Conducting loop suspended in a magnetic field

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a conducting loop suspended in a magnetic field, focusing on the derivation of the equation of motion for the loop when it is slightly rotated. Participants explore the effects of magnetic torque and restoring torque from a torsion spring, as well as the implications of initial conditions on the derived differential equations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant derives the equation of motion but notes that it does not account for the initial condition of zero angular velocity.
  • Another participant suggests including inductive reactance in the analysis, although it is later clarified that the inductance is negligible.
  • Several participants discuss the validity of the derived differential equations and the implications of initial conditions on the solutions.
  • One participant proposes a method to solve the equation by assuming a relationship between angular displacement and angular velocity, but encounters contradictions due to initial conditions.
  • Another participant points out that the magnetic torque is zero at the initial moment and becomes non-zero shortly after, complicating the analysis.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of the system being a damped harmonic oscillator, with some participants arguing about the correct form of the equations involved.
  • A later reply acknowledges a mistake in the formulation of the damping term and suggests that the correct equation resembles that of a damped harmonic oscillator.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of initial conditions and the formulation of the equations of motion. There is no consensus on the best approach to resolve the contradictions encountered in the analysis.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to the assumptions made in the derivation, particularly regarding the small angle approximation and the treatment of damping effects. The discussion reflects ongoing uncertainty about the correct formulation of the system's dynamics.

ShayanJ
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Consider a conducting loop with resistance R and area A suspended by a non-conducting wire in a magnetic field [itex]\vec{B}=B\hat{y}[/itex]. The wire is a torsion spring with constant k.The equilibrium state of the loop is when it resides in the yz plane and its suspension is somehow that it can rotate around z axis with moment of inertia I.The loop is rotated by a very small angle [itex]\theta_0[/itex] and is released.
This is how I tried to derive the equation of motion:
[itex] i=-\frac{1}{R} \frac{d\phi_B}{dt}=-\frac{1}{R} \frac{d}{dt} BA\cos{\theta}=\frac{BA\dot{\theta}\sin{\theta}}{R} \Rightarrow i\approx \frac{BA\dot{\theta}\theta}{R}[/itex]
[itex] \vec{\tau}=i \vec{A}\times\vec{B}=\frac{BA\dot{\theta}\theta}{R} A\hat{x}\times B \hat{y} \Rightarrow \vec{\tau}=\frac{B^2A^2\dot{\theta}\theta}{R}\hat{z}[/itex]
There is also the restoring torque of the torsion spring and so we have:
[itex] \frac{B^2A^2\dot{\theta}\theta}{R}-k\theta=I\ddot{\theta} \Rightarrow IR\ddot{\theta}+(kR-B^2A^2\dot{\theta})\theta=0[/itex]
The problem is,because [itex]\dot{\theta}_0=0[/itex], the differential equation derived above isn't describing the motion of the loop at the first moment and only when the loop gains angular speed,the above DE can be used to describe its motion and so the answer to the above DE is contradictory when one applies the initial conditions to it.
What should I do?
Thanks
 
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In addition to R, we must also include XL. The current I is the open circuit voltage divides by impedance Z = R + jXL.

Claude
 
cabraham said:
In addition to R, we must also include XL. The current I is the open circuit voltage divides by impedance Z = R + jXL.

Claude

Oh...forgot to tell...the problem states that the inductance is negligible.
 
Find the general solution, then you'll be able to apply your initial conditions to it. Don't worry about the zero initial ##\dot \theta##, the differential equation is still well-defined (and the equation simplifies to ##I R\ddot \theta + k R \theta = 0## at this point).
 
mfb said:
Find the general solution, then you'll be able to apply your initial conditions to it. Don't worry about the zero initial ##\dot \theta##, the differential equation is still well-defined (and the equation simplifies to ##I R\ddot \theta + k R \theta = 0## at this point).

Its not that I just derived the DE and then thought its contradictory.I tried solving it and I saw contradictions.
One way of solving it is assuming [itex]\frac{d\theta}{dt}= \omega[/itex] and so [itex]\frac{d^2\theta}{dt^2}=\frac{d\omega}{dt}=\frac{d\omega}{d\theta}\frac{d\theta}{dt}=\omega\frac{d\omega}{d\theta}[/itex] and the DE becomes:
[itex] IR \omega \frac{d\omega}{d\theta}+(kR-B^2A^2\omega)\theta=0[/itex]
We know that the initial condition is [itex]\theta(0)=\theta_0[/itex] and [itex]\omega(0)=0[/itex]so at time t=0 the first and last term of the DE are zero and we have [itex]kR\theta=0[/itex] which is not right because k and R are non-zero,as well as [itex]\theta[/itex] at the starting time!
I tried to get its solution via alpha.wolfram.com and Maple but the result was an intractable integral!(See here).
Also the answer to the DE [itex]IR\ddot\theta+kR\theta=0[/itex] doesn't satisfy the original equation!
Maybe such contradictions mean the small angle approximation goes bad because the magnetic torque beats up the restoring torque and is always increasing the angle instead of restoring it to 0!

I FOUND IT!​
[itex] \vec{\tau}=\frac{B^2A^2\dot\theta\theta}{R}\hat{z}[/itex]is zero when [itex]\dot\theta=0[/itex] and so the magnetic torque is zero at t=0 and becomes non-zero at [itex]t=\varepsilon[/itex]!
So we have:
[itex] \left\{ \begin{array}{cc} IR\ddot\theta+kR\theta=0 \ \ \ \ t=0 \\ IR\ddot\theta+(kR-B^2A^2\dot{\theta})\theta=0 \ \ \ \ t>\varepsilon \end{array} \right.[/itex]
And we have to attach the answers somehow...but how?
 
Last edited:
One way of solving it is assuming ##\frac{d\theta}{dt}= \omega## and so \frac{d^2\theta}{dt^2}=\frac{d\omega}{dt}=\frac{d\omega}{d\theta}\frac{ d\theta}{dt}=\omega\frac{d\omega}{d\theta}
Physicist error :p. You cannot use those hand-waving manipulations if dω/dθ is not well-defined - and that is the case exactly at your initial condition. It diverges if you go towards this point, so you get a case of "0*infinity".

Also the answer to the DE ##IR\ddot\theta+kR\theta=0## doesn't satisfy the original equation!
Right - of course it does not, it does not include the damping term. You can use the solution for the original DE, and it will satisfy the original DE.

The magnetic influence just acts as damping, you have a damped harmonic oscillator (and there is a well-known general solution).

There is no need to separate your DE in two cases, the second case works everywhere.
 
mfb said:
The magnetic influence just acts as damping, you have a damped harmonic oscillator (and there is a well-known general solution).

There is no need to separate your DE in two cases, the second case works everywhere.

The equation for a damped harmonic oscillator is [itex]I\ddot\theta+\Gamma\dot\theta+k\theta=0[/itex] but the equation for the system I described is of the form [itex]I\ddot\theta+\Gamma\dot\theta\theta+k\theta=0[/itex],they are different!
 
Ah right.
Looking at your damping term, the evaluation of A x B should lead to a different angular dependence.
 
mfb said:
Ah right.
Looking at your damping term, the evaluation of A x B should lead to a different angular dependence.
I'm really sorry...the equation I've written is wrong.Today I found my mistake and figured that the right equation is just the usual equation of a damped harmonic oscillator.
Thanks for answers
 

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