Question

Two circular loops are lying side-by-side horizontally on the surface of a table. A battery and switch are connected in series with the left-hand loop. When the switch is closed, a counterclockwise current begins to flow in the left-hand loop. What, if anything, happens in the right-hand loop due to the current flowing in the left-hand loop?

a) The current remains zero.

b) A counterclockwise current is induced.

c) A clockwise current is induced.

Explain your answer.

Answer 1

As the switch in the left loop is closed a counterclockwise current starts flowing in the left loop. Now as we have just switched it on the current slowly begins to increase which increases the magnetic flux through the the loop lying on the right hand side and this increased magnetic flux points into the plane of the paper through the loop lying on the right hand side. Now according to the lenz law, a current is induced in the right hand loop in such a way that opposes this increased magnetic flux which is pointing into the plane through the right hand loop. Therefore counter clockwise current is induced in the right hand loop.

It must be noted that this induced current lasts only tell the current in the left lobe keeps on rising until it reaches its equilibrium value.

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