Question

If a wire lies withina magnetic field what must be true for the magnetic field to produce an electric current in the wire

Answer 1

The magnetic field through the wire must be changing

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Faraday's law, the induced emf, ε in a metallic conductor is directly proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux,Φ through it. This is stated mathematically as ε = dΦ/dt.

Now for the wire, the magnetic flux through it is given by Φ = ABcosθ where A = cross-sectional area of wire, B = magnetic field and θ = angle between A and B.

So, dΦ/dt = dABcosθ/dt

Since A and B are constant,

dΦ/dt = ABdcosθ/dt = -(dθ/dt)ABsinθ

Since dθ/dt implies a change in the angle between A and B, since A is constant, it implies that B must be rotating.

So, for an electric current (or voltage) to be produced in the wire, the magnetic field must be rotating or changing.