Electromagnetic Induction — 50 MCQs (Class 12)

Faraday • Lenz • Inductance • Transformer • Eddy Currents • RL circuits • Fast revision

Chapter summary — Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetic induction studies how a changing magnetic flux through a circuit induces an emf. Faraday's law states induced emf ε = −dΦ/dt (magnitude |ε| = rate of change of flux); Lenz's law gives direction of induced current (opposes change). Important topics: motional emf, self-inductance (L) and mutual inductance (M), energy stored in inductor (½LI²), RL transients with time constant τ = L/R, eddy currents and their reduction, AC generators and transformers (ideal transformer relations Vp/Vs = Np/Ns, power conservation), electromagnetic damping, and applications. Key formulas and concepts should be practiced with sign conventions, Fleming's right-hand/left-hand rules, and circuit analysis.

Revision tips: Learn Faraday's law, Lenz's law sign, units of inductance (Henry), behavior of RL circuits at t=0 and t→∞, transformer ideal equations, and examples of motional emf and eddy currents.

1. Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction relates induced emf to:

A) Magnetic field only

B) Rate of change of magnetic flux through the circuit (−dΦ/dt) ✅

C) Electric field only

D) Charge density

2. Lenz's law states that the direction of induced current is such that it:

A) Reinforces the change in magnetic flux

B) Opposes the change in magnetic flux ✅

C) Is independent of change

D) Maximizes energy

3. SI unit of inductance is:

A) Tesla

B) Weber

C) Henry (H) ✅

D) Ohm

4. The emf induced in a rod of length l moving with velocity v perpendicular to magnetic field B is given by:

A) ε = B l v ✅

B) ε = B l / v

C) ε = Blv^2

D) ε = B / (l v)

5. Motional emf arises due to:

A) Changing electric field

B) Changing resistance

C) Motion of conductor through magnetic field (v × B) ✅

D) Temperature change

6. Self-inductance of a coil is defined as:

A) Ratio of change in current to flux

B) Magnetic flux linkage per unit current (Φ/N)/I = L ✅

C) Current per unit flux

D) Voltage per unit resistance

7. Mutual inductance M between two coils depends on:

A) Geometry and coupling between coils ✅

B) Resistance only

C) Type of battery

D) Temperature only

8. Energy stored in an inductor carrying current I is:

A) ½ L I² ✅

B) L I

C) I²/L

D) LI

9. The induced emf in a coil is zero when:

A) Magnetic flux is changing rapidly

B) Magnetic flux through coil is constant ✅

C) Coil is moving in non-uniform field

D) Coil area is changing

10. In an RL circuit, the time constant τ is given by:

A) τ = R/L

B) τ = L/R ✅

C) τ = L·R

D) τ = 1/(L R)

11. When a steady current is established in an inductor, the potential difference across it is:

A) Maximum

B) Zero (no change in current ⇒ no induced emf) ✅

C) Infinite

D) Depends on resistance only

12. Eddy currents are induced in conductors subjected to changing magnetic flux. They cause:

A) Heating and energy loss (damping) ✅

B) Increased conductivity

C) No effect

D) Magnetic monopoles

13. A transformer works on the principle of:

A) Motional emf

B) Mutual induction between primary and secondary coils ✅

C) Self-induction only

D) Electrostatic induction

14. For an ideal transformer, the relation between primary and secondary voltages is:

A) Vp/Vs = Np/Ns ✅

B) Vp·Vs = Np·Ns

C) Vp + Vs = Np + Ns

D) Vp = Vs always

15. In a step-up transformer:

A) Secondary voltage < primary voltage

B) Secondary voltage > primary voltage (Ns > Np) ✅

C) Current increases in secondary

D) Power is not conserved

16. Lenz's law ensures conservation of:

A) Charge

B) Energy (induced current opposes change ⇒ work done) ✅

C) Mass

D) Entropy

17. When a bar magnet is pushed rapidly into a coil, induced current direction is such that it:

A) Attracts the magnet further

B) Opposes the motion (repels if north pole enters) ✅

C) Has no interaction

D) Depends only on coil resistance

18. The unit of magnetic flux is:

A) Tesla

B) Henry

C) Ampere

D) Weber (Wb) ✅

19. Faraday's ring demonstration illustrates:

A) Self-induction only

B) Mutual induction between coils and effect of induced emf ✅

C) Electrostatic induction

D) Photoelectric effect

20. In a coil, if the number of turns is doubled, self-inductance L:

A) Halves

B) Remains same

C) Quadruples (L ∝ N²) ✅

D) Doubles

21. The polarity of induced emf in a moving conductor is determined by:

A) Fleming's right-hand rule ✅

B) Fleming's left-hand rule

C) Ohm's law

D) Coulomb's law

22. In a series RL circuit when switch is closed, current:

A) Immediately reaches steady value

B) Rises exponentially and approaches steady state with time constant L/R ✅

C) Decreases

D) Oscillates indefinitely

23. A conducting loop rotating in a magnetic field acts as:

A) Transformer

B) AC generator (emf alternates) ✅

C) Motor only

D) Capacitor

24. The instantaneous emf in a rotating coil of area A in field B with angular speed ω is:

A) ε = NBAω sin(ωt) ✅

B) ε = NBA cos(ωt)

