Faraday's law -- circular loop with a triangle

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The discussion centers on applying Faraday's law to a circuit consisting of a circular coil and an equilateral triangle, with a decreasing magnetic field affecting the induced emf. Participants debate the validity of circuit transformations and the implications of non-conservative electric fields, emphasizing that the induced emf depends on the path taken between points A and B. Key points include the importance of geometry in calculating the area of the triangle and the induced emf, as well as the distinction between induced emf and potential difference. The conversation highlights confusion around the symmetry of the triangle and the nature of electric fields in non-conservative scenarios. Ultimately, understanding the relationship between changing magnetic fields and induced emf is crucial for solving the problem accurately.
  • #151
Letting ## C=\frac{dB}{dt} ##, I get the EMF for the 3 outer circular arcs is ## \mathcal{E}_o=\frac{C \pi a^2}{3} ##, and (assuming I computed it correctly), I get the EMF for each of the three straight line segments is ## \mathcal{E}_i= \frac{C \sqrt{3} a^2}{4} ##. It should be a simple matter to then compute all of the currents, using Kirchhoff's laws. It requires 6 loop equations. There are 6 currents to solve for. ## \\ ## @vanhees71 I will try to double-check my calculations, but might you concur?
 
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  • #152
Charles Link said:
Letting ## C=\frac{dB}{dt} ##, I get the EMF for the 3 outer circular arcs is ## \mathcal{E}_o=\frac{C \pi a^2}{3} ##, and (assuming I computed it correctly), I get the EMF for each of the three straight line segments is ## \mathcal{E}_i= \frac{C \sqrt{3} a^2}{4} ##. It should be a simple matter to then compute all of the currents, using Kirchhoff's laws. It requires 6 loop equations. There are 6 currents to solve for. ## \\ ## @vanhees71 I will try to double-check my calculations, but might you concur?
I think I have complete solution, but it would be easy to have mistake. Going clockwise around the outer loop, starting with CA, and calling currents ##i_1,i_2,i_3 ##, and similarly around the triangle, ##i_4,i_5, i_6 ##, I get ##\\ ## ##i_1=\frac{9}{2}M-\frac{7}{8}N ## ##\\ ## ##i_2=\frac{45}{2}M-\frac{35}{8}N ##
## i_3=6M-\frac{5}{4}N ##
## i_4=\frac{21}{4}M-\frac{21}{16}N ##
## i_5=\frac{-51}{4}M+\frac{35}{16}N ##
##i_6=\frac{15}{4}M-\frac{15}{16}N ##
where
##M=\frac{D}{r_1} ## and
##N=\frac{9E}{2 r_1} ##
where
## D=Ca^2(\frac{\pi}{3}-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}) ## and
##E=Ca^2 (\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}) ##.
My solution might contain errors, but this is what I got in solving the 6 loop equations. ===============================================================================
Corrections (3-27-19):
================================================================================
##i_1=i_2=M+\frac{7}{36}N ##
##i_3=M+\frac{5}{18}N ##
##i_4=i_5=+\frac{7}{24}N ##
##i_6=+\frac{5}{24}N ## (Note: I corrected ##I_4,I_5,I_6 ## a second time at 7:30 PM 3-27-19 and corrected again 3-28-19 at 10:45 AM where I had the sign on N reversed.).
 
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  • #153
@rude man See my solution in posts 151 and 152.
 
  • #154
Charles Link said:
@rude man It is, in any case, impossible to specify ##U_{AB} ## as the question in the OP asks, because the path integral ## I=\int\limits_{A}^{B} \vec{E}_{induced} \cdot d \vec{l} ## will be a function of the path that is taken between ## ## and ## B ##.
That's the wrong integral. The integral is with Es, not Em. And as I pointed out, the Es integral from A to B will be the same whether you go via the arc AB or the triangle side AB. The voltage can be computed as asked for.

I didn't complete the analysis but I did a somewhat similar one (see attached pdf, sorry it's not very good). In that one there were three separate Es paths and all three integrated to the same answer.

For the OP's problem I assumed the B field to be symmetrical, in fact circular & centered at the center of the circle. That's how I obtained the values of the Em fields.

I will reply to your newest 2 posts separately.
 

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  • #155
@Charles, I agree with your emf's for the three arcs; of course that's pretty straightforward. I never calculated the other Em's since that involves tedious geometry (weird areas and triangle lengths); congrats for doing it.

As for the rest, I think we have a fundamental disagreement as to what constitutes "voltage", and I reiterate that the problem must be attacked with separate Em and Es fields as I have blathered on for a long time.
 
  • #156
cnh1995 said:
I have sent you a PM with the answer I am getting for the voltmeter reading.
Any chance you have that PM @rude man?
I remember writing the whole solution in a notebook at that time, but I'm afraid I have lost that notebook.
Will try again and post my results.
 
