Principle of Electromagnetism

Principle of Electromagnetism

The relationship between magnets, electricity, and light has been one of the fundamental discoveries in physics. Dating back to the sixteenth century, the knowledge about these phenomena was scanty, but in the nineteenth-century development of electromagnetism, it described the relationship between magnetism and electricity. James Clerk Maxwell established the relationship where he stated that one force mediated the interaction between positive and negative charges. Maxwell’s equation broke the barriers that had previously existed between the phenomena establishing light as a phenomenon under electromagnetism.

Faraday’s discovery preceded maxwell’s work that the plane of polarization of a ray of light is rotated when it passes through a magnetic field. The connection he established between electromagnetic and optical phenomena later lead to the development of the theories of light and electromagnetism. In Maxwell’s theory, magnetic and electric forces are the same thing manifested differently. He further established in his argument that electric fields are produced by oscillating charges such as the ones in alternating current (AC). In his theory, Maxwell described light as a wave propagated by electric and magnetic fields.

He concluded that since the results from the calculation of the speed of electromagnetic radiation were equal to that of light, then the sun was an electromagnetic wave with wavelength detectable by eyes.

In Mandy’s case, the photovoltaic cells convert light energy into electric energy through the photovoltaic principle. Solar cells do not use chemical reactions to produce electricity the way fuel cells do. Additionally, they do not have moving parts to convert the moving magnetic field to power. In Mandy’s case, using the solar charger presents one of the most efficient ways of utilizing energy, as well as saving the environment from pollution from fossils (Arndt, 2015). She only has to find a place accessible to solar radiation instead of trying to find a charging outlet. Maxwell’s conclusion that light is an electromagnetic wave with wavelength detectable by eyes applies here. The energy in sunlight in the visible range of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the photovoltaic cells. It then excites electrons on the cells from the ground state to a higher excited state, causing them to move through the semiconductors. The free atoms are then oriented in the same direction producing direct current, which then charges her phone battery.

Another scenario is that of electromagnetism revolutionizing the engineering applications in everyday life, ranging from research applications to domestic appliances. Implementation of the principle gave birth to AC generators, which are more efficient as opposed to the previously existing electrostatic generators. The current AC generators are more efficient because they operate based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. The generators produce an electric voltage through placing or moving a conductor through a magnetic field. As a working mechanism, the generator is made up of an armature, which is a rectangular coil. The coil consists of copper wires wound around an iron core, which is used as a way to boost the magnetic flux. By rotating the wire coil within the magnetic field or rotating a magnetic field around the stationery, wire motion is converted to electricity — the velocity of the field changes resulting in AC voltage.

Both scenarios utilize electromagnetism to produce electricity for use.  While in Mandy’s case usage of solar produces direct current, the AC generators have varying velocity in the movement of the magnetic field with the coil, thus resulting in alternating current.

 

 

Reference

Arndt, R. Z. (2015, October 29). The Solar-powered phone charger that actually works. Retrieved from https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a17987/the-solar-powered-phone-charger-that-actually-works/