PHYS1231 Group Report

Aims
To investigate Faradays Law, in particular the effect that the number of
turns, magnetic field density and change in time has upon the maximum
e.m.f generated. We also measure the current associated with this e.m.f
to calculate the power produced. As an extended goal we look at some
practical applications of Faradays law by constructing and testing a
pseudo-metal detector.

Experimental Procedure
Diagram of Experimental Setup

Equipment

200, 400 and 800 turn transformers

Voltage probe
Current probe
Logger pro
Computer
Magnetic field sensor
10 strong rare earth magnets
Plastic tube
Report stand & clamp
Vernier Callipers
Meter rule
Sheet of A4 paper, pencil & 30cm ruler
Electrical tape
Small sheets of different metals

Basic Goal: Changing N

Independent variable: The number of turns in the transformer
Dependant variable: The magnitude of the maximum e.m.f generated
and the magnitude of the maximum current induced.
Controlled variables: The number of magnets and hence the magnetic
field density (B), the height from which they are dropped (h), the distance
(d).
Method:
1. Gather all the equipment
2. Attach the plastic tube to a retort stand using a clamp.
3. Measure the height (d) of the transformer using Vernier callipers. (d
is constant for all 3 transformers)
4. Connect the magnetic field sensor to the logger pro (channel 1) and
the logger pro to the power and computer. Set up the computer to
record magnetic field density and increase the sampling rate to 100
samples per second.
5. Draw a line 1.6cm from the edge of an A4 sheet of paper
6. Place 6 of the rare earth magnets along this line.
7. Move the magnetic field sensor across the magnets whilst recording
the magnetic field density on the computer.
8. Take the highest peak on this graph to be the magnetic field density
(B) and record this value. (This density will be at the poles of the
magnet)
9. Disconnect the magnetic field sensor.
10.
Starting with the 200 turn transformer, use the Vernier
callipers to measure the outer area and inner area, and subtract
inner from outer to get the cross-sectional area (A).

11.
Slide the transformer down the plastic tube such that it sits
atop the clamp 30cm from the top of the tube.
12.
If attached remove the crocodile clips from the wires of the
voltage and current probes.
13.
Connect the voltage probe across the current probe by
plugging its wires into the top of the current probes wires. Then
connect the current probe across the transformer.
14.
Plug the voltage probe into channel 1 and the current probe
into channel 2 of the logger pro, then relaunch the program on the
computer.
15.
Increase the sampling rate to 150 samples per second.
16.
Press record on the computer, wait a moment, and then drop
the magnets from the top of the tube.
17.
Record the max e.m.f and current by selecting the spike on
the graph, clicking statistics and reading off the maximum value.
(n.b. You will need to auto scale the graph the first time). Record the
maximum current the same way.
18.
Repeat steps 16-17 twice more for this transformer.
19.
Repeat steps 10-18 for the 400 and 800 turn transformers.
(can omit steps 12,14 and 15 since these only need to be done
once)

Standard Goal
Part 1: Changing B
Independent variable: The number of rare earth magnets
Dependant variable: The magnitude of the maximum e.m.f generated
and the magnitude of the maximum current induced.
Controlled variables: The height (h), the distance (d), the number of
turns of the transformer (N) and the cross sectional area (A)
Method:
1. For both parts of the standard goal use the 200 turn transformer
(and thus A will be its corresponding cross-sectional area worked out
for the basic goal). As before slide it down the plastic tube until it
sits atop the clamp.
2. For Part 1 have it sitting 30cm from the top of the tube (as in the
basic goal)
3. Connect the voltage probe and current probe to the transformer, but
do not plug them into the logger pro yet.
4. Connect the magnetic field sensor to the logger pro (channel 1) and
the logger pro to the power and computer.
5. Set up the computer to record magnetic field density and the
sampling rate to 100 samples per second.

