UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

Electromagnetism
PHYSICS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE UNIT 6

PREPARED BY KIMSHA A. WILLIAMS

MARCH 2014
 Introduction
Magnetism is a quantum
mechanical phenomenon. In the 1800s, it was hypothesised that
all magnetic effects were due to
The understanding of magnetism is “molecular currents”, attributed to the
extremely important in the continuing movement or “spin“ of electrons.
development of modern technology The spin of an electron is hard to
since magnetism comes into play every visualise, but electron spin has the
time we open our fridge, listen to an properties of a small magnetic moment
mp3 player or turn on a computer. pointing either “up” or “down”. 
 Magnetism and Magnetic Materials

To date, several types of magnetism have been

distinguished. Ferromagnetism is the strongest
type of magnetism and is the only type that creates
forces strong enough to be felt.
FERROMAGNETISM
For ferromagnetism to occur there must be an
internal driving force that causes parallel alignment of
the spins of the electrons to be the more favourable
state. 

In a paramagnet, the magnetic moments tend to PARAMAGNETISM

be randomly orientated due to thermal fluctuations
when there is no magnetic field.

 In the simplest case of anti-ferromagnetism,

adjacent magnetic moments are equal in magnitude
and opposite therefore there is no overall ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
magnetisation.
http://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/ferromagnetic/types.php
 Magnetic Induction

Magnetism can be induced or created in a

ferromagnetic material so that the dipoles all
become aligned in regular fashion creating a
North and a South pole.

This may be achieved by a method called

stroking as shown on the left. The North
pole is created where the South pole of the
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/Electricity-Basic-Navy-Training- pole of the permanent magnet begins
Courses/electricity-basic-navy-training-courses-chapter-11.htm
stroking.

Magnetism can also be created by passing a magnet through a strong

current or by continuous hammering so that the dipoles of the material are
manually/physically aligned in the same direction.

A Permanent magnet can become demagnetized by passing it through a

reversed current or by dropping it.
 Properties of Magnets
The opposite ends of a magnetic dipole or a set of dipoles are
called poles. Each magnet has a North pole and a South pole.

A freely suspended magnet aligns itself with the earth’s

magnetic North pole as seen by a plotting compass. The needle of
a plotting compass is called the north-seeking pole and points
North.

If an un-magnetized ferromagnetic material such as an iron bar

is brought near a permanent magnet, it will be attracted by
magnetic induction under the magnetic influence of the
permanent magnet.

Magnets exert mutual forces on one another or on un-

magnetized materials. There is a force of attraction between to
magnets with their like poles near each other and there is a force
of repulsion between two magnets with their opposite poles http://www.howmagnetswork.com/
facing each other.
 Electromagnetism

 Electrodynamics is concerned with the

creation of a magnetic field from an electric
current.

 This occurs when electricity passes through a

wire, and automatically a magnetic field is
created around the wire as shown on the right.

 Looping the wire carrying the current increases

the magnetic field.

 When an iron core is added, the magnetic effect

is greatly increased and this is called an
electromagnet.

 An electromagnet without the iron core is

usually called a solenoid. http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/electromagnetism.htm#.Uz10i_ldW1c
 Magnetic Fields
The region where magnetic
materials such as iron and
steel as well as wires carrying
current is called a magnetic
field.

The magnitude and

direction of the magnetic
field can be illustrated using
iron filings as well as it can
be obtained using a plotting
compass.

The magnetic fields around

a single bar magnet, repelling http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/electromagnetism/magnetism.html
poles, attracting are shown
on the right.
 The Motor Effect
 A current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a
force as shown on the right. This force acts to push the conductor out of
the static magnetic field to restore the original magnetic field.

http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age16-19/Electricity%20and
%20magnetism/Electromagnetism/text/Force_on_a_current_in_a_magnetic_field/index.html

The magnitude or direction of the Force experienced by

the current-carrying conductor can be calculated using
the equation F=BILsinθ

This effect is called the motor effect and is the

principle used in constructing a simple d.c. Motor.
A Simpe d.c. Motor

As current passes through the

coil, one arm of the coil is
thrust upwards or downwards
depending on the direction of
current relative to the
magnetic field.

The commutator is then

disconnected from the power
source and the coil then falls
down in place and the circuit is
made again.

This action continues so the

coil is in continuous rotation.
 A Simple d.c. Motor

MAGNETIC FIELD IN A D.C. MOTOR

CURRENT IN A D.C. MOTOR

MAGNETIC FIELD IN A D.C. MOTOR TORQUE IN A D.C. MOTOR

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/motdc.html
 The Right Hand Grip Rule, Screw Rule
The direction of the magnetic field formed by a
current carrying straight wire can be determined
by the Right Hand Grip Rule or the Maxwell’s
Screw Rule.

Right Hand Grip Rule

If a current-carrying wire is gripped with the
right hand, with the thumb pointing along the
direction of the current, The other fingers give
the direction of the magnetic field around the
wire as shown on the right.

