MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: How much voltage is produc, moving a small magnet in a 5 loop copper coil

Date: Wed Feb 22 10:15:49 2006
Posted By: Juan Cabanela, Faculty, Physics and Astronomy, Saint Cloud State University
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1136200908.Ph
Message:

Your question is ill-phrased and I have difficulty answering it.

You are correct that moving a magnet through a copper coil should produce a
current, by magnetic induction.  However, current is measured in units of
amperes (1 A = 1 C/s).  Volts are a measure of electric potential or
potential energy per charge (1 V = 1 J/C).  The amount of current driven by
the 1.5V potential of a battery/power supply depends on the resistors (and
inductors, if AC) in the circuit.

Talking about generating "1.5V of electricity" I suspect means you are
thinking of replacing a 1.5V battery or power supply with the moving
magnet.   A moving magnet will stop inducing current in the wire when it
stops moving, so you will likely have to move the magnet in and out of the
coil cyclically.  This means you will induce a current in one direction,
then another... that is you would be generating alternating current.   
Most motors I am aware of require direct current... which is difficult to
generate in the scheme you describe.



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