6. Starting with one rare earth magnet, place it on the 1.6cm line
drawn for the basic goal, and again move the magnet field sensor
across it whilst recording the data on the computer.
7. Take the highest peak on this graph to be the magnetic field density
(B) and record this value. (This density will be at the poles of the
magnet)
8. Now disconnect the magnetic field sensor and connect the voltage
probe (channel 1) and current probe (channel 2) into the computer.
Reload the program so that it is ready to record both voltage and
current simultaneously. Increase the sampling rate to 150 samples
per second if necessary.
9. Have one member of the group position the magnet/s at the top of
the plastic tube and the other ready to start recording on the
computer.
10.
Click record and after waiting to ensure it has started to record
data, drop the magnet/s through the tube.
11.
Record the max e.m.f and current by selecting the spike on
the graph, clicking statistics and reading off the maximum value.
(n.b. You will need to auto scale the graph the first time). Record the
maximum current the same way.
12.
Repeat steps 9-11 twice more to obtain a total of three results
for this number of magnets.
13.
Disconnect the voltage and current probe from the logger pro
and reconnect the magnetic field sensor into channel 1.
14.
Repeat steps 5-13 for 2,3,4 and 5 magnets.
Part 2: Changing t
Independent variable: The height above the transformer from which
the magnets are dropped (h).
Dependent variable: The magnitude of the maximum e.m.f generated
and the magnitude of the maximum current induced.
Controlled variables: The number of magnets and hence the magnetic
field density (B), the distance (d), the number of turns (N), the cross
sectional area (A)
Method:
1. Use the same 5 magnets that you were using for the last trial of Part
1. Thus record their associated magnetic field density as B for this
part of the experiment.
2. Also continue to use the 200 turns transformer and hence record the
(unchanged) values of A, d and N.
3. Ensure both the voltage and current probe are connected to the
transformer and into logger pro. Check that the computer is set up

to record both voltage and current simultaneously and that the

sample rate is on 150 samples per second.
4. Slide the position of the clamp up the plastic tube until the
transformer sits h=15cm from the top of the tube.
19.6 h 19.6 h4 4.9 d
5. Using the formula t=
plug in the
9.8
numbers for h and d to get the value for time taken and record this
in the table.
6. Now have one member of the group prepare to drop the magnets
through the tube and another ready to click record on the computer.
7. Click record on the computer, and once it has started release the
magnets.
8. Record the max e.m.f and current by selecting the spike on the
graph, clicking statistics and reading off the maximum value. (n.b.
You will need to auto scale the graph the first time). Record the
maximum current the same way.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 twice more to obtain a total of three results for this
height h.
10.
Repeat steps 4-9 for h=20cm, 25cm and 35cm.
11.
Since h=30cm was done during Part 1 there is no need to
repeat these measurements, simply copy them into the results
table.

Results
Basic Goal
Constants:

B = 5.802mT
h = 30cm
d = 40mm
A = 841.07mm2 (200 turns)
A = 920.16mm2 (400 turns)
A = 949.52mm2 (800 turns)

Results Table:
Table 1- Basic Goal

Numb
er of
turns
(N)

Trial No

1
e.m.f
(V)

1
curre
nt (A)

2
e.m.f
(V)

2
curre
nt (A)

3
e.m.f
(V)

Power
(W)
3
curre
nt (A)

Avera
ge
e.m.f

Avera
ge
Curre

Exp.
e.m.f
(V)

200

0.13
89

0.371
9

0.14
80

0.422
9

0.13
28

0.386
6

400

0.10
84

0.303
6

0.08
09

0.207
4

0.07
78

0.199
5

800

0.05
95

0.144
5

0.06
26

0.160
7

0.04
73

0.110
7

(V)

nt
(A)

0.139
9
0.00
76
0.089
0
0.01
53
0.056
5
0.00
77

0.393
8
0.02
55
0.236
8
0.05
21
0.138
6
0.02
50

0.055
1
0.00
66
0.021
1
0.00
83
0.007
8
0.00
25

0.06
11

0.13
36

0.27
58

Standard Goal
Part 1: Changing B
Constants

N = 200
A = 841.07mm2
h = 30cm
d = 40mm

Table 2 - Standard Goal Part 1

Numb
er of
magn
ets

B
(mT
)

