RMIT University

MANU2228_17s2-Engineering
Science

Lab 5 – Electromagnetic Induction – Magnet and a Coil

Student Name: Le Trung Kim – s3634824

Lecture: Ilya Kavalchuk

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Table of Contents
AIM OF THE LAB...................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................3
PREDICTION...........................................................................................................4
DATA........................................................................................................................4
DATA TABLE......................................................................................................5
QUESTIONS.........................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................7
Risk Assesment.........................................................................................................8
REFERENCE..........................................................................................................10

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AIM OF THE LAB
In this lab, we are going to[1]:
 Measure the voltage across a coil of wire when a bar of magnet falls through
the center of the coil by using a Voltage Probe.
 Using Sparkling Air and Sparkling Element to record and display the voltage
versus time
 Examine the graphs of voltage versus time using Sparkling Air to determine
the maximum voltage induced in the coil for all performed runs.
 Compare the voltage to the number of turns of wire in the coil.

INTRODUCTION
When a bar of magnet is passed through the center of a coil, there is a
change in magnetic flux flows through the coil that induces EMF (voltage) in the
coil. According to Faraday’s Law of Induction[2]:
d ΦB d
ε =−N =−N ( BA cos θ)
dt dt
Where:
 ε is the induced EMF (V - Voltage)
 N is the number of turns of the wire in the coil
d ΦB
 is the rate of change of magnetic flux through the coil
dt
 B is the magnetic field strength (T – Tesla)
 A is the area perpendicular to the magnetic field (m2)

In this lab, a plot of the voltage ε is made versus time. The area under the
curve represents the flux:
V × Δt =−N × Δϕ

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PREDICTION

How would the voltage produced in a coil with more turns of wire compare to the
voltage produced in a coil with fewer turns of wire? Why? What difference can be
expected?

The voltage produced in a coil with more turns of wire will be greater than the
voltage produced in a coil with fewer turns of wire. Since we apply Faraday’s Law
of Induction[2]:
d ΦB
ε =−N
dt
Therefore, with a coil that has more turns of wife, there are more amount of
voltage ε be generated. The difference in voltage that will be generated between
N coil fewer turns
the coil is calculated by the factor N .
coil moreturns

DATA
Run 3
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
Voltage (V)

0.4
0.2
0
-0.2 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
Time (s)

The Voltage versus Time Graph of Run 3

In run 3, the magnet with North end is at the bottom is dropped through a
coil with 400 turns of wire. The area under the curve for the first peak of the graph
equals to the area under the second peak. Even though, the second peak has higher
voltage, the time that it lasted was not long because the South end is falling
through the coil at a faster speed and does not spend as much time falling through
the coil as the North end that falling through the coil first.
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North end:
0.28

∫ Vdt =0.53 × ( 0.28−0.16 ) =0.064

0.16

South end:
0.34

∫ Vdt =1 × ( 0.34−0.28 ) =0.06

0.28

Which is approximately similar.

DATA TABLE

Run Pole Turns Voltage, peak 1 (V) Voltage, peak 2 (V)

1 North 200 -0.26 0.51
2 South 200 0.3 -0.42
3 North 400 -0.53 1
4 South 400 0.47 -1
5 North-North 200 -0.49 0.71
6 South-South 200 0.46 -0.81
7 North-North 400 -0.88 1.47
8 South-South 400 0.95 -1.97
9 North-South 400 -0.13 0.09
10 North-South 200 -0.09 0.01
11 North 600 -0.74 1.05
12 South 600 0.72 -1.2
Connected
13 North -0.01 -0.05
200
*Run 13 is about the transformer where we connected Voltage Probe to the 200
turns coil and dropped the magnet through 400 turns coil.

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QUESTIONS

1. For each run, why are there two peaks of voltage? Why do the two peaks
point in the opposite directions (that is, why is one positive when the other is
negative)?

There are two peaks of voltage because of the two different poles in the magnet
bar. Each of the pole can induce voltage in the coil of wire. The two peaks point
in the opposite direction because the two magnetic poles have opposite polarity.

2. For each run, how does the magnitude (amount) of the voltage of the second
peak compare to the magnitude of the voltage of the first peak? Explain why
you think this happens.

The magnitude of voltage of the second peak is always greater than the
magnitude of voltage of the first peak because the second pole that falls through
the coil is moving faster than the first pole.

3. How does the shape of the voltage versus time graph when the North pole
of the magnet is dropped first compare to the overall shape of the graph
when the south pole is dropped first?
Overall, the shape of voltage versus time when the North pole of the magnet
and the shape of voltage versus time when the South pole is dropped first are
the mirror image of each other across the X-axis. For example - run 3 compare
to run 4:

Run 4
12
10
8
Voltage (V)

6
4
2
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Time (s)

The Voltage versus Time Graph of Run 4

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 Due to a difference in magnetic field strength of two poles, there are differences
in the mirror images.

4. How does the maximum voltage for the coil with more turns compare to the
maximum voltage for the coil with fewer turn?

According to our data table, the voltage for the 400 turns coil is approximately
double the maximum voltage for the 200 turns coil.

5. Do your results support your prediction?

As stated in our prediction, the voltage produced in a coil with more turns of
wire will be greater than the voltage produced in a coil with fewer turns of wire.
The difference in voltage that will be generated between the coil is calculated
N coil1
by the factor N . Which is:
coil2
N coil fewer turns 200 1
= =
N coil moreturns 400 2

The data table proves this statement to be true since the voltage produced in
the 400 turns coil is greater than the voltage produced in the 200 turns coil. The
voltage for the 400 turns coil is approximately double the maximum voltage for the
200 turns coil.

CONCLUSION
As presented in our data table, the voltage produced in a coil with more turns
of wire will be greater than the voltage produced in a coil with fewer turns of wire.
And the difference in voltage that will be generated between the coil is calculated
by the factor:
N coil fewer turns
N coil moreturns
Task Name: Lab activity 5: Electromagnetic Induction –
Risk Magnet and a Coil
Assesment
Assessor(s) Le Trung Kim 24/8/2017
:
Those at People in lab
risk:
Risk: Moderate

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Process/Job Working in
Description: the lab
Task Hazards Controls Already In Place Action (Hierarchy of
Control)
Sparklink Air Electric Special manual handling equipment PPE
shock Protective casing Engineering
Wear closed toe shoes and focus on
performing

Spark Electric Special manual handling equipment PPE

Element shock Protective casing Engineering
Wear closed toe shoes and focus on
performing

Voltage Electric Special manual handling equipment PPE

Probe Shock Protective casing Engineering
Wear closed toe shoes and focus on
performing

Alnico Bar Sharp edge Manual handling PPE

Magnet Manual Pay close attention Engineering
Handling
200-turn Coil Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Manual Pay close attention Engineering
Handling
400-turn Coil Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Manual Pay close attention Engineering
Handling
Three Finger Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Clamp Manual Pay close attention Engineering
Handling
Run Sharp edge Manual handling PPE
Experiment Manual Wear closed toe shoes and focus on Engineering
Handling performing
Electric
Shock

Equipment Sharp edge Manual handling PPE

Setup Manual Wear closed toe shoes and focus on Engineering
Handling performing
Electric
shock

Action (Hierarchy of Control): Elimination, Substitution, Isolation, Engineering, Administration,

Personal Protective Equipment

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REFERENCE
[1] I. Kavalchuk, "Lab Manual 5: Electromagnetic Induction - Magnet and a
Coil," 2017.
[2] I. Kavalchuk, "Topic 9: Electromagnetic Theory," 2017.