C) ε = NBAω

D) ε = NBA/ω

25. A superconducting loop has zero resistance. If magnetic flux through it is changed, induced current will be:

A) Zero

B) Finite and persistent to oppose change (no decay) ✅

C) Damped quickly

D) Random

26. In an ideal transformer, if primary voltage is 230 V and turns ratio Np:Ns = 1:2, secondary voltage is:

A) 115 V

B) 230 V

C) 460 V ✅

D) 920 V

27. The back emf in a coil opposing change in current is given by:

A) ε = L (dI/dt) with plus sign

B) ε = −L (dI/dt) ✅

C) ε = IR

D) ε = L/I

28. Which phenomenon is utilized in metal detectors and induction cooktops?

A) Photoelectric effect

B) Eddy currents and induction heating ✅

C) Static electricity

D) Electrolysis

29. The mutual inductance between two coils is measured in units of:

A) Weber

B) Tesla

C) Henry ✅

D) Ohm

30. In Lenz's law, the negative sign in ε = −dΦ/dt indicates:

A) Magnitude relation only

B) Direction of induced emf opposes change in flux ✅

C) emf is always negative

D) Flux decreases always

31. A metallic plate moving into region of magnetic field experiences eddy currents that:

A) Accelerate the plate

B) Oppose motion and produce heating ✅

C) Cause superconductivity

D) Create light emission

32. The phenomenon where changing magnetic flux induces electric field in space is captured by:

A) Ampère's law only

B) Faraday's law / Maxwell-Faraday equation ✅

C) Gauss's law

D) Ohm's law

33. If frequency of alternating current in transformer increases, core losses due to hysteresis and eddy currents generally:

A) Decrease

B) Increase ✅

C) Remain same

D) Become zero

34. The RMS value of an AC emf with peak E0 is:

A) E0 ✅

B) E0/√2 ✅ (note: RMS = E0/√2)

C) 2E0

D) E0/2

35. An inductor opposes change in current most strongly when:

A) dI/dt is large ✅

B) dI/dt is zero

C) Current is steady

D) Resistance is zero

36. In a perfectly coupled transformer (ideal), efficiency is approximately:

A) 0%

B) 50%

C) 100% (neglecting losses) ✅

D) 10%

37. Which of the following reduces eddy current losses in transformer cores?

A) Using solid iron core

B) Using laminated core (insulated thin sheets) ✅

C) Increasing frequency

D) Increasing thickness of core

38. When magnetic flux through a closed loop increases, induced current flows so as to produce a magnetic field that _____ the increase.

A) Aids

B) Opposes ✅

C) Doubles

D) Has no relation

39. The expression for motional emf between ends of rod moving in B is given by ε = Blv. This assumes:

A) v not perpendicular to B

B) Rod moving perpendicular to both B and its length ✅

C) Rod stationary

D) No magnetic field

40. If a coil is rapidly disconnected from DC source, the induced emf can be large because:

A) dI/dt is large (rapid change) ⇒ ε = −L dI/dt ✅

B) Current increases

C) Flux remains constant

D) Resistance becomes zero

41. The direction of induced emf in a loop can be found using:

A) Fleming's left-hand rule

B) Right-hand slap method

C) Lenz's law and right-hand rule ✅

D) Ohm's law only

42. A coil of resistance R and inductance L is connected to a battery. Energy stored in the inductor when steady current I flows is:

A) Zero

B) ½ L I² ✅

C) I²R

D) L I

43. The phenomenon of electromagnetic braking relies on:

A) Static friction

B) Eddy currents producing opposing magnetic forces ✅

C) Chemical reaction

D) Optical reflection

44. If a straight conductor of length l moves with velocity v in magnetic field B, charge separation leads to an emf ε = B l v. The sign depends on:

A) Direction of motion and orientation of B (use right-hand rule) ✅

B) Magnitude of B only

C) Temperature only

D) Resistance only

45. In mutual induction, the induced emf in coil 2 is proportional to:

A) Rate of change of current in coil 1 and mutual inductance M ✅

B) Square of current in coil 1

C) Resistance of coil 2 only

D) Temperature

46. Transformers do not work with DC because:

A) DC produces constant flux (no changing flux ⇒ no induced emf in secondary) ✅

B) DC is too strong

C) DC has no electrons

D) Transformers burn with AC

47. The Maxwell-Faraday equation in differential form expresses:

A) Curl of electric field equals negative rate of change of magnetic field (∇×E = −∂B/∂t) ✅

B) Divergence of E

C) Curl of B

D) Gauss's law

48. A rectangular loop moving out of a uniform magnetic field experiences induced emf. When it fully leaves the field region, induced emf is:

A) Maximum

B) Zero (no change in flux once outside) ✅

C) Constant

D) Infinite

49. Thomson's experiment (or ringing a bell due to induced current) historically demonstrated:

A) Electrostatic forces

B) Existence of induced currents and mutual induction ✅

C) Photoelectric effect

D) Thermal expansion

50. Which of the following reduces hysteresis losses in transformer cores?

A) Using hard magnetic materials

B) Using soft magnetic materials with narrow hysteresis loop ✅

C) Increasing core thickness

D) Using superconductors only