Question

True or false?

1. Lenz's law states that the induced current and induced emf in a conductor are in such a direction as to enhance the magnetic flux change that produced them. T/F2. The magnitude flux through a surface depends on the magnitudes of magnetic field and surface area only. T/F3. Like a sound wave, propagation of EM waves requires air as a medium. T/F

Answer 1

1. False

Explanation: it's exactly the opposite. In fact, Lenz's law states that the induced current and the induced emf in a conductor are generated in such a direction that opposes to the change in magnetic flux through the coil. This is summarized by the negative sign in the Faraday's Newmann Lenz law:

`\epsilon= -(d\Phi )/(dt)`

where
`\epsilon` is the emf induced and
`(d\Phi)/(dt)` is the rate of change of magnetic flux through the coil.

Lenz's law is a consequence of the law of conservation of energy. In fact, we have:

- If the magnetic flux through a coil is increasing, then the induced current has a direction such that the magnetic field generated by the coil is opposite to the direction of the external magnetic field, in order to decrease the total flux

- If the magnetic flux through a coil is decreasing, then the induced current has a direction such that the magnetic field generated by the coil is in the same direction as the external field, in order to increase the total flux

2. False

Explanation: the magnetic flux through a surface is given by

`\Phi = BA cos \theta`

where

B is the magnitude of the magnetic field

A is the surface area

`\theta` is the angle between the direction of B and the normal vector to the surface

As we see, the magnetic flux depends not only on B and A, but also on the orientation of the coil with respect to the magnetic field.

3. False

Explanation:

- Sound waves are mechanical waves: mechanical waves are waves consisting of oscillations of the particles in a medium. Due to their nature, therefore, mechanical waves can propagate only in the presence of a medium

- Electromagnetic waves are NOT mechanical waves: they consist of oscillations of electric and magnetic fields, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Since em waves are not mechanical waves, they do NOT need a medium to propagate, since they can also travel through a vacuum; therefore the original statement is false.