Why Does Adding More Coils Make Generating Electricity Harder with Magnets?

In summary, magnets can generate electricity if you put a magnet in a coil of wire and turn it. The more coil you use, the harder it is to run the magnet. The more coil you use, the more electromagnetism you produce and the more input you require.
  • #1
zelldot
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I know that if you put a magnet in a coil of wire and turn it you can generate electricity, but a friend told me the more coil you use to take more electric you try to make the harder the magnet is to run, the same if you reverse it, even if you turn the coil. Why?
 
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  • #2
The mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy, which in this case, produces electromagnetism (ehh - induction) in the coil. More coil, means more electromagnetism, so more output produced and more input required.
 
  • #3
Changing magnetic fields produce a current, and currents produce magnetic fields. When you move the magnet you are inducing a current in the coils of the wire. Because there are now currents in the wire, they produce a magnetic field. The magnetic field produced by the currents is oriented such that it resists any further movement of the magnet.
 
  • #4
can a magnet be fullydrained of its magnetic power?
 
  • #5
While some types of magnets can lose (or gain) magnetism, using a magnet in a motor or generator does not "drain" a magnet in the way you are asking.
 
  • #6
Magnets may lose their magnetic energy, like elements decay. But as they are really big items in comparison to their tasks - they will last a very long time.

I believe if you wanted to "burn out" a magnet you could with suffient electrical current flowing through it instead of around it.
 
  • #7
zelldot said:
can a magnet be fullydrained of its magnetic power?

if you put a magnet on a stove it no longer acts like a magnet and becomes a normal piece of metal
 
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  • #8
Ki Man said:
if you put a magnet on a stove it no longer acts like a magnet and becomes a piece of metal
Works with your computer too!
 
  • #9
lol and will amazingly work on living organisms too! :eek:
 
  • #10
When the magnets spin in a generator to cause the wire in the surrounding coils to charge up, exactly what is the energy? Older books describe the function by claiming Electrons actually move from one length of wire to another.

But forcing electrons away from their respective atomic nucleus requires enormous energy input. Copper requires a lot of energy to remove it's outer electrons since it is a relatively small atom and it's nucleus is still quite close to it's valence electrons.

In solid materials there usually exist a valance band which is an energy region where the states are filled or partially filled by valence electrons. The conduction band is defined to be the lowest unfilled energy band. So materials can be characterized by their band structure. An insulator has the valence and conduction band well separated. A semiconductor has the valence band close to the conduction band - separated by about a 1 eV gap. Conductors on the other hand have the conduction and valence bands overlapping. But they will often still function with better/worse properties with respect to temperature influence.

The interesting property of a semiconductor is that thermally excited electrons can move from the valence band to the conduction band and conduct current. Silicon and germanium have thermally excited electrons at room temperature and hence their common use in diodes and transistors.

So this leads us back to valence energy states, what exactly is the energy, what is it composed of, and what dictates it's strength. As this energy state is increased in an electric current {or magnetic fields} and is induced to travel from one atom to another because Copper prefers to remain Copper and not become Nickel.

It is a Polar molecule which directs the conditions to provide for conduction of this energy. I think it was referred to as Quarks which are the specific energy, but I'm not certain that is true or even the right answer still today.

Thanks
 
  • #11
First:
Deckers said:
As this energy state is increased in an electric current {or magnetic fields} and is induced to travel from one atom to another because Copper prefers to remain Copper and not become Nickel.
Nothing about electricity implies that copper would become nickel. Electricity has to do with the motion of electrons, and its protons that determine what element something is.

The thing you need to understand about transferring electrical energy is that metallic bonding makes, essentially, a "sea of electrons" that can relatively freely move through a piece of metal. There is no chemical reaction going on when electricity moves through a wire, as specific atoms don't permanently gain or lose electrons.
 
  • #12
I don't see it that way. The valence electrons can be shared or given to other atoms. but only with the Cu atom nearby to take one back if a better donor comes up.

