Waveform of Classic Electromagnetic Induction

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the graphical representation of the electromotive force (emf) induced in a coil by a bar magnet spinning perpendicular to the coil's axis. Participants explore the nature of the waveform produced, including its characteristics and the underlying principles of electromagnetic induction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the induced emf would resemble a sinewave, while others suggest it may be an irregular sinewave due to the alternating N and S poles of the spinning magnet.
  • One participant questions whether the amplitude of the induced emf would be zero if the bar magnet's axis is perpendicular to the coil's axis, arguing that the total flux through the coil area remains constant.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the voltage is generated by the changing flux through the area surrounded by the coil, rather than simply by the poles of the magnet passing by.
  • Some participants discuss the complexity of accurately representing the magnetic flux from a bar magnet and the implications for the waveform produced.
  • There is a suggestion that if the magnetic field near the bar magnet is approximated as homogeneous, the resulting voltage could be a sinewave, but the accuracy of this assumption is questioned.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the existence of a simple expression for the magnetic flux from a bar magnet and the feasibility of generating proper sinewaves in practical applications.
  • Several participants debate the characteristics of the waveform, including the presence of double positive and negative peaks, and the conditions under which these features might arise.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between the distance of the magnet from the coil and the effect on the induced voltage, with some arguing that the voltage peaks occur at points of maximum flux change.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of the induced emf waveform, with no consensus reached on the exact characteristics or the underlying mechanisms. The discussion remains unresolved with differing interpretations of the effects of the magnet's rotation and its geometry.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in their assumptions regarding the geometry of the system, the nature of the magnetic field, and the complexities involved in accurately modeling the induced emf. The discussion reflects a range of perspectives on how these factors influence the resulting waveform.

b.shahvir
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Hi guys,

Can someone please provide graphical representation (waveform) of emf induced in coil due to a bar magnet spinning perpendicular to axis of coil.

magnetcoilrota.gif


Thanks,
SB
 
Last edited:
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A sinewave.
 
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Baluncore said:
A sinewave.
Yes, but in my opinion the waveform progression would be an irregular sinewave as there would be 2 positive peaks followed by 2 negative peaks (eg. M -- W) due to alternate rotation of N & S poles of the spinning bar magnet. I just wanted to visualize the graphical representation of my assumption.
 
The voltage is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic flux passing through the coil.
For a spinning bar magnet that will be a sinewave.
 
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If the bar axis is perpendicular to the coil axis, isn’t the amplitude ideally 0? The total flux through the coil area is constant?
 
Paul Colby said:
If the bar axis is perpendicular to the coil axis, isn’t the amplitude ideally 0? The total flux through the coil area is constant?
The magnet spins perpendicular to axis of coil. So a sinewave will be induced in coil but it's pattern would alternate between double positive and negative peaks in progression as the N & S poles alternately sweep across the plane of the coil.

For eg., negative voltage peak as N pole approaches the plane of coil, then 0V at centre of coil when flux is maximum and again positive voltage peak as N pole leaves the plane of coil. Same pattern will repeat but with inverted voltage peaks when S pole sweeps along. I just wanted to confirm whether my assumption was correct.
 
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b.shahvir said:
The magnet spins perpendicular to axis of coil.
This doesn’t define the geometry. The magnet’s axis of rotation is defined as perpendicular to the coil axis. What is the angle between the magnets rotation axis and the magnets magnetic moment? If this unspecified angle is zero, the amplitude will likewise be zero.
 
The bar magnet rotates about it's axis which lies in a plane perpendicular to axis of the coil such that an emf will be induced in the coil. As i mentioned above the N & S poles will be sweep across the face of the coil.
 
A picture worth a thousands words and I think in this case even more. If you can post a picture where you show the coil and the bar magnet and how exactly the bar magnet rotates.
 
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  • #10
Delta2 said:
A picture worth a thousands words and I think in this case even more. If you can post a picture where you show the coil and the bar magnet and how exactly the bar magnet rotates.
magnetcoilrota.gif


The magnet is rotated about it's axis as illustrated in figure above. The axis of the magnet is perpendicular to the axis of the coil.
 
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  • #11
There is no simple expression for the magnetic flux that emerges from a bar magnet. The lines of flux exit the north pole and enter the south pole. I don't think there is a simple answer to what you are asking.
 
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  • #12
It's classic case of electromagnetic induction but never found any graphical representation of same, hence the query.
 
  • #13
The problem is too complicated for it to be one that is a standard textbook example. It may look simple enough, but another one in that category is the force between two bar magnets.
 
  • #14
Charles Link said:
The problem is too complicated for it to be one that is a standard textbook example. It may look simple enough, but another one in that category is the force between two bar magnets.
Actually this is common depiction in textbook physics but with output to galvanometer and not oscilloscope. I doubt if such arrangement is actually feasible in practical generators to generate proper sinewaves.
 
  • #15
b.shahvir said:
Actually this is common depiction in textbook physics but with output to galvanometer and not oscilloscope.
Faraday's law applies, and a signal is observed. To quantify it accurately would take some effort.
 
