LAST MINUTE REVISION OF ELECTRO MAGNETISM

A) MAGNETIC EFFECT OF ELECTRIC CURRENT:

OERSTED'S EXPERIMENT
ON THE MAGNETIC EFFECT
OF ELECTRIC CURRENT
Hans Oersted, in 1820, in
his experiments observed
that when an electric
current is passed through
a conducting wire, a
magnetic field is produced
around it. The presence of
magnetic field at any point
around the current
carrying wire can be
detected with the help of a
compass needle.

Explanation: The deflection of magnetic needle on passing current in

the wire, clearly indicates the creation of magnetic field around the
wire. Thus, on passing current in the wire, a magnetic field is produced
around it and the magnetic needle of compass experiences a torque in
this magnetic field, so it deflects to align itself in the direction of
magnetic field at that point.
On increasing current in the wire, the deflection of the compass needle
increases which implies that the strength of magnetic field around the
wire increases. On reversing the direction of current in the wire, the
direction of deflection of the magnetic needle of compass reverses
because the direction of magnetic field reverses.
Inference: A current (or moving charge) produces a magnetic field
around it. This is called the magnetic effect of current.
The strength of magnetic field depends on the magnitude of current
and its direction depends on the direction of current.
MAGNETIC FIELD AND FIELD LINES DUE TO CURRENT IN A STRAIGHT
WIRE
From the magnetic field lines pattern, we note that:
(1) The magnetic field lines form the
concentric circles around the wire,
with their plane perpendicular to
the straight wire and with their
centres lying on the wire.
(2) When the direction of current in
the wire is reversed, the pattern of
iron filings does not change, but the
direction of deflection of the
compass needle gets reversed. The north pole of the compass needle
now points in a direction opposite to the previous direction showing
that the direction of magnetic field has reversed.
(3) On increasing current in the wire, the magnetic field lines become
denser and the iron filings get arranged in circles up to a larger
distance from the wire. showing that the magnetic field strength has
increased and it is effective up to a larger distance.

RULE TO FIND THE DIRECTION OF MAGNETIC FIELD

Experimentally the direction of magnetic field at a point is determined
with the help of compass needle. . But theoretically the direction of
magnetic field (or magnetic field lines) produced due to flow of
current in a conductor can be determined by various rules. One such
rule is the right-hand thumb rule.

Right hand thumb rule

If we hold the current carrying conductor in
our right hand such that the thumb points in
the direction of flow of current, then the
fingers encircle the wire in the direction of
the magnetic field lines.
MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO CURRENT IN A LOOP (OR CIRCULAR COIL)
From the pattern of magnetic field lines, it is noted that:
1) In the vicinity of wire at P and Q, the
magnetic field lines are nearly circular.
2) Within the space enclosed by the wire
(i.e., between P and Q), the magnetic field
lines are in the same direction.
3) Near the centre of loop, the magnetic
field lines are nearly parallel to each other,
so the magnetic field may be assumed to
be nearly uniform in a small space near the centre.
4) At the centre, the magnetic field lines are along the axis of loop and
normal to its plane.
5) The magnetic field lines become denser (i.e., the magnetic field
strength is increased) if
(i) the strength of current in loop is increased, and
(ii) the number of turns in the loop is increased.

Clock rule (clockwise current-south pole and anticlockwise current-

north pole)
MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A CURRENT CARRYING CYLINDRICAL COIL
(OR SOLENOID)
If a conducting wire is wound in
form of a cylindrical coil whose
diameter is less in comparison to
its length, the coil is called a
SOLENOID. It looks like a helical
spring. To obtain the magnetic
field lines due to a current
carrying solenoid, the following
experiment is performed.

From the pattern of magnetic field lines, it is found that:

(1) The magnetic field lines inside the solenoid are nearly straight and
parallel to the axis of solenoid i.e., the magnetic field is uniform inside
the solenoid.
(2) The magnetic field lines become denser (i.e., a strong magnetic
field is obtained) on increasing current in the solenoid.
(3) The magnetic field is increased, if the number of turns in the
solenoid of given length is increased.
(4) The magnetic field is also increased, if a soft iron rod (core) is
placed along the axis of Di solenoid. The soft iron increases the
strength of magnetic field of the solenoid as soft iron has a high
magnetic permeability.
(5) In Fig., the end P at which the direction of current is anticlockwise
behaves as a north pole (N), while the end Q at which the direction of
current is clockwise behaves as a south pole (S). On reversing the
direction of current in the solenoid, the polarities at the ends of
solenoid are reversed because the direction of magnetic field has
reversed.

Similarities between a current carrying solenoid and a bar magnet :

(1) The magnetic field lines of a current carrying solenoid are similar
to the magnetic field lines of a bar magnet. Thus, a current carrying
solenoid behaves just like a bar magnet.
(2) A current carrying solenoid when suspended freely sets itself in
the north-south direction exactly in the same manner as a bar magnet
does.
(3) A current carrying solenoid also acquires the attractive property of
a magnet. If iron filings are brought near the current carrying
solenoid, it attracts them.

Dissimilarities between a current carrying solenoid and a bar magnet:

(1) The strength of magnetic field due to a solenoid can be changed by
changing the current in it, while the strength of magnetic field due to
a bar magnet cannot be changed.
(2) The direction of magnetic field due to a solenoid can be reversed
by reversing the direction of current in it, but the direction of
magnetic field due to a bar magnet cannot be reversed.

Electromagnet: An electromagnet is a temporary strong magnet made

by passing current in a coil wound around a piece of soft iron. It is an
artificial magnet.

An electromagnet can be made in any shape, but usually the following

two shapes of electromagnet are in use:
(1) I-shape (or bar) magnet, and
(2) U-shape (or horse-shoe) magnet.