Trial No

1.18
7

1.
e.m.f
(V)
0.02
6

2.16
7

3.63
6

1.
I (A)
0.03
25

2.
e.m.f
(V)
0.02
9

0.04
43

0.12
41

0.10
53

0.20
63

2.
I (A)
0.04
75

3.
e.m.f
(V)
0.02
9

3.
I (A)
0.05
39

0.05
15

0.12
38

0.04
43

0.09
44

0.08
09

0.18
91

0.09
92

0.24
86

Avg
e.m.f
(V)
0.028
0.00
15
0.046
7
0.00
36
0.095
1
0.01
22

Power
(W)

E
e

0.0012
5
0.000
37
0.0053
3
0.001
11
0.0204
2
0.005
45

Avg I
(A)
0.044
6
0.01
07
0.114
1
0.01
49
0.214
7
0.02
98

4.76
6

0.08
09

0.22
79

0.07
17

0.17
73

0.10
84

0.28
10

0.087
0.01
84

5.09
7

0.17
25

0.31
46

0.18
77

0.35
61

0.17
25

0.35
18

0.177
6
0.00
76

0.228
7
0.05
19
0.340
8
0.02
08

0.0199
0.008
7

0.0605
0.006
3

Part 2: Changing t
Constants

d = 40mm
A = 852.21mm2
N = 200
B = 5.097mT

Table 3 - Standard Goal Part 2

Heig
ht h
(cm)

t (s)

Trial No

1.
e.m.f
(V)

1.
I (A)

2.
e.m.f
(V)

2.
I (A)

3.
e.m.f
(V)

3.
I (A)

Avg
e.m.f
(V)

Avg
I
(A)
0.258
8
0.01
57
0.292
1
.012
4
0.305
4
0.02
72
0.340
8

15

0.021
95

0.14
19

0.25
5

0.14
80

0.24
5

0.15
11

0.27
64

0.147
0.00
46

20

0.019
28

0.15
72

0.30
14

0.16
33

0.29
81

0.15
72

0.27
67

25

0.017
4

0.16
64

0.32
65

0.16
33

0.31
76

0.15
42

0.27
21

30

0.015
98

0.17
25

0.31
46

0.18
77

0.35
61

0.17
25

0.35
18

0.159
2
0.00
31
0.161
3
0.00
61
0.177
6

Power
(W)

Exp.
e.m.
f

0.038
0.003
5

0.03
96

0.0465
0.002
9

0.04
51

0.0493
0.006
3

0.04
99

0.0605
0.006

0.05
44

35

0.014
86

0.19
08

0.37
7

0.17
55

0.35
67

0.21
52

0.44
03

0.00
76
0.193
2
0.01
99

0.02
08
0.391
3
0.04
18

Sample Calculations (full calculations included as

appendices)
Power
P=VI

Example
P=( 0.1399 )( 0.3938 ) =0.0551 W

t
First work out velocity u1 at top of transformer
v 2=u 2+ 2as

u12=02 +2(9.8)(h)

u1= 19.6 h

Now use this to work out t

1
s=ut + a t 2
2

t=

1
d=( 19.6 h ) ( t ) + (9.8)(t )2
2

19.6 h 19.6 h4 4.9d

9.8

Example
For h = 30cm and d = 40mm
t=

( 19.6 ) ( 0.3 ) + ( 19.6 ) ( 0.3 )4( 4.9)(0.04)

=0.01598
9.8

Expected e.m.f

3
0.0756
0.001
59

0.05
85

 =N

BA0
t

Example
=( 200 )

( 5.802 103 ) ( 841.07 106 )

0.01598

=0.0611 V

Error Calculation
For voltage and current use the following formula:
error=

maxmin
2

Example:
0.14800.1328
=0.0076 V
2
For power use fractional errors
P V I
=
+
P
V
I
P=(

V I
+
) P
V
I

Example:
0.0255
+
0.0551=0.0066 W
( 0.0076
0.1399 0.3938 )

Graphs: see attached

Appendices