Can Magnets Induce Electricity Inside a Faraday Cage?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter cbfunky
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Faraday Induction
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of inducing electricity within a Faraday Cage using a magnet placed outside of it. Participants explore the theoretical implications and conditions under which this might occur, including the nature of electromagnetic fields and waves.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a magnet outside a Faraday Cage could induce electricity in a conductor inside, seeking variations that might allow for such induction without physical contact.
  • Another participant asserts that electricity can only be induced by a changing magnetic flux through a wire structure inside the cage, noting that a true Faraday cage prevents electromagnetic waves from penetrating.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that a high enough frequency electromagnetic wave could penetrate the metal shell of the cage, but this would require a material inside that absorbs the radiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conditions necessary for inducing electricity within a Faraday Cage, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations related to the definitions of electromagnetic waves and the specific conditions under which they might interact with a Faraday Cage.

cbfunky
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hey there, I was wondering whether the following scenario is possible:

Say I have a Faraday Cage which contains electricity on the inside, could I use a magnet on the outside to create electricity on a conductor on the inside?

If no, are there possible variations to this scenario which would allow you to get electricity to an object on the inside without physical contact to the outside?

Thanks for your help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Electricity could only be induced by a changing magnetic flux through a suitable wire structure inside the cage. However, a true Faraday cage, while it will not prevent static magnetic fields from penetrating, it will prevent the penetration of all electromagnetic waves. Any changing magnetic field is associated with an electromagnetic wave and thus the changing flux cannot penetrate the cage. You could physically change the flux by moving the coil or changing its area though.
 
If you had a high enough frequency EM wave it could penetrate the metal shell. But then you would have to have a material inside that would absorb the radiation and not let is pass through like it did the metal shell .
 
Great, thanks for your help guys!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
11K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K