Understanding the topic of electromagnetism in Physics has a lot to do with experiments, diagrams of magnetic flux, and other related discussions. This simply means that electromagnetism is actually an extensive topic in Physics, no surprise about that because the topic is the base of most of the machines in engineering.
Understanding electromagnetism in physics simply means understanding the basics of modern engineering machines using electricity. There is no electric-powered machine in existence that does not work with the principle of electromagnetism.
From the simplest of hair clippers to the giant industrial electric motors powering the industrial machines. it does not really matter the size of the electric machine and it does not matter the type of current be it direct current or alternating current, all rely on the principle of electromagnetism.
What is Electromagnetism?
This will certainly be a question in the mind of those who did not do physics or related science subject but for the science students, it is actually a common word.
The term ‘Electromagnetism’ is used to define the magnetic force that exists between a current-carrying conductor and a magnet. The magnetic flux of a magnet interacts with the current force from a conductor carrying current thereby forcing it to move in a specific direction. This direction is reversed the moment the direction of the current flow is changed. This is the principle that makes reversal of direction in DC electric motors very easy.
Electromagnetism is the basic working principle of all-electric motors currently in existence. It has helped old and modern engineering to build sophisticated machines covering the various aspects of human life. From transportation to productions, marketing, entertainment, and lots more. This is possible through the making of powerful electric motors to power the machines either in parts or as the major prime mover.
Experiments Explaining Electromagnetism
The major physics experiment illustrating the law of electromagnetism is usually that of permanent magnets placed side by side of a shaped wire with a ring-shaped end. The wire rotates the moment a current is passed to it and reverses its direction of rotation the moment the direction of the current flow is changed.
However, here comes another experiment illustrating the working principle of electromagnetism.
How This Video Illustrates The Working Principle of Electromagnetism
Considering its simplicity, this video is another way of illustrating the working of electromagnetism. However, instead of the conventional method, the electrical conductor is made to rotate around the DC battery supplying current to it through the help of a stainless steel permanent magnet positioned below the DC battery.
The current-carrying conductor is a properly shaped metallic wire with a ring at the base and a pointed end that establishes contact with the top tip of the A4 cell (battery).
How it works
The A4 Cell is placed on top of the round-shaped stainless steel permanent magnet in such a way that the current in the battery can be passed through the magnet.
As the shaped metallic wire (current-carrying conductor) goes into the battery, its inward-pointed tip hangs on the top tip of the battery. The ring shape of the metallic wire makes contact with the circumference of the permanent magnet such that it can move freely around the magnet.
As the current flows through the metallic wire to the magnetic flux flowing from the magnetic creates electromagnetism that helps in forcing the ring-shaped conductor to rotate around its circumference
In this experiment, the permanent magnet is exhibiting two jobs which are:
- As the provider of the magnetic flux that pushes the current carry conductor
- As current conductor that helps to transmit the DC battery current to the Shaped wire conductor.
This is probably one of the simplest explanations of electromagnetism. This concept of electromagnetism experiment can actually give rise to other aspects of electric motor designs.
