Electromagnetic induction, the process where a conductor is placed in a changing magnetic field to produce a current, was the main concept of our study and experiment last Monday. The experiment has four main parts; and we used two solenoids of different radius as a conductor and a magnet as the source of the changing magnetic field.
For the first part, one terminal of a galvanometer was plugged in to a power supply and the other terminal connected to a person (by holding it) which is in series to the power supply. This is to determine the direction of the current that passes through the circuit and to set the ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ direction.
Next, the galvanometer was connected to a solenoid and a magnet is moved in and out of the solenoid at different speeds while noting the respective reading on the galvanometer. It was found out that the direction of the current produced when the magnet is moved towards the solenoid is on the positive direction, and vice versa. The current that passes through the solenoid is greater when the change in magnetic field is greater or when the magnet is moved faster in or out of the solenoid.
For the third part of the experiment, the smaller solenoid was placed inside the bigger one and the bigger solenoid was connected to a power supply. After switching the power supply on and off, the resulting reading was recorded. Same procedure was done on the second and third trial, but an iron rod and an aluminum rod was placed on it first. It was observed that the current is greatest when the iron rod is inside it, and that the aluminum rod has no effect in the system.
Lastly, the galvanometer readings was recorded at each intervals when the smaller solenoid was moved 1cm outside the bigger one. It can be easily observed that the deflection is at maximum when the smaller solenoid is directly inside the bigger solenoid.
There are really many ways of observing the effect of electromagnetic induction and observing those real-time really makes it easier to understand. I’m still having difficulties with the application of the right-hand rule in Lenz’s Law but I’m positive that I would be able to grasp the concept after a little more study. There was no difficulty in the experiment in general, except that we again got a defective instrument, this time the solenoid. I hope that the could replace it for the next 102.1 batch.
The blog came in late this week because I got sick >.< Luckily there’s no classes today. Keep safe everyone! Have a nice week ahead 🙂
saveallred 