Does a moving magnetic field generate a current?

[HumanDrew]

Hey! Not sure if this is a stupid question or not but I was wondering if a moving magnetic field could generate a current in a wire. I know that moving a wire through a magnetic field creates a current but what if you move around a magnet underneath a circular wire. Does that generate a current?

 

[Svein]

Yes (if you are into Hi-Fi, you will know that there are both moving magnet and moving coil pickups).

 

[HumanDrew]

Thanks for the answer Svein! I was just wondering because I wanted to do a science project that is reliant on creating a current in a wire with a moving magnet.

 

[HumanDrew]

Actually to clarify my question a little better, I'm not specifically talking about something like a solenoid, where a magnet goes through a coil of wire. Instead would current be generated if there was a circular loop of wire parallel to the ground and a magnet moving left and right underneath this wire.

 

[Svein]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_induction.