Investigating Resonance of Electrical Circuits

Joseph Norman, Jack DuCoeur

Table 2, Section 54

24 March 2022

Jinming Zhang

PHYS 212 L, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, 83843

Introduction
Magnetic fields are a major study in the field of physics and are some of the most utilized
phenomena in the modern world. Numerous crucial devices that help the world function as it
does such as motors, compasses, and generators all use magnetic fields and their properties to
work. In this lab, the basic effects and reactions of magnetic fields will be explored.
One of the most important properties of the magnetic field is its ability to create an
electrical current from a moving object. When a charged object is moved through a magnetic
field, it creates a current in the rod. This phenomenon is how a generator turns mechanical
energy, usually in the form of a gasoline engine, into electrical energy. This process is visualized
below:

Figure 1

Magnetic fields, as demonstrated in lab 1, do not usually flow in straight lines. On a bar
magnet, for example, the lines of the magnetic field flow in an arc from the north end of the
magnet to the south end. This is shown in the figure below, and in one of the resulting graphs
from lab 1.
The strength of this phenomenon is described with Faraday’s Law, shown below:

Equation 1

With ε being the induced voltage, N being the number of loops of the coil, ΔΦ being the
change in magnetic flux, and Δt being the change in time.
 Figure 2

Figure 3

In the case of figure 3, the lines are created by graphing the lines of equipotential formed
from two nodes placed in water. One of high potential, and one to ground.
Setup
This lab is performed in a simulation, so no setup is required. The initial setup for each
experiment, along with the results will be shown in the respective experiment sections.
For the final experiment in lab, an inductor is set up in series with a DMM, and a magnet
is dropped through it.
Materials
• Personal device with Canvas
• DMM
• Inductor coil
• Magnet
Diagram

The setup for experiment 6 is depicted below:

Experiment 6 Setup

With the DMM attached in series with the coil, set to read AC voltage. The strong
magnet used is shown below the coil.
Procedure

Experiment 1:
Predictions
1. We predict that as the magnet is moved, the magnetic field lines will maintain their
circular shape as shown above, following the magnet.
2. We predict that when the polarity is reversed, the field lines will reverse, causing the
same reactions, in reverse.
3. We also predict that as the magnet gets stronger, the more powerful the magnetic field
will be, causing the compass to readjust quicker.
Procedure
-Step 1: The magnet strength is set to 50%, oriented to the right of the compass.
-Step 2: The magnet is moved around, and the magnetic field and compass’s reactions are
recorded.
-Step 3: The strength is then varied from 1% to 100%, and the reaction is recorded again.
-Step 4: The magnet is reversed, and the same data is recorded.
Data/Calculations
The initial settings for this experiment are shown below:

Experiment 1 Initial Settings

 When the strength is varied, the magnetic field indicators get lighter and darker,
signifying changes in field strength. This is shown below:

100% Power

1% Power

Screenshots of the magnet at 100% power in varying positions are shown below:
 And with the polarity reversed:

Analysis/Compare with Prediction

As can be clearly seen, the magnetic field lines always follow the circular shape as
predicted. At lower strengths the field lines get weaker but retain the same shape. At higher
strengths the magnet caused the compass to react far quicker than at lower strengths.
 When the polarity of the magnet was reversed, the magnetic field lines follow the exact
same path, in the opposite direction. This caused the exact opposite reactions in the compass, as
predicted.
The compass appears to always align with the magnetic field lines perfectly, as expected.
This demonstrates how navigation compasses work, as the Earth’s magnetic field flows in the
same shape as any other magnetic field. Compasses simply align with the magnetic field,
pointing toward the north pole.

Earth's Magnetic Field

Conclusion
The simulations behaved as predicted in this lab, behaving as is expected from a bar
magnet. The behavior of the compass serves to demonstrate how compasses work in real life and
help to visualize the magnetic field of the earth.

