Induced EMF in a Coil of Wire
Current travels from coil to conductor.Copyright Mainboard, Free Images, Getty Images http://www.sxc.hu/photo/862811
Students use a simple setup consisting of a coil of wire and a magnet to visualize induced EMF. First, they move a coil of wire near a magnet and observe the voltage that results. Then they experiment with moving the wire, magnet and a second, current-carrying coil. They connect the coil to a circuit and the current from the induced EMF charges a conductor.
To create MRI machines, engineers harness the power of radiation to produce images of the body while designing the equipment to protect patient and medical personnel from any dangerous side effects. To do this, engineers who develop MRI safety strategies must be aware of voltage changes occuring in metal objects within the magnetic field as result of the motion and strength of the field. At activity end, students consider this application with respect to MRI machines in the handout questions 1-3.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the motional EMF produced when a coil of wire moves through a magnetic field or a magnetic field moves through a coil of wire.
- Explain the induced EMF when a magnetic field through a coil of wire is increased.
- Charge a conductor using current from an induced EMF.