The energy potential increases as you go down the table. Gold is a better conductor as it's valence electrons are even further from the nucleus. Yet copper 3+ would be radioactive, which you would say doesn't occur as the electron transfer is continuous. Cu only has 2 stable isotopes and I think free electrons would increase energy transfer potential, but that energy isn't electrons. Electrons {valence or otherwise} would merely jump to the next order of potential in valence shell until the energy is dissipated to an adjoining atom or molecule.
A sea of electrons would be Plasma like. Something like a Magnetic field without a magnet. Not stable and not controllable without a strong magnetic field.

Quantum number is the order elements prefer, breaking those rules doesn't mean that electrons are just leaving atoms with only tiny levels of current flowing. The Kinetic energy of the molecule {or atom} just increases, then the Potential goes up as well with amperes.

I think it's unfair to teach electrons moving in conditions that aren't sufficient to cause it Chemically. They will only learn it doesn't happen that way later on.

http://www.chemistrycoach.com/quantum.htm
 
  • #13
What I'm saying is, if electron flow were all that was going on superconductive wire would be made of radioactive elements. Simple. But that would require magnetic shielding for insulation. And magnetic fields are not condusive to current conduction. A self defeating theory before they even begin to do their job.

A superconductive wire is composed of either metal or an oxide. Production of a strong magnetic field is the desired task of these wires. Yet in accomplishing this task they generally defeat their advantages too.
http://www.chuden.co.jp/english/corporation/press/pre2000/pre0711.html

Radioactive wires have been made and used. Heat is the prime concern with them and I suppose they oxidize materials nearby quickly.

Electrical wire is like millions of small batteries end to end. They are weak batteries and don't transfer much power - until induced to do so by a magnetic field generator pushing Potential energy through interaction with elemental electron clouds.

Superconductive wire is like millions of capacitors connected to each other in comparison, the charge barely needs a nudge to flow energy.
 
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  • #14
Deckers, you are misinformed. Far short of just being wrong, much of what you are saying doesn't even make sense. You are using words that you clearly do not understand. It's a word-salad.

We do not entertain such nonsensical discussions here. I highly recommend you learn some real physics.
 
  • #15
russ_watters said:
Deckers, you are misinformed. Far short of just being wrong, much of what you are saying doesn't even make sense. You are using words that you clearly do not understand. It's a word-salad.

We do not entertain such nonsensical discussions here. I highly recommend you learn some real physics.


Nonsensical notions? Like a sea of electrons?

You should have paid attention in Chemistry class past the first year.
 
  • #16
Deckers said:
Nonsensical notions? Like a sea of electrons?

You should have paid attention in Chemistry class past the first year.
Perhaps you should review that first year class one more time. The question is clearly about electron flow in wires; your musings about radioactivity are meaningless.
 

FAQ: Why Does Adding More Coils Make Generating Electricity Harder with Magnets?

What are magnets and how do they work?

Magnets are objects that create a magnetic field, which is a force that can attract or repel other objects. They work because they have a property called magnetism, which is caused by the alignment of electrons within the material.

How are magnets and electricity related?

Magnets and electricity are closely related because they both involve the movement of charged particles. When a wire carrying an electric current is placed near a magnet, the magnetic field of the magnet can cause the electrons in the wire to move, creating an electric current. Similarly, moving a magnet near a wire can also create an electric current.

What is the difference between permanent magnets and electromagnets?

Permanent magnets are made of materials that are naturally magnetic, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. They have a constant magnetic field and do not require an external electric current to maintain their magnetism. Electromagnets, on the other hand, are made by running an electric current through a coil of wire. They have a magnetic field that can be turned on and off by controlling the electric current.

How do magnets generate electricity?

Magnets can generate electricity by moving a wire through a magnetic field or by moving a magnet near a wire. This movement creates a change in the magnetic field, which induces a current in the wire. This is the basis of how generators and electric motors work.

Can magnets and electricity be used for renewable energy?

Yes, magnets and electricity can be used for renewable energy. One example is the use of wind turbines, which use the movement of magnets and wires to generate electricity from wind energy. Another example is the use of hydropower, where the kinetic energy of moving water is used to turn a turbine, which then generates electricity through the movement of magnets and wires.

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