Magnetic Flux Through a Rotated Rectangular Coil

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Magnetism Beginner Magnetic Field of Current

Source: High school physics (Chinese)

Problem Sets:

magnetic field

Problem

A rectangular coil $abcd$ of area $S = 0.05 \text{ m}^2$ is placed in a uniform magnetic field of magnitude $B = 0.06 \text{ T}$. In the initial position the coil plane is perpendicular to $\vec{B}$. The coil can rotate about the axis $OO'$ which lies in the coil plane.

  1. When the coil plane is perpendicular to the magnetic field direction, what is the magnetic flux through the coil?
  2. When the coil is rotated by $60°$ about the $OO'$ axis from the position above, what is the magnetic flux through the coil?
Problem image

(1) $\Phi_1 = BS = 3 \times 10^{-3} \text{ Wb}$

(2) $\Phi_2 = BS\cos 60° = 1.5 \times 10^{-3} \text{ Wb}$

Magnetic flux: $\Phi = BS\cos\theta$, where $\theta$ is the angle between $\vec{B}$ and the coil normal $\hat{n}$.

(1) Coil plane $\perp \vec{B}$ means $\hat{n} \parallel \vec{B}$, so $\theta = 0°$:

$$\Phi_1 = BS\cos 0° = BS = 0.06 \times 0.05 = 3 \times 10^{-3} \text{ Wb}$$

(2) Rotating the coil by $60°$ about $OO'$ tilts $\hat{n}$ away from $\vec{B}$ by $60°$, so $\theta = 60°$:

$$\Phi_2 = BS\cos 60° = (3 \times 10^{-3}) \times \tfrac{1}{2} = 1.5 \times 10^{-3} \text{ Wb}$$