Maxwell Screw Rule

This is sometimes called the Maxwell's
Corkscrew Rule. If a right handed screw is being
turned so that it bores its way in the direction of
the current in the wire. The direction of rotation
gives the direction of the magnetic field. http://physics503.one-school.net/2008/06/magnetics-effects-of-current-
carrying.html
 Fleming's Left Hand Rule
Fleming's Left Hand Rule allows you to work out which direction the force
acting on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field will point in.

The left hand must be oriented so that the

thumb, first finger, and second fingers all
point at right angles to one another.

The First finger or index finger should point

in the direction of the magnetic Field.

The SeCond finger or middle finger must

point in the direction of the Current.

The Thumb must point in the direction of

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/GCSE_Science/The_motor_effect
the force (Thrust).
 Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction is the creation

of an electric current or voltage by a changing
magnetic field. A voltage can also be created
when a wire moves through a magnetic field.

Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction

which can be stated generally as: “Any change
in the magnetic environment of a coil of
wire will cause a voltage (e.m.f.) to be
"induced" in the coil.”

No matter how the change is produced, a

voltage will be generated. The change could be
produced by changing the magnetic field strength,
moving a magnet toward or away from the coil,
moving the coil into or out of the magnetic field,
rotating the coil relative to the magnet, etc. http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/electromagnetism/electromagnetic-
induction.html
 A.C. Generator

Generators rotate a coil in a

magnetic field. The construction is
similar to a motor.

The faster the revs/rotation of the

coil, the more peaks on a CRO display
as well as the higher the voltage will
be.

The three factors influencing the

strength of the induced voltage will be:

 The strength of the magnetic field

 The Number of turns on the coil
 The speed of the movement
 Magnetic Flux

Magnetic flux is the product of the

average magnetic field B and the
perpendicular area A that it penetrates.

Magnetic Flux is a quantity of convenience

in the statement of Faraday’s Law and
becomes important in the discussion of
objects like transformers and solenoids. 

The contribution to magnetic

flux for a given area is equal to
the area times the component of
magnetic field perpendicular to
the area.
Flemming’s Left Hand Rule

Flemming’s Left
Hand rule may be
used to determine the
motion, current or
magnetic field
associated with
electromagnetic
induction.
 Transformers

A transformer may be used as a safe

and efficient voltage converter to
change the AC voltage at its input to a
higher or lower voltage at its output.

This energy transfer between the two

circuits is possible by
electromagnetic induction.

An alternating voltage/current

present on the primary coil induces
a changing magnetic field in the soft
iron core. This changing magnetic
field then induces a voltage in the A transformer with more turns on the
secondary coil whose value is related primary coil is a step-down transformer
to the number of turns in the coil. while more turns on the secondary coil
makes a step-up transformer.
 Power in a Transformer
If a transformer was a perfect Real transformers are far from ideal
electrical machine which wasted no mainly because power is lost due to the
power at all, then the output heating effect of the current in the
electrical power from the secondary copper wires of the coils. To reduce the
coil would be equal to the input amount of heat, copper wires of low
electrical power from the primary resistance are used.
coil.
Unwanted currents called eddy
For ideal transformers, the power currents are also created in the iron core
input equals the power output and and cause additional heating. To reduce
the following equation holds: this effect, the iron core is often
laminated.

Energy is used to continuously

The ratio of the currents in the two magnetise the iron core alternately with
coils is therefore the inverse of the the current to reduce this energy loss,
ratio of the voltages across the coils. soft magnet is used which is only
temporarily magnetised.
 Transmission of Electrical Power
The national grid is the network of pylons and cables which Since P=VI, to transmit a lot of
cover the country. This takes electricity from power stations power, there must be a high
to homes and industry. Power maybe generated anywhere on voltage or a high current.
the grid and supplied elsewhere on the grid.
Using a lot of current causes a lot
of energy to be lost as heat due to
the resistance of the cables.

It is also cheaper to boost voltage

up to 400 000V to keep currents
very low.

Transformers are therefore used

to step up the voltage at one end
and then step the voltage down to
safe and usable levels at the other
end.
 Evaluation

At the end of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Describe the concept of magnetic poles and magnetic field lines.
2. Recognize that a magnetic field is produced by either current carrying conductor or
permanent magnet.
3. Represent magnetic field by field lines.
4. Show that a current- carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a
force
5. Recall and use the equation F = BIL sinθ, with the direction of the force interpreted
by Flemings Left Hand Rule.
6. Define magnetic flux and the Weber.
7. Recognize that forces exist between magnets can be repulsive or attractive.
8. Define magnetic flux density and the Tesla.
9. Discuss the concept of magnetic induction
10. Apply the concept of magnetic induction to explain operation of a transformer.
11. Apply transformer equation to solve given problems.
12. Recall and use the right hand grip rule
13. Describe and explain simple applications of electromagnets.
 References

CXC Physics Module, Book 5 (2008)

GCSE Double Science Physics, The Revision Guide,

Foundation Level, Fourth Edition, Richard Pearsons
2000.

Physics for CSEC, Avison, et al; Nelson Thornes 2007

Physics for Advanced Level, Jim Breithaupt,

Hutchinson Education Publishers, 4th Edition.