Name: Rowen Prather

Week 11 Lab: Faraday’s Electromagnetic Lab

Objectives:
• To determine the relationship between a magnetic field, electric circuit and electromotive
force – a phemomenon call electromagnetic induction.

Description:

The simulations involve moving a bar magnets, electromagnets, coils, generators and
transformers. You will conduct a series of experiments from which you will derive rules that
will help you understand the concepts.

Simulation: go to: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/faraday

Data Collection and Analysis: Bar Magnet

Select “Bar Magnet” in top left

corner.

1. Click on the magnetic compass Bar magnet

and move around the bar magnet.

Magnetic compass

N
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Explain the orientation of the compass needed.
___________________________________________________________________________

____________the orientation is that the red end is the same polarity as the north end so the
white side points to the north end and vise vera for the white end and south polarity
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Click on “Flip Polarity” button on right menu

Explain two changes this causes in the simulation

Magnetic field: __________________________________________________________

_________the magnetic field changes cause the polarity have flipped places
_________________________________________________________________

Magnetic compass: __________the compass shifts following the polls

_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Click on “Show Field Meter” toggle on right menu.

Move the meter around and observe the magnetic field strengths. Note: the meter
reads in G (Gauss) rather then T (Tesla); 1 T = 10 000 G

Complete the following statements and do NOT put the meter on top of the
magnet.

a) B (total B) gets stronger as ______________you go towards the

magnet______________________ and weaker as
_________________________you move away from the magnet___________

b) Bx (x-component of magnetic field) is strongest where the magnetic field

__________close under to southern poll
___________________________________________.

c) By (y-component of magnetic field) is strongest where the magnetic field

__________upper side of the northern poll_________________________________.

d)  (angle of magnetic field) is angle of magnetic field measured from

straight right or left of the direct polls
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Data Collection: Pickup Coil

Select “Pickup Coil” in top left corner.

1. Move the bar magnet left and right THROUGH the coil of wire. Describe the orientation
of the magnetic field compared to the coil when the most current is generated.

______the magnetic filed is all around the magent.. the stongest parts being near the polls
___________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

You can toggle the Indicator from the bulb to the voltage gauge.

2. Increase the number of Loops to 3.

How does the number of loops affect the current flow: the greater
the number of loops, the ____greater_____________ the current.

3. Increase or decrease the Loop Area

How does Loop Area affect the current flow? Describe the effect and provide a plausible
explanation.

______the greater the loop area the more area that can be affected by the magnet meanin
more current flow__________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4. Why is little to no current generated when the bar magnet is moved up and down?
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The magnetic field is more to the sides the direct above or below the
magnet_____________________

___________________________________________________________________________
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Note: the animations all demonstrate Real Current. Conventional current is the
opposite direction

5. As the bar magnet enters the coil from the left,

draw (see example) a Right-Hand-Rule to
describe the conventional current flow.
Remember, thumb always points north.

Conventional current is the opposite of actual

electron flow; it is +ve to –ve (use “Right-Hand-
Rules”)
Real current = actual electron current from –ve to +ve (use “Left-hand-rules”)
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Notice how the induced current is the opposite

direction to the Right-Hand-Rule (i.e. current
created in an electromagnet).

6. For a magnetic field to be induced (an electro magnet) so north is to the right, predict the
conventional current flow in the coil by drawing arrows in the coil.

7. As the bar magnet leaves the coil to the right, draw a right-hand rule to describe the
conventional current flow. Remember, thumb always points north.

8. Predict the conventional current flow if you move the bar magnet from right to left:
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a) as the S-pole enters the coil to the left: electrons at front move up or down (circle the
correct answer) DOWN
b) as the N-pole leaves the coil to the left: electrons at front move up or down (circle the
correct answer) Now test your hypothesis and make any necessary corrections. UP

9. Complete the statement: a current is induced in the coil only when the magnetic field is

__moving through the coil_________________________________________

This is important to understand how transformers work.

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Data Collection: Electromagnet

Select “Electromagnet” along the top.

1. The animation demonstrates Real Current; Conventional Current is the opposite direction.

Using the Right-Hand-Rule, correctly label the poles of the battery + and -

2. Demonstrate your understanding of the Right-Hand-Rule by drawing a labeled hand that

best represents the above situation.

3. Slowly reverse the battery polarity by sliding the switch on the battery from the right
position to the left position. Describe the electron flow and magnetic field ½ way and all the
way to the left (fully reversed).
½ way:
electron flow: no flow
magnetic field: no field

fully reversed:
electron flow: reversed
magnetic field: reversed
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4. Now toggle the Current Source from DC to AC.

Click here.

Describe the magnetic field and electron flow each time

the current polarity reverses:

electron flow: it reverses

magnetic field: It reverses

In your home, the current completes a complete cycle (from forward -> to reverse -> back to
forward) 60 times / second (60 Hz). See map below.

5. Slow the AC Current Supply down by sliding the

frequency switch to the left (5%).

Name the wave: _____cosign___ wave.

Data Collection: Tranformer

Select “Transformer” along the top.

1. Move the smaller, left, powered, primary coil close to or inside the larger, secondary coil.
Why is no current generated in the secondary coil?

Cause the magnetic field isn’t moving

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2. Now toggle the Current Source from DC to AC.

Click here.
Click here.
Cc

Why is current generated in the secondary coil now?

______the magnetic field is

moving_______________________

3. Now toggle the Pickup Coil Indicator from

bulb to voltage meter.
Click here.

Now vary the frequency from 5% to 100%.

Describe the relationship between frequency

and current flow (or voltage as from the voltage meter) in the secondary coil

As frequency decreases _______current decreases_______________________________

and as frequency increases current increases
Transformer Ratings:
 Typical ratings for power transformers are 50, 60 and 400 Hz.
 A power transformer with a frequency rating of 400 Hz cannot be used to 50 or 60 Hz
because it will overheat.
 Most power transformers are designed to operate at either 50 or 60 Hz.
 Power transformers with a 400 Hz rating are often used in aircraft because these
transformers are much smaller and lighter than 50 or 60 Hz transformers.
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Data Collection: Generator

Select “Generator” along the top.

1. Adjust the water flow on the faucet so the generator rotates at 20 to 25 RPM.
Examine the power generated in the coil. What kind of current is being generated?

_______AC____ current

Notice how the water flow varies the frequency of the current. This how it is controlled at
hydroelectric dams. The water flow into the water turbine is controlled by guide vanes.

Guide vane control mechanism.

2. Vary the number of Loops in the coil. Make a statement that relates the number of coils to
the amount of power generated.

____________________________more coils more power

generated_______________________________________
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3. The spinning magnet is called the stator. If the water flow ceased and you supplied power
to coil causing the stator to spin you would then have a _____transformer___ instead of a
generator.

Conclusion: summarize, in a brief paragraph, what relationships you have learned from these
simulations. Be sure to include supporting evidence.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
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