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Unit#15 (Conceptual Questions)
Q#1: Suppose someone handed you three similar iron bars and told you one was not
magnet but other two were. How would you find the iron bar that was not magnet?
Ans: We will place compass needle near these three iron bar. The compass needle will show
response near magnet. So when we take compass needle near the iron bar and if this
compass needle did not changes its direction then this means that this iron bar is not a
magnet.
Q#2: Suppose you have a coil of wire and a bar magnet. Describe how you could use
them to generate an electric current.
Ans: Suppose I have a coil of wire and a bar magnet and I arranged it like Faradays
experiment. When both are stationary no current is induced. When the magnet moves
towards the solenoid/wire the needle of the galvanometer deflects towards right,
indicating the current is being induced in the solenoid.
Q#3: Which device is used for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy?
Ans: An electric motor is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Q#4: Suppose we hang a loop of wire so that it can swing easily. If we now put a magnet
into the coil, the coil will start swinging. Which way will it swing relative to the magnet
and why?
Ans: If we hang a loop of wire so that it can swing easily and then we put a magnet into the
coil the coil will start swinging according to Lenzs law. The moving magnet induces an
electric current in the loop. This current creates a magnetic field that exerts a force to
oppose the motion of the magnet and hence slows it down. The magnet exerts an equal and
opposite force on the ring coil and so the ring coil moves as observed.
Q#5: A conductor wire generates a voltage while moving through a magnetic field. In
what direction should the wire be moved, relative to the field to generate the maximum
voltage?
Ans: As
VBL Sin = VBL if = 90
At 90 sine function will give maximum value.
When V and B are mutually perpendicular then it will give maximum flux and causes
maximum voltage.
OR
When we place a conductor wire in a magnetic field then it will experience a magnetic
force in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. To generate the maximum
voltage (emf) in the conductor we must move the wire in such a way that angle between
velocity or wire and magnetic field must be 900.
Q#6: What is the difference between a generator and a motor?
Ans: The primary difference between a motor and a generator is that a motor converts
electrical energy into mechanical energy and generator converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy.

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Q#7: What reverses the direction of electric current in the armature coil of DC motor?
Ans: The split ring is arranged so that each half of the commutator changes brushes just
as the coil reaches the vertical position. Changing brushes reverse the current in the loop.
OR To reverse the direction of current, the connection to coil is made through an
arrangement of brushes and a ring that is split into halves, called a split ring commutator.
Brushes which are usually pieces of graphite make contact with the commutator and allow
current to flow into the loop. As the loop rotates, so does the commutator. The split ring
is arranged so that each half of the commutator changes brushes just as the coil reaches
the vertical position. Changing brushes reverse the current in the loop.
Q#8: A wire lying perpendicular to an external magnetic field carries of a current in the
direction shown in the diagram below (from fig.). In what direction will the wire move due
to the resulting magnetic force?
Ans: Apply Fleming Left hand rule first finger shows the direction of magnetic field and
second finger shows the direction of current and the erected thumb shows the direction
of force exerted by magnetic field. So in this case the force will exert in the negative zaxis (downward).
Q#9: Can a transformer operate on direct current?
Ans: No, a transformer cannot operate on direct current.
Reason: The reason is that the transformer consists of primary and secondary coils so
when we apply DC the induced current in secondary due to primary will induce for short
time and then becomes zero because DC is unidirectional and its polarity remains same.