Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism
Background Reading:
Background reading for this lab can be found in your class notes and in Walker 4e Chapters 22 and 23.
Procedure:
A. Magnetic Fields around Permanent Magnets.
You have had experiences with permanent magnets since childhood. They cause an attraction to certain kinds
of metal (e.g. refrigerator doors). They can be used to link cars in a toy train or sometimes cause the cars to
push away from each other. You will now look at how these work in a little more detail. First you will explore
the polarity of a permanent magnet. Then, you will investigate how the magnets align with the magnetic field
lines. Lastly, you will see what happens when a magnet is broken.
1. Using two bar magnets with labels N(orth) and S(outh), find which ends attract each other and which
repel.
E. Magnetic Braking
Moving a metal plate through a magnetic field sets up currents in the plates. The magnetic field that is
induced will oppose the motion of the plate, hence slow it down. The effectiveness of the braking action
depends on how easy it is for currents to flow. Better conductors allow for larger currents, and hence a
larger induced magnetic field and a larger force between the magnet and the metal plate. The geometry
of the path along which the current can flow also matters. If the current circulating in the plate is broken
up effectively, for example by putting slots in the plate, the magnetic damping force will be much smaller
than when the current is free to flow across the plate.
Conclusion:
Be sure to include a statement that restates the objective and the main results.
This was a lab concerned with observations. Discuss what you observed and how those
observations demonstrate the Lorentz force law, magnetic field geometry, how currents make
magnetic fields, how currents are affected by magnetic fields, Faraday’s law of Induction and
Lenz’s Law.
Lab Section:
Hand this in at the beginning of the lab period. The grade for these exercises will be included in your lab grade
this week.
1. If you push the North pole of a magnet into a coil of
conducting wire, which way will the current flow?
Show on the drawing.
2. How will the current in the wire in question 1 change if the magent is moved more quickly?
3. In part (E), which of the pendula will have the greatest braking force? (Solid, slotted, or partially
slotted?)