Physics Notes of

10th class SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY Chapter 15

Matric
(Part-2)
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Chapter 15: Electromagnetism
Multiple choice questions:
1. Which statement is true about the magnetic poles?
a) unlike poles repel b) like poles attract
c) magnetic poles do not affect each other d) a single magnetic pole does not exist
2. Which is the direction of the magnetic field lines inside a bar magnet?
a) From north pole to south pole b) from south pole to north pole
c) from side to side d) there are no magnetic field lines
3. If the current in a wire which is placed perpendicular to a magnetic field increases, the force on the wire:
a) increase b) decrease c) remains same d) will be zero
4. Electric power is equal to:
a) I2V b) IV2 c) I2R d) IR2
5. A D.C. motor converts:
a) mechanical energy into electrical energy b) mechanical energy into chemical energy
c) electrical energy into mechanical energy d) electrical energy into chemical energy
6. Which part of D.C. motor reverses the direction of current through the coil every half cycle?
a) the armature b) the commutator c) the brushes d) the slip rings
7. The shape of magnetic lines of force in case of straight current carrying conductor is …………
a) circular b) elliptical c) triangular d) rectangular
8. Laws of electromagnetic induction and electrolysis were presented by:
a) Simon Ohm b) George Coulomb c) Newton d) Michael Faraday
9. In Flemings left hand rule, stretch thumb indicates direction of:
a) force b) magnetic field c) current d) electric field
10. The direction of induced emf in a circuit is in accordance with the conservation of:
a) mass b) charge c) momentum d) energy
11. The presence of magnetic field can be detected by a:
a) Small mass b) stationary positive charge
c) stationary negative charge d) magnetic compass
12. The number of lines of force in a magnetic field depends upon:
a) shape of coil b) size of coil c) magnet d) strength of field
13. Electromagnetic induction was discovered by:
a) Oersted b) Ampere c) Newton d) both a and b
14. In A.C. generator, flux will be zero if coil is at:
a) 90o b) 45o c) parallel d) inclined
15. The shape of magnetic lines of force in case of straight current carrying conductor is:
a) elliptical b) triangular c) rectangular d) circular
16. The step-up transformer:
a) Increase the input current b) increase the input voltage
c) has more turns in the primary d) has less turns in the secondary coil
17. Transformer is used to:
a) Increase the voltage b) decrease the voltage c) both a and b d) none of these
18. The turns ratio of a transformer is 10. It means:
SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 1
 a) Is = 10 Ip b) Ns = Np/10 c) Ns = 10 Np d) Vs = Vp/10
19. An electrical device which is used to increase or decrease the value of alternating voltage is called:
a) transformer b) computer c) capacitor d) generator
20. A device which is used to increase the alternating voltage is called:
a) motor b) generator c) step up transformer d) step down transformer
21. The turn ratio of a transformer is 10, it means:
a) Is = 10 Ip b) Ns = Np/10 c) Ns = 10 Np d) Vs = 10 Vp
22. A current carrying conductor produces a field around it is called:
a) electric field b) magnetic field c) both a and b d) none of these
23. Iron core is used in transformer to:
a) increase the flux b) decrease the flux c) keep flux the same d) both a and b
24. The transformer works on the principle of:
a) mutual induction b) D.C. motor c) A.C. generator d) self-induction
25. A coil of wire consisting of many loops is called as:
a) toroid b) coil c) solenoid d) all of these

Write short answers to the following questions:

Q1. Demonstrate by an experiment that a magnetic field is produced around a straight current-
carrying conductor.
Ans. Take a straight conducting wire and pass it vertically through a cardboard. Now connect two ends
of conductor with terminals of a battery so that current flows through the circuit in clockwise direction.
The magnetic field produced around the wire would be in the form of concentric circles. If we place a
compass needle at different points in the region of magnetic field, it will be along the direction of
magnetic field.

Q2. On what principle does D.C. motor work?

Ans. A machine that converts D.C. electrical power into mechanical power is known as a Direct
Current motor. D.C. motor working is based on the principle that when a current carrying conductor is
placed in a magnetic field, the conductor experiences a mechanical force.

