🧲 Topic 6 — Lectures 10–11 · Tutorial 9

Magnetics & Maxwell

Magnetostatics · B=μH · Faraday's law · Lenz's law · Solenoid · Transformer · Maxwell equations

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Magnetostatics

Magnetic Field Formulas

Magnetic field intensity H (infinite wire)
H = I/(2πρ) · âφ   [A/m]
ρ = perpendicular distance from wire. INDEPENDENT of μ!
Magnetic field in solenoid
H = NI/l   [A/m]
N=turns, l=length, I=current
Magnetic flux density B
B = μH = μᵣμ₀H   [Tesla]
μ₀ = 4π×10⁻⁷ H/m — B DOES depend on μ
Magnetic flux
Φ = B·A   [Webers, Wb]
For uniform B perpendicular to area A
⚠️ H vs B — Exam MCQ Trap!

H = I/2πρ for infinite wire is independent of μ. Answer: (e) None of the above — H doesn't depend on μ at all!
B = μH — B IS proportional to μ. Answer: (a) B is proportional to μ.

Magnetic Material Classification

TypeμᵣExamples
Diamagnetic≈ 0.99996Gold, Water
Paramagnetic≈ 1.000004Air, Aluminum
Ferromagnetic4000–5000Iron (transformer cores!)
📌 Magnetic Flux Line Rules
  • Always closed loops — no magnetic monopoles (∇·B = 0 always!)
  • Never cross each other
  • Denser lines = stronger B field
  • Form circles around current-carrying wire (right-hand rule)

Maxwell's Equations

STATIC FIELDS

1. Gauss's Law
∇·D = ρᵥ
Sources of E field (electric charge)
2. No Monopoles
∇·B = 0
Magnetic field lines always closed
3. Conservative E
∇×E = 0
Electrostatic field is irrotational
4. Ampere's Law
∇×H = J
Current density is source of H

TIME-VARYING FIELDS (changes highlighted)

1. Gauss's Law — UNCHANGED
∇·D = ρᵥ
2. No Monopoles — UNCHANGED
∇·B = 0
3. Faraday's Law — ✦ CHANGED!
∇×E = −∂B/∂t
Changing B creates circulating E field
4. Ampere-Maxwell — ✦ CHANGED!
∇×H = J + ∂D/∂t
Added ∂D/∂t (displacement current) → enables EM waves!
🎯 Exam Summary

Equations 1 and 2 are identical in both forms. Eq 3: ∇×E=0 → ∇×E=−∂B/∂t. Eq 4: adds ∂D/∂t. This displacement current term Maxwell added is what allows electromagnetic waves to exist.

Faraday's Law & Lenz's Law

Faraday's Law — Induced EMF
V_emf = −N · dΦ/dt
N=turns, Φ=flux per turn (Wb), −ve sign = Lenz's law (opposes the change)
SituationFlux changeInduced current direction
Switch closes (t=0⁺)Increases ↑Opposes increase — creates B opposing original
Steady state (DC)Constant → dΦ/dt=0ZERO — no change, no EMF!
Switch opensDecreases ↓Maintains flux — creates B in original direction

Solenoid & Transformer

Solenoid Inductance

Inductance formula
L = μN²A / l   [Henry]
μ=μᵣμ₀, N=turns, A=cross-section area, l=length
Self-induced EMF
V_L = −L · di/dt
Opposes change in current (Lenz)
🔧 How to get larger L?
  • More turns N → L ∝ N² (double N = 4× the inductance!)
  • Ferromagnetic core → μᵣ ≈ 4000 (L increases by thousands×)
  • Larger cross-section A or shorter length l

Transformer

Turns ratio (voltage)
V₁/V₂ = N₁/N₂
Step-up
N₂ > N₁ → V₂ > V₁
Used at power generators
Step-down
N₂ < N₁ → V₂ < V₁
Used at substations
⚠️ Transformer needs AC!

Requires time-varying flux (dΦ/dt ≠ 0). DC gives constant flux → zero induced EMF → transformer doesn't work!