  • #157
cnh1995 said:
Any chance you have that PM @rude man?
I remember writing the whole solution in a notebook at that time, but I'm afraid I have lost that notebook.
Will try again and post my results.
Hi again cnh, I will look for that PM, I think i can find it & look at it.
Do you agree with my recent posts, at least in principle?
 
  • #158
rude man said:
That's the wrong integral. The integral is with Es, not Em. And as I pointed out, the Es integral from A to B will be the same whether you go via the arc AB or the triangle side AB. The voltage can be computed as asked for.

I didn't complete the analysis but I did a somewhat similar one (see attached pdf, sorry it's not very good). In that one there were three separate Es paths and all three integrated to the same answer.

For the OP's problem I assumed the B field to be symmetrical, in fact circular & centered at the center of the circle. That's how I obtained the values of the Em fields.

I will reply to your newest 2 posts separately.
This is the whole "crux" of Professor Walter Lewin's paradox. The EMF's/voltages are path dependent.
 
  • #159
rude man said:
and I reiterate that the problem must be attacked with separate Em and Es fields as I have blathered on for a long time.
I agree. That's how I remember having done it.
 
  • #160
cnh1995 said:
Any chance you have that PM @rude man?
I remember writing the whole solution in a notebook at that time, but I'm afraid I have lost that notebook.
Will try again and post my results.
@cnh I look forward to your solution. Because I split the solution into two parts, I think my second solution may still be right, even if I goofed on the first part with the algebra. I do think there is chance that I got both parts correct.
 
  • #161
rude man said:
I think i can find it & look at it.
I guess it is deleted from our inboxes as we didn't revisit that conversation for a year.:frown:Never mind! I will try to work it out again.
 
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  • #162
cnh1995 said:
I agree. That's how I remember having done it.
It is simply Kirchhoff's voltage laws as spelled out by Professor Lewin.
 
  • #163
Charles Link said:
This is the whole "crux" of Professor Walter Lewin's paradox. The EMF's/voltages are path dependent.
Which is why i said he was wrong. He didn't know what "voltage" means. It is not necessarily what a voltmeter reads.
The emf's are path-dependent, the voltages are not.
 
  • #164
cnh1995 said:
I guess it is deleted from our inboxes as we didn't revisit that conversation for a year.:frown:Never mind! I will try to work it out again.
Thanks cnh. I also could not find it. Looking forward to your re-work!
 
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  • #165
I did double-check my results, and surprisingly the currents that I got all satisfy current into the junction is the current out of the junction. ## \\ ## I didn't check the EMF's yet, but there are basically 3 equivalent EMF loops, (the 3rd with a different resistor on the one side), and then also the 4th EMF loop around the center triangle. There are only two independent current junction equations, accounting for the 6 KVL equations. ## \\ ## To make the problem much simpler, they could have made all three resistors the same on the triangle, and they could even have chosen ## r_1=r_2 ##.
 
  • #166
Charles Link said:
There are only two independent current junction equations, accounting for the 6 KVL equations. ## \\ ##
Yes that's correct so I am missing one independent equation somewhere. 17 equations and 18 unknowns! :H Hope @cnh1995 has better luck!
EDIT: Es4 + Es5 + Es6 = 0 (the triangle) is a third independent Es equation.
 
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  • #168
@rude man @cnh1995
I did the arithmetic by hand, so I probably don't have two decimal place accuracy for each of the currents. Writing them as ## J_i=\frac{i_i r_1}{Ca^2} ##, I get
## J_1=1.05 ##
## J_2=5.28 ##
##J_3=1.24 ##
## J_4=0.66 ##
## J_5=-3.55 ##
## J_6=0.46 ##
These do satisfy, (s well as the currents in post 152), that
## J_1+J_4=J_2+J_5=J_3+J_6 ##. ## \\ ## This is our two current into the junction =current out of the junction equations.
If I correctly wrote down the voltage loop equations, and have the correct EMF's in post 151, I think I got the correct answer.
Edit: Scratch this. I had an error in my algebra that propagated. See the corrections in post 152 for the solution.
 
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  • #169
As per my calculations, the "electrostatic" voltage VAB= VA-VB= -3sqrt(3)a2k/96.
(Here, k=dB/dt as mentioned in the OP).
Electrostatically, B comes out to be at a higher potential than A and C.(PS: How do I type mathematical signs and symbols here on PF5? I don't see any option in the editor.)

Edit: I verified the above result with actual numerical values as follows:
Radius a= 10m, k= 5T/s, r1= 15 ohm, r2= 10 ohm (2r1=3r2).
All the six currents are satisfying KCL at the 3 nodes (total incoming node current= total outgoing node current = 52.046 A).

Typing the entire solution here would be a tedious task. Let me know if you want to see the full solution. I will try to post an image of the whole solution.
 
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  • #170
Charles Link said:
and they could even have chosen r1=r2r1=r2 r_1=r_2 .
Wouldn't that eliminate the electrostatic field Es from this circuit?
See #36.
 
