Electromagnetic Induction Experiments

Last updated on December 15th, 2023 at 11:49 am

The effect of producing electricity from magnetism was discovered in 1831 by Faraday and is called electromagnetic induction. It inspired the construction of generators for producing electrical energy in power stations. In this post, we will discuss Electromagnetic Induction Experiments. Before that, you may read about Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction here.

Electromagnetic Induction Experiments

Two ways of investigating electromagnetic induction follow.

Straight wire and U-shaped magnet

First, the wire is held at rest between the poles of the magnet. It is then moved in each of the six
directions shown in Figure 1 and the meter is observed.

Only when it is moving upwards (direction 1) or downwards (direction 2) is there a deflection on the meter, indicating an induced current in the wire.

In these two cases, the deflection is in opposite directions and the deflection only lasts while the wire is in motion.

Bar magnet and coil

The magnet is pushed into the coil, one pole first (Figure 2), then held still inside it.

It is then withdrawn.

The meter shows that current is induced in the coil in one direction as the magnet is moved in and in the opposite direction as it is moved out.

There is no deflection when the magnet is at rest.

As only relative motion is needed, the results are the same if the coil is moved instead of the magnet.

This experiment indicates that an e.m.f. is induced in a conductor when it is linked by a changing magnetic field or when it moves across a magnetic field. Know about the Magnitude and direction of Induced emf