  • #16
b.shahvir said:
So a sinewave will be induced in coil but it's pattern would alternate between double positive and negative peaks in progression as the N & S poles alternately sweep across the plane of the coil.
The voltage is not generated when the flux cuts one side and then the other side of the cylindrical coil. The voltage is generated by the changing flux through the area surrounded by the circular coil.
 
  • #17
Charles Link said:
There is no simple expression for the magnetic flux that emerges from a bar magnet. The lines of flux exit the north pole and enter the south pole. I don't think there is a simple answer to what you are asking.
If we do the simplifying assumption that the magnetic field near the bar magnet is very similar to a homogeneous magnetic field then we can say that the resulting voltage will be a sine wave. But I don't know this assumption how close is to reality.
 
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  • #18
Delta2 said:
If we do the simplifying assumption that the magnetic field near the bar magnet is very similar to a homogeneous magnetic field then we can say that the resulting voltage will be a sine wave. But I don't know this assumption how close is to reality.
I never mentioned flux cutting. But this arrangement will obey faraday's laws of EM such that voltage peak polarities will change each time the flux linking the coil changes due to instantaneous position of N and S poles with time.
I was anticipating waveform patterns to support by assumptions.
 
  • #19
Delta2 said:
If we do the simplifying assumption that the magnetic field near the bar magnet is very similar to a homogeneous magnetic field then we can say that the resulting voltage will be a sine wave. But I don't know this assumption how close is to reality.
It would be a sine wave but with repeated double positive and negative peaks for N and S poles linkage respectively. I did not find any waveforms depicting this phenomenon exactly.
 
  • #20
I don't follow the double positive and double negative features. The pole when it is farther away from the coil will have a much lesser effect. To quantify this is somewhat difficult, but it is not a sine wave at twice the frequency.
 
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  • #21
Charles Link said:
I don't follow the double positive and double negative features. The pole when it is farther away from the coil will have a much lesser effect. To quantify this is somewhat difficult, but it is not a sine wave at twice the frequency.
Frequency depends on speed of spinning magnet so it would remain constant. But i presume the nature of sine wave patterns will differ in time.
 
  • #22
If the bar magnet dipole was short relative to it's distance from the coil, then the voltage generated would closely approximate a sinewave. If the bar magnet was to remain fixed some distance away, while the coil was rotated in the field, then the coil voltage would be a sinewave.

I do not understand the alleged mechanism that might generate a polarity symmetric double hump, which in essence would constitute only odd harmonic distortion.
The sum of two sinewaves, (one generated by each end of the dipole), would also be a single hump sinewave.
 
  • #23
Baluncore said:
The sum of two sinewaves, (one generated by each end of the dipole), would also be a single hump sinewave.
It cannot be a single hump sinewave due to 0 flux positions (between alternate N and S pole linkages) at regular intervals during rotation of magnet.
 
  • #24
The zero flux occurs when the two poles effectively cancel. The zero flux positions are usually the points at which the flux is changing at the greatest rate. They are therefore the voltage peaks.
 
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  • #25
Baluncore said:
The zero flux occurs when the two poles effectively cancel. The zero flux positions are usually the points at which the flux is changing at the greatest rate. They are therefore the voltage peaks.
As per the swinging magnet experiment in the attached pdf, the voltage peak occurs when the magnet pole is just near the midpoint of the coil (for both cases of pole approaching and leaving the coil) as the rate of change of flux is maximum at that point. In my opinion this may be closest simulation of my rotating magnet case.
 

Attachments

  • #26
The field rotates with the rotating magnet. With the swinging magnet the field translates and there is no reversal of the field direction.
 
  • #27
Baluncore said:
The field rotates with the rotating magnet. With the swinging magnet the field translates and there is no reversal of the field direction.
Exactly. That's why the double hump sinewave phenomenon as the peaks will repeat twice and invert as each pole sweeps across the coil in alternation.
 
  • #28
You must define some parameters.
1. The length of the coil.
2. The diameter of the coil.
3. The length of the bar magnet.
4. The distance from the centre of the coil to the centre of the bar magnet.
This discussion is pointless without those parameters.
 
  • #29
Baluncore said:
You must define some parameters.
1. The length of the coil.
2. The diameter of the coil.
3. The length of the bar magnet.
4. The distance from the centre of the coil to the centre of the bar magnet.
This discussion is pointless without those parameters.
1. 0.5cm
2. 1cm
3. 1cm
4. 1cm
 
  • #30
Baluncore said:
The zero flux occurs when the two poles effectively cancel. The zero flux positions are usually the points at which the flux is changing at the greatest rate. They are therefore the voltage peaks.
In this geometry (small coil, long thin magnet):
The zero flux positions occur when the magnet axis is 90 deg from the coil axis (this happens twice per rotation).
The position of maximum flux change occurs approximately when the magnet pole engages the coil edge (this happens twice for each pole face = four times per rotation)
The position of extremal flux is when the axes align and this gives a zero crossing for the voltage (two crossings per rotation)
So there can be double humps between zero crossings as the OP indicates. The rest is as you indicate detail.
 
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