Question

The wire in the figure carries a current I that is increasing with time at a constant rate. The wire and the three loops are all in the same plane. What is true about the currents induced in each of the three loops shown?

A. No current is induced in any loop.
B. The currents are counterclockwise in all three loops.
C. Loop A has clockwise current, loop B has no induced current, and loop C has counterclockwise current.
D. Loop A has counterclockwise current, loop B has no induced current, and loop C has clockwise current.

Answer 1

The currents induced in the three loops depend on the change in magnetic field caused by the increasing current in the wire. According to Faraday's law and Lenz's law, loop A has counterclockwise current, loop B has no induced current, and loop C has clockwise current.

Step-by-step explanation:

The currents induced in the three loops shown in the figure depend on the change in magnetic field caused by the increasing current in the wire.

According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, a changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force (emf) in a loop of wire.

The direction of the induced current in each loop is determined by Lenz's law, which states that the induced current opposes the change in magnetic field.

In this case, as the current in the wire is increasing, the magnetic field around the wire is also increasing.

To oppose this increase, loop A will have a clockwise induced current, loop C will have a counterclockwise induced current, and loop B will have no induced current.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D: Loop A has counterclockwise current, loop B has no induced current, and loop C has clockwise current.