Experiment 2:
Prediction
We predict that as the number of coils goes up, the area of the coils goes down, and the
strength of the magnet goes up, the light will increase. We also predict that the opposite settings
will cause the light to decrease.
Procedure
-Step 1: The Magnet strength is set to 75%
-Step 2: There are two coils both with a loop area set to 50%
-Step 3: We move the bar magnet through the coils and observe when and how strong the bulb
lights up. We recorded the data.
-Step 4: Then, we adjust the strength of the magnet from 1% to 100% along with flipping the
polarity of the magnet and recorded the data adjusting one variable at a time.
Data/Calculations
As screenshots cannot capture the motion of the magnet, it will simply be described. We
found that at control settings, the faster the magnet moved through the coils, the brighter the bulb
would light up.
As the number of coils in increased, the brighter the bulb lit up. At 3 coils, the bulb lights
up significantly brighter than at 1 coil.
Finally, as the loop area increased, the intensity of the bulb decreased.
Analysis/Compare with Prediction
Our predictions for this lab were accurate and obey Faraday’s law. Flux, which is
considered in Faraday’s law, is affected by the strength of the magnetic field and by the area that
the field flows through. As the area increases, the overall flux decreases, as there is less magnetic
field per area. This is what was observed in the simulation as well.
Faraday’s law also considers the number of coils, which is reflected in the simulation. As
the number of coils increases, the light gets significantly brighter.
Finally, the speed of the magnet moving through the coils was the most noticeable factor
in the bulb’s brightness. This makes sense, as the change in time is shown in Faraday’s law.
When the magnet moves faster, the change in time is smaller. Since this in an inverse
relationship in the equation, the smaller the change in time, the more voltage is induced. Our
observations match this theory.
Conclusion
This experiment gave the results expected, matching Faraday’s law exactly as expected.

Experiment 3:
Predictions
• We predict that this experiment will yield identical results to experiment 1, as an
electromagnet is effectively the same thing as a bar magnet. We also predict that a larger
number of loops will make for a more powerful magnetic field.
• We also predict that AC voltage will cause the magnetic field to constantly change,
making the compass give no constant reading.
Procedure
-Step 1: The same steps as experiment 1 are repeated, with the voltage of the battery being the
strength of the magnet.
-Step 2: The magnet is set to DC and the results are observed.
Data/Calculations
The results of this experiment are shown in the screenshots below:

Electromagnet at Max Power

Electromagnet at Minimum Power

 Electromagnet Voltage Reversed

Electromagnet set to AC 1

Analysis/Compare with Prediction

The results of this experiment are what was predicted, with the electromagnet behaving
identically to the bar magnet. This makes sense, as the effect of an electromagnet is identical to a
bar magnet, so it behaves the same. As the voltage increases in the battery, the strength of the
magnet increases. This is identical to changing the strength of the magnet in experiment 1. The
same is true for reversing the voltage, which is the same effect as reversing the polarity of the bar
magnet.
The only difference from experiment 1 is the addition of AC setting. In this setting, the
voltage constantly changes from high to low in a sine wave pattern. This causes the compass to
constantly change direction, as the magnetic field is constantly reversing, due to the voltage
constantly reversing.
Conclusion
This simulation serves to show again how an electromagnet is similar to a bar magnet and
produces the exact same behavior in a compass. The only difference was the interesting result of
the AC signal in the magnet, causing a constantly reversing magnetic field.
Experiment 4:
Prediction
We predict that the results of this experiment will be similar to experiment 2, obeying
Faraday’s law. As more voltage is put through the electromagnet, increasing its strength, the
lightbulb will get brighter. We also predict that an AC signal will be able to power the lightbulb
without moving.
Procedure
-Step 1: The default settings are considered the control settings, and the voltage of the battery is
varied.
-Step 2: The magnet is them moved through the coils, identically to experiment 2.
-Step 3: The coil numbers are then varied, and the results recorded.
-Step 4: Finally, the signal is set to AC, and the results recorded.
Data/Calculations
Like experiment 2, the moving behavior of the magnet will be described instead of shown
in screenshots.
All results from moving the magnet were identical in this experiment to experiment 2.
When the electromagnet was turned to AC voltage, the lightbulb lit up without any
movement in the magnet, as shown below:
When the electromagnet moves through the coils the light gets brighter. The faster it moves
through the coils the brighter the bulb gets.
As you add more coils, it requires less movement for the light bulb to produce the same amount
of light.
 AC Voltage Electromagnet

Analysis/Compare with Prediction

The results of this experiment were identical to experiment 2, as predicted. This makes
sense, as stated before, because an electromagnet has the same effect as a bar magnet. The only
significant difference in this experiment was how turning the electromagnet to AC voltage
allowed it to power the blub with no movement, if only slightly.
This is the point of the simulation, demonstrating how a transformer turn AC current into
DC current. The AC voltage induces a DC voltage in the other coil, without even moving or
touching it. This is the fundamental idea behind transformers used in the real world and is
accurate to Faraday’s law.
Conclusion
Faraday’s law holds true again in this experiment, allowing us to accurately predict the
results of the simulation. It is also quite significant to see an intuitive representation of the
function of a transformer. These devices are used almost everywhere in the real world, and
knowing how they work is useful and interesting.

