Physlet Illustration: Motional EMF

 

 

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This simulation shows a loop of wire traveling from the right to the left through an inhomogeneous magnetic field. (The green line is at x=0 is for your reference.) The induced emf in the loop is shown in Volts in the animation. Describe the magnetic field perpendicular to the computer screen.

Hints:

  1. What causes the induced emf?  
  2. Is there an induced emf when the loop travels through a uniform magnetic field?
  3. Use the pause and step buttons to carefully determine when the induced emf is non-zero.  Where is the magnetic field non-uniform?  

Reference

See Walker, Section 23-3 & 23-4

Illustration written by Mario Belloni and Modified by Chuck Niederriter