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  • #171
rude man said:
Yes that's correct so I am missing one independent equation somewhere. 17 equations and 18 unknowns! :H Hope @cnh1995 has better luck!
EDIT: Es4 + Es5 + Es6 = 0 (the triangle) is a third independent Es equation.
i don't think you need that many equation(please do correct me if i am wrong) there is some symetry involved by which you can say that i4=i6 and i1=i3
you also have that em1=em2=em3 and em2=em4=em6
thus you have es4 = es6 and es1 =es3

edit:
i am sorry i am wrong i am still thinking of this as a balanced wheatstone bridge which only holds for static cases
on a side note i think the setters of this question were not expecting this solution with 17 equations (i don't think it can be solved in exam conditions) they were just expecting potential difference between a and b as the line integral of total electric field along the straight path from a to b (ie i4*r2 ) although the official solution were not provided i am inferring this from his words
 
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  • #172
timetraveller123 said:
Is this correct? Does the direction of the current I assume matter? there is one loop I haven't used then there would 5 equations for 4 unknown making it overdetermined and lastly what sign should I use for the change in magnetic field thanks for the help
View attachment 213131
I might have goofed in posts 150-152, but surprisingly, I did not get the two ## I_1's ## or the two ## I_3's ## equal as in your diagram. The circulation in a given direction, (clockwise or counterclockwise) may, in fact, destroy what appears to be a symmetry that may be non-existent.=Edit: I goofed somewhere in the algebra. Hopefully I will have a correction shortly.
 
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  • #173
@rude man @cnh1995 @timetraveller123 See my post 152, with the corrections that I just posted. I believe I now have the correct answer for the currents, and it has the expected symmetry.
 
  • #174
cnh1995 said:
As per my calculations, the "electrostatic" voltage VAB= VA-VB= -3sqrt(3)a2k/96.
(Here, k=dB/dt as mentioned in the OP).
Electrostatically, B comes out to be at a higher potential than A and C.(PS: How do I type mathematical signs and symbols here on PF5? I don't see any option in the editor.)

Edit: I verified the above result with actual numerical values as follows:
Radius a= 10m, k= 5T/s, r1= 15 ohm, r2= 10 ohm (2r1=3r2).
All the six currents are satisfying KCL at the 3 nodes (total incoming node current= total outgoing node current = 52.046 A).

Typing the entire solution here would be a tedious task. Let me know if you want to see the full solution. I will try to post an image of the whole solution.
Thank you @cnh1995. I would love to see a summary of your approach a la my post 149. Did you have 18 equations & 18 unknowns, what are they, etc. I'm not interested in quantitative results since I don't have any myself (I am too lazy to compute things like areas and triangle lengths :sorry: ). The approach is what's interesting to me. Thanks.
 
  • #175
rude man said:
Did you have 18 equations & 18 unknowns, what are they, etc
Nah, just 2 equations with 2 unknowns!:smile:
Will add you in an ongoing conversation as I am not sure if I can post the "complete" solution here in the HW thread.
 
  • #176
timetraveller123 said:
i don't think you need that many equation(please do correct me if i am wrong) there is some symetry involved by which you can say that i4=i6 and i1=i3
you also have that em1=em2=em3 and em2=em4=em6
thus you have es4 = es6 and es1 =es3

edit:
i am sorry i am wrong i am still thinking of this as a balanced wheatstone bridge which only holds for static cases
on a side note i think the setters of this question were not expecting this solution with 17 equations (i don't think it can be solved in exam conditions) they were just expecting potential difference between a and b as the line integral of total electric field along the straight path from a to b (ie i4*r2 ) although the official solution were not provided i am inferring this from his words
Hi timetraveller, welcome back to the melee! :smile:

I think cnh1995 probably has the best approach and I am going to direct my attention to that. I'm not surprised there are fewer than 18 parameters necessary but why worry about it when a computer can easily handle that. You are obviously right in pointing out that that would not be feasible in exam conditions.

There is one and only one correct answer to the problem and that is the line integral of the electrostatic field. If you integrate the total E field from A to B via the arc you get a different answer than if you integrate via the straight line.
 
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  • #177
cnh1995 said:
Wouldn't that eliminate the electrostatic field Es from this circuit?
See #36.
Probably yes. In the absence of the triangle that is certainly the case. With it I'd have to look-see some more.
 
  • #178
cnh1995 said:
Nah, just 2 equations with 2 unknowns!:smile:
Will add you in an ongoing conversation as I am not sure if I can post the "complete" solution here in the HW thread.
@cnh1995, did you verify that the line integral of Es is the same for both the arc and the triangle side?
 
  • #179
rude man said:
@cnh1995, did you verify that the line integral of Es is the same for both the arc and the triangle side?
This one has been an open-ended item for so long that I'm sure the staff will be ok with it. Just to be sure, let me ask.
 
  • #180
Charles Link said:
This one has been an open-ended item for so long that I'm sure the staff will be ok with it. Just to be sure, let me ask.
NM I meant it to go to our private thread.
 

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