Brightness of two lamps in a circuit having a changing magnetic field

In summary, the brightness of two lamps in a circuit is influenced by the presence of a changing magnetic field, which induces an electromotive force (EMF) in the circuit according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. The induced EMF affects the current flowing through the lamps, thereby altering their brightness. Factors such as the strength and rate of change of the magnetic field, as well as the resistance of the circuit, play crucial roles in determining how brightly each lamp glows when exposed to the changing magnetic field.
  • #1
songoku
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Homework Statement
Please see below
Relevant Equations
Faraday's law
Lenz's law
1695227102326.png


The answer key is (D) but I don't understand how to approach this question.

I am guessing the wire is acting as short circuit path but how to know which bulb will be short - circuited?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
I don't think D is the correct answer.

Instead of worrying about which bulb is "shorted", think about how you can use Faraday's law. For example, how would you use Faraday's law to determine the current in the light bulbs for the circuit on the left?
 
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  • #3
TSny said:
I don't think D is the correct answer.

Instead of worrying about which bulb is "shorted", think about how you can use Faraday's law. For example, how would you use Faraday's law to determine the current in the light bulbs for the circuit on the left?
It depends on the change of the magnetic field.

If the B increases then the current is anticlockwise and if the B decreases then the current is clockwise.

Thanks
 
  • #4
songoku said:
It depends on the change of the magnetic field.

If the B increases then the current is anticlockwise and if the B decreases then the current is clockwise.
Yes. But we are interested in the brightness of the lamps. So, we are interested in the magnitude of the current in the lamps. For the single-loop circuit on the left, can you find an expression for the magnitude of the induced current in the loop, ##I##, in terms of the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the loop , ## \large \frac {d \Phi}{dt}##, and the resistance ##R## of each lamp?
 
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  • #5
TSny said:
Yes. But we are interested in the brightness of the lamps. So, we are interested in the magnitude of the current in the lamps. For the single-loop circuit on the left, can you find an expression for the magnitude of the induced current in the loop, ##I##, in terms of the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the loop , ## \large \frac {d \Phi}{dt}##, and the resistance ##R## of each lamp?
$$I=\frac{\frac{d\Phi}{dt}}{2R}$$
 
  • #6
songoku said:
$$I=\frac{\frac{d\Phi}{dt}}{2R}$$
Yes.

Can you do anything similar in the multiloop circuit on the right?
 
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  • #7
TSny said:
Yes.

Can you do anything similar in the multiloop circuit on the right?
Assuming the resistance of the wire is negligible, the current flowing in the top loop will be bigger than the lower loop since the area is bigger so the rate of change of magnetic flux is also higher.

The current flowing in the top loop will be ##\frac{\frac{d\Phi_1}{dt}}{R}## and the current flowing in the bottom loop will be ##\frac{\frac{d\Phi_2}{dt}}{R}##.
 
  • #8
Is there any magnetic flux through the bottom loop?
 
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  • #9
TSny said:
Is there any magnetic flux through the bottom loop?
Oh I see what it means of the picture. I just assumed that all part inside the loop had magnetic field.

So the induced current on the bottom is zero, that's why L2 goes out. For top loop, the decrease in area does not affect the rate of change of magnetic flux. The induced current will increase since the resistance of the circuit decreases

I suppose the appropriate answer will be (C).
 
  • #10
songoku said:
Oh I see what it means of the picture. I just assumed that all part inside the loop had magnetic field.
Yes, I believe all of the flux that was in the first circuit is in the top loop of the second circuit and there is no flux though the bottom loop of the second circuit.

songoku said:
So the induced current on the bottom is zero, that's why L2 goes out.
Yes, there is no induced emf in the bottom loop. So, there can't be any IR voltage drop across the lower lamp.

songoku said:
For top loop, the decrease in area does not affect the rate of change of magnetic flux. The induced current will increase since the resistance of the circuit decreases

I suppose the appropriate answer will be (C).
Yes.
 
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  • #11
Thank you very much TSny
 
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FAQ: Brightness of two lamps in a circuit having a changing magnetic field

What factors determine the brightness of the two lamps in a circuit with a changing magnetic field?

The brightness of the two lamps is determined by the current flowing through them, which depends on the induced electromotive force (EMF) due to the changing magnetic field. The resistance of the lamps, the configuration of the circuit (series or parallel), and the rate of change of the magnetic field also play crucial roles.

How does the configuration of the circuit (series or parallel) affect the brightness of the lamps?

In a series circuit, the same current flows through both lamps, so their brightness will be the same if they have the same resistance. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each lamp is the same, but the current through each lamp can vary depending on their individual resistances, potentially causing different brightness levels.

What is the role of Faraday's Law of Induction in determining the brightness of the lamps?

Faraday's Law of Induction states that a changing magnetic field induces an EMF in a circuit. This induced EMF drives the current through the lamps. The magnitude of the induced EMF depends on the rate of change of the magnetic field and the number of turns in the coil, directly affecting the brightness of the lamps.

How does the rate of change of the magnetic field influence the brightness of the lamps?

The rate of change of the magnetic field influences the magnitude of the induced EMF. A faster change in the magnetic field induces a higher EMF, resulting in a greater current through the lamps and thus increased brightness. Conversely, a slower change results in a lower EMF and dimmer lamps.

Can the brightness of the lamps change over time in a circuit with a changing magnetic field?

Yes, the brightness of the lamps can change over time if the magnetic field is varying. As the magnetic field changes, the induced EMF and the resulting current will also change, leading to fluctuations in the brightness of the lamps. The exact pattern of brightness change depends on the nature of the magnetic field variation.

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