Q3. Suppose someone handed you three similar iron bars and told you one was not magnet, but the
other two were. How would you find the iron bar that was not magnet?
Ans: Bring one end of 1st iron bar close to the end of the 2nd iron bar. If end of these bars attracts each
other, then change the end of 1st iron bar and again bring it close to the 2nd iron bar. If again these two
bars show attraction then one of them is not a magnet. Now, bring one end of the 3 rd bar close to one end
of the 1st bar. If there is attraction then change the end of the 1 st iron bar and again bring it close to the
3rd iron bar. If they show repulsion then these 1st and 3rd bars are magnets and 2nd is simple iron rod but
if they show again attraction then the 1 st bar is simple iron bar and 2nd and 3rd are magnets.

Q4. State and explain the rule by which the direction of the lines of force of the magnetic field
around a current carrying-conductor can be determined.
Ans. Grasp a wire with your right hand such that your thumb is pointed in the
direction of current. Then curling fingers of your hand will point in the direction
of the magnetic field.

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 2

Q5. State an easy rule by which the polarity of current carrying
solenoid can be found out.
Ans. If we grip the coil with our right hand by curling our fingers in
the direction of the conventional current, our thumb will indicate the
north pole of the coil.

Q6. What is the difference between a generator and a motor?

Ans.
Generator Motor
A generator converts mechanical energy into A motor converts electrical energy into
electrical energy. mechanical energy.
In generator, firstly coil is rotated then In motor, firstly electricity is supplied then coil
electricity is generated. rotates.
Slip rings are used in generators. Split rings are used in motors.
At least one of the coils and magnetic should be Both of the coil and magnet should be
energized. energized.
Its principle is changing flux includes e.m.f. or Its principal is torque acting on a current
current in the coil. carrying coil placed in a magnetic field.

Q7. State Fleming’s left-hand rule.

Ans. Stretch the thumb, forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand mutually perpendicular to each
other. If the forefinger points in the direction of magnetic field, the middle finger in the direction of the
current, then the thumb would indicate the direction of the force acting on the conductor.

Q8. What reserves the direction of electric current in the armature coil of D.C. motor?
Ans: Split rings reverse the direction of current in the armature of D.C. motor.

Q9. State that a current carrying coil in a magnetic field experiences a torque.
Ans. If instead of a straight conductor, we place a current carrying coil inside a magnetic field. The loop
will rotate due to the torque acting on the coil. This is also the working principle of electric motors.

Q10. What is meant by solenoid?

Ans. A coil of wire consisting of many loops is called a solenoid. The field from each loop in a solenoid
adds to the fields of the other loops and creates greater total field strength. Electric current in the solenoid
of wire produces magnetic field which is similar to the magnetic field of a permanent bar magnet.

Q11. When a straight current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a
force. State the rule by which the direction of this force can be found out.
Ans. Fleming’s left-hand rule:
Stretch the thumb, fore figure and middle finger of left hand mutually
perpendicular to each other. If fore figure points in the direction of the
magnetic field the middle figure in the direction of current then the thumb
would indicate the direction of force acting on the conductor.

Q12. Suppose you have a coil of wire and a bar magnet. Describe how you could use them to
generate an electric current?
Ans. As we know that an e.m.f. is induced is a relative motion between the coil and the magnet. The
value of induced e.m.f. is directly proportional to the rate of change of number of magnetic lines through
SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 3
it (Faraday’s Law). If we place a coil in the magnetic field of a bar magnetic, some of the magnetic lines
of force will pass through it. If the coil is far away from the magnet only few lines of force will pass
through the coil. However, if the coil is close to the magnet, a large number of lines of force will pass
through it. The change in the number of magnetic field lines will induce an em.f. in the coil. This is the
basic principle of production of electricity and working of a transformer.

Q13. What is an electric motor? Explain the working principle of D.C. motor.
Ans. Long question (P-124)

Q14. Define electromagnet.

Ans. The type of temporary magnet, which is created when current flows through a coil is called as an
electromagnet. For example, the current carrying solenoid has a north and a south pole and thus behaves
like an electromagnet.

Q15. Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate that a changing magnetic field can induce e.m.f.
in a circuit.
Ans. (Activity 15.3 – page 127)

Q16. How direction of magnetic field is determined.

Ans. In case of a long straight wire direction of magnetic field can be determined as:
“Grasp a wire with your right hand such that your thumb is pointed in the direction of current

Q17. Which device is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy?
Ans. A D.C. motor is used for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Q18. Define electromagnetic induction.

Ans. The process of generating an induced current in a circuit by changing the number of magnetic lines
of force passing through it is called as electromagnetic induction.

