Ranking induced emfs and currents {Faraday's Law}

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the application of Faraday's Law to analyze induced electromotive forces (emfs) and currents in five loops of copper wire moving through a magnetic field. The participants concluded that loops 1, 4, and 5 experience induced currents, with loop 5 having a longer length affecting its emf. The ranking of the magnitudes of the currents was established as I_5 = I_4 = I_1 > I_2 = I_3, based on the resistance formula R = ρ(ℓ/A), where ℓ represents the total length of the loop. The discussion clarified that ℓ should be interpreted as the total length of the loop for accurate calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction
  • Knowledge of electromotive force (emf) calculations
  • Familiarity with resistance calculations using R = ρ(ℓ/A)
  • Basic principles of magnetic fields and their effects on conductive loops
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  • Study the implications of varying magnetic fields on induced currents
  • Explore the relationship between loop geometry and induced emf
  • Investigate the effects of different materials on resistance and current flow
  • Learn about applications of Faraday's Law in electrical engineering
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skwz
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Hey everyone, I'm having trouble with b and c and any help would be appreciated! I attached two pictures on the bottom (one of the entire problem and one of just the diagram)

Homework Statement


Five loops are formed of copper wire of the same gauge (cross-sectional area). Loops 1-4 are identical; loop 5 has the same height as the others but is longer. At the instant shown, all the loops are moving at the same speed in the directions indicated

There is a uniform magnetic field pointing out of the page in region 1; in region 2 there is no magnetic field. Ignore any interactions between the loops

a.) For any loop that has and induced current, indicate the direction of that current

b.) Rank the magnitudes of the emfs around the loops. Explain your reasoning

c.) Rank the magnitudes of the currents in the loops. Explain your reasoning

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4615/diagramfaraday1yp1.th.jpg

Homework Equations


<br /> \xi = - \frac{d \Phi_B}{dt} = - \frac{d}{dt} (B \ell x) = -B \ell \frac{dx}{dt} = -B \ell v

I = \frac{\xi}{R}

R = \rho \frac{\ell}{A}

The Attempt at a Solution



a.) I got:
I_1 is counterclockwise
I_2 is zero
I_3 is zero
I_4 is clockwise
I_5 is clockwise

b.) \xi_1 = \xi_4 = \xi_5 = \xi_3 = \xi_2

Since magnetic flux varies with respect to time in loops 1,5, and 4, I used \xi = -B \ell v to get the magnitudes of these loops (Loops 2 and 3 have zero emf since the magnetic flux doesn't change with respect to time). Since B is constant and all the loops are moving at the same velocity, then \ell determines the magnitude. Now is \ell the length of the whole loop or the length across the emf (potential difference), which in case \ell would only by the height of loops 1, 4, and 5. If the latter is true, then I believe I have the correct answer.

c.) I_5 = I_4 = I_1 &gt; I_2 = I_3

There is no induced current in loop 2 and 3. To calculate the magnitudes of the remaining loops I relied on R = \rho \frac{\ell}{A}.
Since we given that all the loops are made of copper and they all have the same cross sectional area, then A and \rho remain constant. Now here is where I'm having trouble again, is \ell referring to the length of the entire loop or the distance across the emf, which would again be the height. If it's the latter, then resistance is the same for all the loops, meaning that I \propto \xi and thus I_5 = I_4 = I_1.
 

Attachments

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Your answers for part (a) are correct.

skwz said:
b.) \xi_1 = \xi_4 = \xi_5 = \xi_3 = \xi_2

I believe you have a typo here. The third = sign should be >. You stated correctly that ##\xi_3 = \xi_2 = 0##.

skwz said:
Now is \ell the length of the whole loop or the length across the emf (potential difference), which in case \ell would only by the height of loops 1, 4, and 5.
Yes, that's right.

skwz said:
c.) I_5 = I_4 = I_1 &gt; I_2 = I_3

There is no induced current in loop 2 and 3. To calculate the magnitudes of the remaining loops I relied on R = \rho \frac{\ell}{A}.
Since we given that all the loops are made of copper and they all have the same cross sectional area, then A and \rho remain constant. Now here is where I'm having trouble again, is \ell referring to the length of the entire loop or the distance across the emf, which would again be the height. If it's the latter, then resistance is the same for all the loops, meaning that I \propto \xi and thus I_5 = I_4 = I_1.
The current in a loop depends on the total resistance of the loop. So, ##\ell## in the R formula should be the total length of the loop. The current in #5 will not be the same as in #1 and #4.
 

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