Construction of I Shaped (or bar) electromagnet:

Construction of U Shaped (or horse shoe) electromagnet:

Ways of increasing the magnetic field of an electromagnet
The magnetic field of an electromagnet (I or U-shaped) can be
increased by the following two ways:
(1) by increasing the number of turns of winding in the solenoid, and
(2) by increasing the current through the solenoid.

Permanent Magnet :
A permanent magnet is a naturally occurring magnet. Since it is not
strong enough and also not of the required shape for many purposes,
so a strong permanent magnet is made like an electromagnet using
the piece of steel, instead of soft iron.

Difference between Electromagnet and a Permanent Magnet:

Electromagnet Permanent Magnet
1. It is made of soft iron. 1. It is made of steel.
2. It produces the magnetic 2. It produces a permanent
field so long as current magnetic field.
flows in its coil.
3. The magnetic field 3. The magnetic field
strength can be changed. strength cannot be changed.

ADVANTAGES OF AN ELECTRO MAGNET OVER A PERMANENT MAGNET

An electromagnet has the following advantages over a permanent
magnet:
(1) An electromagnet can produce a strong magnetic field.
(2) The strength of the magnetic field of an electromagnet can easily
be changed by changing the current (or the number of turns) in its
solenoid.
(3) The polarity of the electromagnet or the direction of the field
produced by it can be reversed by reversing the direction of current in
its solenoid.

USES OF ELECTROMAGNET
Electromagnets are mainly used for the following purposes:
(1)For lifting and transporting heavy iron scrap, girders, plates, etc.
particularly when it is not convenient to take the help of human
labour. Electromagnets are used to lift as much as 20,000 kg of iron in
a single lift. To unload the iron objects at the desired place, the
current in the electromagnet is switched off so that the electromagnet
gets demagnetised and the iron objects get detached.
(2) For loading the furnaces with iron.
(3) For separating the iron pieces from debris and ores, where iron
exists as impurities (e.g., for separating iron from the crushed copper
ore in copper mines).
(4) For removing the pieces of iron from wounds.
(5) In scientific research, to study the magnetic properties of a
substance in a magnetic field.
(6) In several electrical devices such as electric bell, telegraph, electric
tram, electric motor, relay, microphone, loud speaker, etc.
Use of electromagnet in an
electric bell:
An electric bell is one of the
most commonly used
application of an electromagnet.
Note: If an a.c. source is used in
place of the battery, the core of
electromagnet will get
magnetised, but the polarity at
its ends will change. Since
attraction of armature does not
depend on the polarity of the
electromagnet, so the bell will still ring on pressing the switch K.

B) FORCE ON A CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTOR IN A MAGNETIC

FIELD AND ITS APPLICATION IN D.C. MOTOR

FORCE ON A CURRENT
CARRYING CONDUCTOR IN A
MAGNETIC FIELD:
Lorentz found that a charge
moving in a magnetic field,
in a direction other than the
direction of magnetic field,
experiences a force. It is
called the Lorentz force.
Magnitude of force: Experimentally it is found that the magnitude of
force acting on a current carrying wire placed in a magnetic field in
the direction perpendicular to its length, depends on the following
three factors:
(a) The force F is directly proportional to the current I flowing in the
wire.
(b) The force F is directly proportional to the strength of magnetic
field B.
(c) The force F is directly proportional to the length 1 of the wire
(within the magnetic field).
Combining the eqns. (i), (ii) and (iii),
F = K IBI
where K is a constant, whose value depends on the choice of the unit.
In S.I. units, the unit of B is such that K = 1 Then
F = IBl

Unit of magnetic field:

𝐅
B= From the above equation, so the S.I Unit of magnetic field is or
𝐈𝐱𝐋
𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐭𝐨𝐧
. It is also named as Tesla (symbol T) or Weber / meter2
𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐱 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞
(symbol Wb m-2).

Fleming’s left-hand rule for the direction of force:

Fleming’s left-hand rule:
Stretch the forefinger,
central finger and the
thumb of your left hand
mutually perpendicular
to each other as shown
in Fig. If the forefinger
indicates the direction of
magnetic field and the central finger indicates the direction of current,
then the thumb will indicate the direction of motion of conductor (i.e.,
force on conductor).

Simple D.C. Motor:

An electric motor is a device
which converts the electrical
energy into mechanical energy.
 C) ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO A.C.
GENERATOR

Electromagnetic Induction:
Whenever there is a change in the number of magnetic field lines
linked with a conductor, an electromotive force (e.m.f.) is developed
between the ends of the conductor which lasts as long as there is a
change in the number of magnetic field lines through the conductor.
This phenomenon is called the electromagnetic induction.

Demonstration of the phenomenon of

electromagnetic induction:
Conclusions: (1) A current flows in the
coil only when there is a relative
motion between the coil and the
magnet.
(2) The direction of current is reversed
if the direction of motion (or polarity of
the magnet) is reversed.
(3) The current in the coil is increased
by
(i) the rapid motion of magnet (or coil),
(ii) the use of a strong magnet, and
(iii) increasing the area of cross section of coil and by increasing the
number of turns in the coil.

Flemming’s right hand rule:

Stretch the thumb, central
finger and forefinger of your
right hand mutually
perpendicular to each other
as shown in Fig. If the
forefinger indicates the
direction of magnetic field
and the thumb indicates the
direction of motion of the
conductor, then the central finger will indicate the direction of
induced current.

Lenz's law:
According to Lenz's law, the direction of induced e.m.f. (or
induced current) is such that it opposes the cause which
produces it.
Some Important Questions:

Q1.
Q2.

Q3. State condition in each case for the magnitude of force on a

current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field to be (a) zero,
and (b) maximum.