Q19. What is meant by drift velocity?

Ans. A drift velocity is the average velocity attained by charged particles, such as electrons, in a material
due to an electric field.

Q20. What are the factors which affect the magnitude of the e.m.f. induced in a circuit by a
magnetic field?
Ans. The factors which affect the magnitude of the e.m.f. induced in a circuit by a magnetic field are:
 Speed of relative motion of the coil and the magnet.
 Number of turns of the coil.
 Amount of current passing through the coil.

Q21. What is transformer? On what principle it works? OR What is a transformer? Explain the
working of a transformer in connection with mutual induction.
Ans. A device which is used to change the potential difference of a system is known as transformer. It is
a practical application of mutual induction. It is used to increase or decrease A.C. voltage. Many of the
devices in our homes such as game systems, printers and stereos use transformers for their working.

Q22. A conductor wire generates a voltage while moving through a magnetic field. In what
direction should the wire be moved, relative to the field to generate the maximum voltage?
SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 4
Ans. If we want to generate the maximum voltage in the conductor wire then it must be moved
perpendicular to the magnetic field.

Q23. Give principle of A.C. generator.

Ans. An A.C. generators operate on the same fundamental principles of electromagnetic induction as
D.C. generators i.e., the speed at which the coil rotated and magnetic field enhances.

Q24. You are given an unmarked magnetized steel bar and bar magnet; its north and south ends
are marked N and S respectively. State how would you determine the polarity at each end of the
unmarked bar?
Ans. Suspend the unmarked bar magnet by a thread from its centre. Bring the north pole of marked bar
magnet near one end of suspended magnet. Repulsion will show that the end is north pole of unmarked
bark magnet and attraction will show its south pole.

Q25. Suppose we hang a loop of wire so that it can swing easily. If we now put a magnet into the
coil, the coil will starts swinging, which way will it swing relative to the magnet, and why?
Ans. If we put a magnet into the hanging coil, then the coil will start swinging and it will swing in the
same direction as the direction of motion of magnet.
Reason: According to the Lenz’s law the direction of an induced current in a circuit is always such that
it opposes the cause that produces it. So, when the magnet is moved forward to coil then, due to change
of flux, an induced current is produced in anti-clockwise direction (according to the right hand rule)
which creates North Pole on the same side as the magnet. The two north poles then repel each other which
cause the coil to the swing.

Q26. State Lenz’s law.

Ans. According to the Lenz’s law the direction of an induced current in a circuit is always such that it
opposes the cause that produces it.

Q27. Draw a labelled diagram to illustrate the structure and working of A.C. generator.
Ans.

Q28. Describe relay briefly.

Ans. A relay is an electrical switch that open and closes under the control of another electrical circuit. A
relay is used to control a large current with the help of a small current. The 1 st circuit (input circuit)
supplies current to the electromagnet. The electromagnet is magnetized and attracts one end of the iron
armature.

Q29. Describe the direction of an induced e.m.f. in a circuit. How does this phenomenon relate to
conservation of energy?
Ans. Lenz’s law:

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 5

 The direction of an induced current in a circuit is always such that it opposes the cause that produces
it.
Relation of law with law of conservation of energy:
If we apply law of conservation of energy to electromagnetic induction, we realize that the electrical
energy induced in a conductor appears from the kinetic energy of the moving magnet. We do some work
on the magnet to bring it close to the solenoid. This work done appears as electrical energy in the
conductor. Thus, mechanical energy of our hand is converted into electrical energy. Hence Lenz’s law is
a manifestation of law of conservation of energy.

Q30. How force in an armature can be increased?

Ans. The force acting on an armature can be increased by:
 Increasing the number of turns of the coil.
 Increasing the current in the coil.
 Increasing the strength of the magnetic field.
 Increasing the area of the coil.

Q31. A wire lying perpendicular to an external magnetic field

carries a current in the direction shown in the diagram below. In
what direction will the wire move due to resulting magnetic force?
Ans. According to the Fleming’s left-hand rule stretch the thumb, fore
figure and middle finger of left hand mutually perpendicular to each other. If fore figure points in the
direction of the magnetic field the middle figure in the direction of current then the thumb would indicate
the direction of force acting on the conductor. Thus, on the basis of this rule the wire will move in
downward direction.

Q32. Define A.C. generator.

Ans. A device which is used to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy is called as generator.
If such generator generates an alternating current (A.C.) then it is called as A.C. generator.

