart when it is entirely inside the field.
d) Sketch the shape of the velocity vs. time graph for the cart for its entire motion. The cart enters the
field at time 𝑡1 , is fully inside the field at time 𝑡2 , starts to leave the field at time 𝑡3 , and is fully outside
the field at time 𝑡4 .

a) The direction of positive charges in the wire is to the right and the field is
into the page, which pushes current up in the front section of wire, this
causes a counter-clockwise current in the wire. Another way to approach this
situation is that since the cart is entering the field, the area enclosed by the
field is increasing, so the flux into the page increases, so there’s an induced
field out of the page, which also corresponds to counter-clockwise current.

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b) Since the current in the rectangular loop is counterclockwise, the
rightward side of the loop has an upward current. By the right-hand
rule, field into the page (fingers), charge movement up (thumb) leads
to a force to the left (palm). There are cancelling forces on the top
and bottom of the loop, so the net force is the left.

𝐹 = 𝐵𝐼𝐿

The induced current is the induced emf in the front wire, which is
BLv, divided by the resistance in the wire.
𝜀 𝐵𝐿𝑣 𝐵2 𝐿2 𝑣
𝐹 = 𝐵𝐼𝐿 → 𝐹 = 𝐵 (𝑅) 𝐿 = 𝐵 ( )𝐿 =
𝑅 𝑅
𝑚
(2 𝑇)2 (.1 𝑚)2 (5 )
𝑠
→𝐹= = 0.1 𝑁, to the left
2Ω
c) The magnetic force on the left and right vertical sections of wire will induce current in opposite
directions, making the net force zero.

d) -Before 𝑡1 the cart is moving on a frictionless surface so there is constant velocity.

-At time 𝑡1 , it slows down since there is a force to the left opposing its rightward motion. Since this
force depends on velocity as shown in b), the acceleration decreases over time.
-As state in c), there is no force from 𝑡2 to 𝑡3 when the cart is in the field.
-When the front of the cart exits the cart, the are enclosed by the field decreases,
so there is a flux into the page that is decreasing, which makes for an induced
field, which leads to a clockwise current (fingers curl clockwise when pointing
thumb into page). This leads to an upward current on the left side of the loop, and
a force to the left.
-After 𝑡4 , there are no forces so the cart continues to move at constant velocity.

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