Tutorial 9 — All Problems

Tutorial 9 · Problem 1 — Faraday's Law (square coil)
Given: N=200 turns, square side=18cm, B changes from 0→0.50T in 0.80s. R=2Ω.
A = (0.18)² = 0.0324 m²
ΔΦ = A·ΔB = 0.0324 × 0.50 = 0.0162 Wb
V_emf = N·|ΔΦ/Δt| = 200 × 0.0162/0.80
Tutorial 9 · Problem 2 — Lenz's Law direction (metal ring near solenoid)
Given: Metal ring near solenoid. Find induced current direction at three instants.
(a) Switch closes: Flux = 0 → increasing to left. Induced current must oppose increase → creates B pointing right → current flows counterclockwise viewed from right.

(b) After several seconds (steady state): Flux is constant → dΦ/dt = 0 → Induced current = ZERO.

(c) Switch opens: Flux decreasing from left. Induced current maintains flux → creates B pointing left → current flows clockwise viewed from right.
Tutorial 9 · Problem 3 — Solenoid inductance & self-induced EMF
Given: N=300 turns, l=25cm=0.25m, A=4cm²=4×10⁻⁴m², air core. di/dt = −50 A/s (decreasing).
(A) L = μ₀N²A/l = (4π×10⁻⁷ × 300² × 4×10⁻⁴) / 0.25
L = (4π×10⁻⁷ × 90000 × 4×10⁻⁴) / 0.25
L = 4.52×10⁻⁸ × 90000 / 0.25 = 0.181×10⁻³ H

(B) V_L = −L·(di/dt) = −0.181×10⁻³ × (−50) = +9.05×10⁻³ V
Tutorial 9 · Problem 4 — Inductor + bulb at different frequencies
Given: AC source + series inductor + light bulb. Frequency adjusted, voltage constant. When brightest?
At high frequency: Z_L = jωL → ∞ → inductor acts as open circuit → no current → bulb doesn't glow.
At low frequency: Z_L → 0 → inductor acts as short circuit → maximum current → bulb glows brightest.
Tutorial 9 · Problem 5 — Inductor + capacitor + bulb
Given: AC source + series LC + light bulb. When brightest?
At high frequency: L = open, C = short → net open → no current.
At low frequency: L = short, C = open → net open → no current.
At resonance (ω₀ = 1/√LC): L and C impedances cancel → maximum current → brightest.
Tutorial 9 · Problem 6 — Find L_eq for parallel/series combination
Given: L₁=5H, L₂=15H, L₃=10H, L₄=20H, L₅=30H (see circuit for connections).
L_eq1 = L₂//L₃//L₄ = 1/(1/10 + 1/20 + 1/30) = 5.45 mH
L_eq = L₁ + L_eq1 = 5 + 5.45
Tutorial 9 · Problem 7 — DC steady state with L and C
Given: V=5V DC, find R_eq and I at steady state.
DC steady state: L → short circuit (v_L = 0), C → open circuit (i_C = 0)
After removing C (open) and replacing L with wire: 0//4 = 0Ω
R_eq = 5Ω

Tutorial 9 · Problem 2 — Lenz's Law Direction Sketches

Tutorial 9 · Problem 2 — Metal ring near solenoid: 3 cases (A) Switch just CLOSED Solenoid ON B↑ →left Induced B → rightward ∴ Current: CCW (from right) Lenz: induced field opposes the INCREASE in flux (B) Several seconds later Solenoid STEADY B=const dΦ/dt = 0 → emf = 0 ∴ Current = ZERO No change in flux → no induced EMF (C) Switch just OPENED Solenoid OFF B↓ fading Induced B → leftward ∴ Current: CW (from right) Lenz: induced field opposes the DECREASE in flux
Lenz's Law: The induced current always creates a magnetic field that OPPOSES the change in flux. (A) Flux increasing → oppose increase. (B) Flux constant → zero current. (C) Flux decreasing → oppose decrease.

EE-I Exam Prep · GIU Cairo · Created by Omar Nader