Q33. What do you understand by the term mutual induction? OR Define mutual induction.
Ans. The phenomenon of production of induced current in one coil due to change of current in a
neighboring coil is called mutual induction.

Q34. Can a transformer operate on direct current?

Ans. No, a transformer cannot operate on direct current because its working principle is mutual induction
in which changing current is required in primary coil to generate the current in the secondary coil. But in
D.C., current does not change so it cannot produce induced current in the secondary coil.

Q35. Define step-up transformer and draw its diagram.

Ans. Those transformers in which number of turns of primary coil is less
than number of turns of secondary coil are called as step-up transformer.

Q36. The voltage chosen for the transmission of electrical power over large distances is many times
greater than the voltage of the domestic supply. State two reasons why electrical power is
transmitted at high voltage.
Ans.
 Since power transmission is over large distance so resistance of the cable will be very large. So,
high voltage is required to overcome the resistance.
SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 6
  The cost of conductor and supporting structure material is reduced by using high voltage
transmission.
 High voltage transmission also reduces the dissipation of current in a circuit.

Q37. Whys is the voltage for the domestic supply much lower than the voltage at which the power
is transmitted?
Ans. In different electric stations, the electricity is removed from the high voltage transmission and passes
through step down transformers that lowers the voltage. For domestic purpose, different appliances are
used at 220 V.

Q38. Define the strength of magnetic field.

Ans. The number of magnetic lines of forces passing through any surface. The number of lines of force
is maximum when the surface is held perpendicular to the lines. It will be minimum when surface is held
parallel to the magnetic lines of force.

Numerical Problems
Q 15.1. A transformer is needed to convert a mains 240 V supply into a 12 V supply. If there are
2000 turns on the primary coil, then find the number of turns on the secondary coil.
Solution: =
Given Data:
Primary voltage = VP = 240 V N s = x NP
Secondary voltage = VS = 12 V
Ns = x 2000
Number of primary coils = NP = 2000
To find: Ns = 100
Number of secondary coil = NS = ? Result:
Calculation: Number of secondary coils = NS = 100
As we know that:

Q 15.2. A step-up transformer has a turn ratio of 1:100. An alternating supply of 20 V is connected
across the primary coil. What is the secondary voltage?
Solution: =
Given Data:
Primary voltage =VP = 20 V V P x = Vs
Ratio of primary and secondary coil = = Or V s = x VP
To find:
Vs = x 20
Voltage of secondary coil = VS = ?
Calculation: Vs = 2000 V
As we know that Result:
Secondary voltage = VS = 2000 V

Q 15.3. A step-down transformer has a turns ratio of 100:1. An AC voltage of amplitude 170 V is
applied to the primary. If the current in the primary is 1.0 mA, what is the current in the
secondary?
Solution:
Given Data:
Primary Voltage = VP = 170 V Current in primary coil = IP = 1 mA = 1 x 10-3 A
Ratio of primary and secondary coil = = To find:

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 7

Current in secondary coil = Is = ? For ideal transformers
Calculation: P P = PS
As we know that So;
= =
VP x = Vs IS =
Or Vs = x VP IS =
.
Vs = x 170 IS = 0.1 A
Result:
Vs = 1.7 V
Current in secondary coil = Is = 0.1 A

Q 15.4. A transformer, designed to convert the voltage from 240 V A.C. mains to 12 V, has 4000
turns on the primary coil. How many turns should be on the secondary coil? if the transformer
were 100% efficient, what current would flow through the primary coil when the current in the
secondary coil was 0.4 A?
Solution: Ns = x 4000
Given Data:
Ns = 200
Primary voltage = VP = 240 V
For ideal transformers
Number of primary coils = NP = 4000
P P = PS
Secondary voltage = VS = 12 V
So;
Current in secondary coil = IS = 0.4 A
To find: =
a) Number of secondary coil = NS = ? IP =
b) Current in secondary coil = IP = ? .
Calculation: IP =
a) As we know that IP = 0.02 A
= Result:
a) Number of secondary coils = NS = 200
N s = x NP b) Current in secondary coil = IP = 0.02 A

Q 15.5. A power station generates 500 MW of electrical power which is fed to a transmission line.
What current would flow in the transmission line, if the input voltage is 250 kV?
Solution: P = VI
Given Data: I=
Voltage = V = 250 kV = 250 × 103 V
Power = P = 500 × 106 W I=
To find: I = 2000 A
Current = I = ? Result:
Calculation: Current = I = 2000 A
As we know that

Long Questions
Q1. How turning effect on a current carrying coil in a magnetic field is determined?

