Definition
The physical principle by which changing magnetic flux induces an electromotive force in a conductor, linking mechanical motion with electric current.
Electromagnetic induction made mechanical power and electrical energy mutually convertible in engineering, allowing later generators to work with different energy sources.
Principles and impact
Problems solved
- Provided a general principle for converting rotational mechanical work into a continuous supply of electrical energy.
- Allowed generators and electric motors to share a common basis of electromagnetic conversion.
Principles
- Changes in magnetic flux induce an electromotive force in a conducting loop.
- The design of the coils, magnetic field, and relative motion determines the output voltage and current.
Improvements
- Compared with chemical batteries, generators can provide electricity continuously when driven by sustained mechanical power.
Significance
- Connected steam, water, wind, and other sources of mechanical power to modern electrical power systems.
History and applications
People
Michael Faraday、Charles Wheatstone、Werner Siemens
Organizations
Royal Institution
Events
Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction in 1831
Applications
Generators、Electric motors、Transformers
Limitations
- Requires a changing magnetic field or relative motion; output is also constrained by materials, insulation, and heat dissipation.
Upstream and downstream relations
Upstream
No direct upstream relations recorded