Electromagnetic Induction (HL)

Essential ideas:

• The majority of electricity generated throughout the world is generated by machines that were designed to operate using the principles of electromagnetic induction.
• Generation and transmission of alternating current (ac) electricity has transformed the world.
• Capacitors can be used to store electrical energy for later use.

In 1831 Michael Faraday, using primitive equipment, observed a minute pulse of current in one coil of wire only when the current in a second coil of wire was switched on or off but nothing while a constant current was established. Faraday’s observation of these small transient currents led him to perform experiments that led to his law of electromagnetic induction.

In the late 19th century Edison was a proponent of direct current electrical energy transmission while Westinghouse and Tesla favoured alternating current transmission. The so called “battle of currents” had a significant impact on today’s society.

Examples of exponential growth and decay pervade the whole of science. It is a clear example of the way that scientists use mathematics to model reality. This topic can be used to create links between physics topics but also to uses in chemistry, biology, medicine and economics.