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 8

Ans. Instead of a straight conductor, if we place a current-carrying loop
inside the magnetic field, the loop will rotate due to the torque
acting on the coil. This is also the working principle of electric
motors. Consider a rectangular coil of wire with sides PQ and
RS, lying perpendicular to the field, placed between the two poles
of a permanent magnet. Now, if the ends of the coil are connected
with the positive and negative terminals of a battery, a current
would start flowing through the coil. The current passing through
the loop enters from one end of the loop and leaves from the other
end.
Now apply Fleming's left-hand rule to each side of the coil. We can see that on PQ side of the loop
force acts upward, while on the RS side of the loop force acts downward. It is because the direction
of the current through the two sides of the loop facing the two poles is at right angles to the field but
opposite to each other. The two forces which are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction form
a couple. The resulting torque due to this couple rotates the loop, and the magnitude of the torque
acting on the loop is proportional to the magnitude of the current passing through the loop. If we
increase the number of loops, the turning effect is also increased. This is the working principle of
electric motors.

Q2. Write a note on D.C. motor.

Ans. Consider a simple coil placed in a magnet that cannot rotate
more than 90°. The forces push the PQ side of the coil up and
the RS side of the loop down until the loop reaches the vertical
position. In this situation, plane of the loop is perpendicular
to the magnetic field and the net force on the coil is zero. So,
the loop will not continue to turn because the forces are still
up and down and hence balanced.
We can make this coil to rotate continuously by reversing the
direction of the current just as the coil reaches its vertical position. This reversal of current will allow
the coil to rotate continuously. To reverse direction of current, the connection to coil is made through
an arrangement of brushes and a ring that is split into two halves, called a split ring commutator.
Brushes, which are usually pieces of graphite, make contact with the commutator and allow current
to flow into the loop. As the loop rotates, so does the commutator. The split ring is arranged so that
each half of the commutator changes brushes just as the coil reaches the vertical position. Changing
brushes reverse the current in the loop.
As a result, the direction of the force on each side of the coil is reversed and it continues to rotate.
This process repeats at each half-turn, causing coil to rotate in the magnetic field continuously. The
result is an electric motor, which is a device that converts electric energy into rotational kinetic
energy. In a practical electric motor, the coil, called the armature, is made of many loops mounted
on a shaft or axle. The magnetic field is produced either by permanent magnets or by an
electromagnet, called a field coil. The torque on the armature, and, as a result, the speed of the motor,
is controlled by varying the current through the motor. The total force acting on the armature can be
increased by:
 Increasing the number of turns of the coil
 Increasing the current in the coil
 Increasing the strength of the magnetic field
 Increasing the area of the coil.

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 9

 Q3. Determine the force on a current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field.
Ans. We know that electric current produces a magnetic field similar to that of a permanent magnet. Since
a magnetic field exerts force on a permanent magnet, it implies that current-carrying wire should
also experience a force when placed in a magnetic field. In below figure, a battery produces current
in a wire placed inside the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. Current-carrying wire produces
its own magnetic field which interacts with the field of the magnet. As a result, a force is exerted on
the wire. Depending on the direction of the current, the force on the wire either pushes or pulls it
towards right or towards left.

Michael Faraday discovered that the force on the wire is at right angles to both the direction of the
magnetic field and the direction of the current. The force is increased if:
 The current in the wire is increased.
 Strength of magnetic field is increased.
 The length of the wire inside the magnetic field is increased.
To determine the direction of force, we use Fleming’s left-hand rule which states:
“Stretch the thumb, forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand mutually perpendicular to each
other. If the forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic field, the middle finger in the direction
of the current, then the thumb would indicate the direction of the force acting on the conductor.”