Experiment 5:
Predictions
1. We predict that as the wheel is spun faster, the brighter the bulb will get, because the
magnet moving faster creates more flux at the coils.
2. We predict that as the loop area gets larger, the brightness will decrease, as per the
previous lab.
3. We also predict that the results of this experiment will align with the results of the
previous lab, obeying Faraday’s Law.
Procedure
-Step 1: The water is first set at 50RPM, with the magnet at 50% and the loop area at 20. These
are the control settings, only one setting is varied at a time.
-Step 2: The water flow is varied from 1 RPM to 100 RPM and the reaction of the bulb is
recorded.
-Step 3: The strength of the magnet is then varied from 1% to 100% and reactions are recorded
again.
-Step 4: The loop area is then varied from 20 to 100, and results are recorded.
Data/Calculations
Screenshots of the results of each step are shown below, note that screenshots are not
completely accurate, as the animation varies constantly.

Flow 50 RPM, Magnet Strength 50%, Loop Area 20. (Control Settings)
Flow 1 RPM

Flow 100 RPM

 Magnet Strength 1%

Magnet Strength 100%

 Loop Area 100 1

Analysis/Compare with Prediction

The results from this experiment are mostly what was predicted.
• As the flow rate increased, the bulb lit up brighter, and vice versa
• As the magnet strength increased, the bulb lit up brighter, and vice versa
• As the coil area changes, there was no discernable change in bulb brightness, this is not
what was expected, but could simply be due to error in our observation.
• As more coils were added, the bulb lit up brighter. This was depicted by running the
generator and watching the brightness of the bulb while fluctuating the number of coils.
It should be noted that the compass changes direction constantly, due to the magnetic field
constantly changing. Its positions in the screenshots should be disregarded.
Conclusion
This simulation of a generator serves to combine all the principles of the previous
experiments and show how different variables relating to Faraday’s law affect power generation.
The ideal generator would consist of the fastest mechanical input possible, the highest number of
coils, and the strongest magnet.
Faraday’s law holds true in this experiment, accurately predicting the behavior of a
generator.
Experiment 6:
Prediction
We predict that when the magnet is dropped through the coil, the DMM will read a small
amount of voltage. (<0.1V)
Procedure
-Step 1: The inductor is set up in series with the DMM, with the positive lead attached to the top
end of the coil.
-Step 2: The DMM is turned on and set to read AC voltage.
-Step 3: The strong magnet is dropped through the coil and the maximum voltage read by the
DMM is recorded.
Data/Calculations
The specific values for expected voltage are too complex to calculate for this lab, as the
number of coils, strength of the field, and change in time are unknown or difficult to determine.
The maximum voltage recorded by the DMM is shown below:

Reading 1

Analysis/Compare with Prediction

As can be seen in reading 1, the setup yielded an impressive 0.501 volts for an instant.
This is higher than we predicted, by a factor of 5. We were correct in predicting that it would
produce a measurable amount of voltage, however.
Conclusion
This simple demonstration shows how powerful the effects modeled by Faraday’s Law
really are. If half a volt can be generated by a simple magnet being dropped through a small coil,
a well-engineered generator with powerful magnets, high RPM, and a high could count could
produce a massive amount of power.

Summary
What’s Learned
These simulations all serve to demonstrate how Faraday’s Law predicts and models the
phenomenon of voltage induced in a coil by magnetic fields. This phenomenon is one of the
most useful, as it allows us to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy easily and
efficiently. A great example, shown in experiment 5, is a hydroelectric dam.
In a hydroelectric dam, the potential energy of water at a high point is converted into
electricity as it loses potential energy flowing through the dam. The water turns turbines as it
flows downward due to gravity, turning the magnets in a generator, creating flux at its coils, and
generating electricity.
This is how most of the world’s electricity is generated. Coal, nuclear, some forms of
solar, wind, and numerous other forms of power generation simply convert natural mechanical
energy into the movement of the magnets of a generator.
The phenomenon of induced voltage, described with Faraday’s law, allows humans to
turn otherwise useless natural energy such as wind, water, and the sun into electricity, powering
our modern world.
Suggestion/Improvement
A list of desired screenshots would be useful to cut down on the large number of
screenshots needed in the report.
Extra Comment
The simulation was well made, and really helps to make the material intuitive.