Magnetic Induction, Magnetic Flux and Faraday’s Law

The article defines the other principles of magnetism, magnetic and inductor components – Magnetic Induction, Magnetic Flux, and Faraday’s Law.

Magnetic induction B

A potential is induced in a conductor loop if the magnetic field passing through the conductor loop changes with time.

The surge in potential over the loop area is known as the magnetic induction B. Like the magnetic field strength; the magnetic induction B is a vector quantity.

The following relationship applies to the magnetic induction B:

magnetic induction equation [1]

The magnetic induction (B) is the quotient of the induced potential surge:

potential induced magnetic surge [2]

and the product of the winding turns (N) and the induction coil’s windings area (A).

The unit of magnetic induction (B) is the Tesla (T) = Vs./m2.

The magnetic induction B and the field strength H are proportional. The constant of proportionality is the magnetic field constant (μ0), given by experimental measurement.

magnetic field constant [3]

In vacuum and also with sufficient accuracy for air, this leads to:

magnetic induction equation [4]

The magnetic induction (B_L) in the air for the above example is then given by:

magnetic induction in the air environment [5]

Magnetic Flux F

The magnetic flux (F) is the scalar product of the magnetic flux density (B) and the area vector (dA).

magnetic flux equation [6]

magnetic flux equation in homogeneous field [7]

Faraday’s law

Up until now, we have considered static magnetic fields. If the magnetic flux changes with time, a voltage U is induced (Faraday’s law).

induced voltage Faradys Law [8]

The polarity of the voltage is such that a current is generated on closing a circuit whose induced magnetic field opposes the original magnetic flux, i.e. it tends to reduce the magnetic field (Lenz’s rule – Figure 1.).

Figure 1. Representation of Lenz’s rule. The imposed magnetic field induces a current in the direction such that its induced magnetic field opposes the imposed field.

Taking a winding with N turns, Faraday’s law can be expressed in the following form.

Faraday law with N turns winding [9]

So the inductance limits the change in current once a voltage is applied. It can be calculated from the coil data:

coil inductance equation [10]

The energy stored in the magnetic field is subject to the following relationships:

energy stored in the magnetic field equation [11]

The energy stored in volume V is composed of magnetic field strength H and the magnetic flux density B. For transformers and chokes with ferromagnetic cores, the flux density is limited by saturation and is constant throughout the magnetic circuit. If an air gap is introduced (material with permeability μ~1), the field strength is highest in this air gap with H = B/μ. It follows that the energy density is highest in the air gap. One also speaks of the energy being stored in the air gap.