Q4. Write a note on transformer. OR What is a transformer? Also explain its working principle.
OR Describe the construction and working of a transformer.
Ans. Transformer is a practical application of mutual induction. Transformers are used to increase or
decrease AC voltages. Usage of transformers is common because they change voltages with
relatively little loss of energy. In fact, many of the devices in our homes, such as game systems,
printers, and stereos use transformers for their working.
Working of a transformer
A transformer has two coils, electrically insulated from each other, but
wound around the same iron core. One coil is called the primary coil.
The other coil is called the secondary coil. Number of turns on the
primary and the secondary coils are represented by Np and Ns
respectively. When the primary coil is connected to a source of AC
voltage, the changing current creates a changing magnetic field, which
is carried through the core to the secondary coil. In the secondary coil,
the changing field induces an alternating e.m.f. The e.m.f. induced in
the secondary coil, called the secondary voltage Vs, is proportional to
the primary voltage Vp. The secondary voltage also depends on the
ratio of the number of turns on the secondary coil to the number of
turns on the primary coil, as shown by the following expression:
=
If the secondary voltage is larger than the primary voltage, the
transformer is called a step-up transformer. If the secondary voltage is smaller than the primary
voltage, the transformer is called a step-down transformer. In an ideal transformer, the electric
SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 10
 power delivered to the secondary circuit is equal to the power supplied to the primary circuit. An
ideal transformer dissipates no power itself, and for such a transformer, we can write:
P p = Ps
Vp Ip = Vs Is

Q5. State and explain mutual induction.

Ans. The phenomenon of production of induced current in one coil due to change of current in a
neighboring coil is called mutual induction.
Suppose a system of two coils A and B placed close to
each other. The coil A is connected to a battery and a
switch, while a sensitive galvanometer is connected to
the coil B. We observe that as soon as the switch of the
coil A is closed, the galvanometer shows a momentary
deflection. Similarly, when the switch is opened, the
galvanometer again shows a deflection but this time its
direction is opposite to that of the previous case.
We can explain these observations using
Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. When the
switch of coil A is closed, a current begins to flow in the coil due to which magnetic field is
developed across the coil. Some of the magnetic lines of force of this field start passing through the
coil B. Since current is changing in the coil A, hence number of magnetic lines of force across the
coil B also changes due to which a current is induced in the coil B in accordance with Faraday's law.
When current in the coil A becomes steady, number of magnetic lines of force across the coil A also
becomes constant. Therefore, there is no more change in number of magnetic lines of force through
the coil B due to which induced current in coil B reduces to zero. Similarly, when the switch of the
coil A is opened, the flow of current through it stops and its magnetic field reaches to zero. The
number of magnetic lines of force through the coil B decreases to zero due to which current is again
induced in it but in opposite direction to that in the previous case.

Q6. Write a note on A.C. generator.

Ans. If a coil is rotated in a magnetic field, a current will be induced in the coil. The strength of this
induced current depends upon the number of magnetic lines of force passing through the coil. The
number of lines of magnetic force passing through the coil will be maximum when the plane of the
coil is perpendicular to the lines of magnetic force. The number of lines of magnetic force will be
zero when plane of the coil is parallel to the lines of force. Thus, when a coil rotates in a magnetic
field, the induced current in it continuously changes from maximum to minimum value and from
minimum to maximum value and so on. This is the basic principle on which an A.C generator
works.

The armature is arranged so that it can rotate freely in the magnetic field. As the armature turns,
the wire loops cut through the magnetic field lines and induced e.m.f. will be produced. The e.m.f.

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 11

developed by the generator depends on the length of the wire rotating in the field. Increasing the
number of loops in the armature, increases the wire length, thereby increasing the induced e.m.f.
Current from a generator
When a generator is connected in a closed circuit, the induced e.m.f. generates an electric current.
As the loop rotates, the strength and the direction of the current changes as shown in fig. When the
plane of will is perpendicular to field, the number of lines of magnetic force passing the trough it is
maximum. But the change in the number of lines through the coil is minimum. So, e.m.f. induced is
minimum. The current is minimum when the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the magnetic
field; that is, when the loop is in the vertical position. As the loop rotates from the vertical to the
horizontal position, it cuts through larger magnetic field lines per unit of time, thus the e.m.f. and
the current increase. When the loop is in the horizontal position, the plane of the loop becomes
parallel to the field, so the e.m.f. and the current reaches its maximum value. As the loop continues
to turn, the segment that was moving up begins to move down and reverses the direction of the e.m.f.
and the current in the loop. This change in direction takes place each time the loop turns through
180°. Thus, the e.m.f. and the current change smoothly from zero to some maximum values and back
to zero during each half-turn of the loop.

SAUD CHAUDHARY
M.Phil. Physics
Lecturer: Punjab Group of Colleges
Contact: 03037835125/03248762313

SUBHAN SCIENCE ACADEMY 12