Magnetic Flux Definition and Unit

Magnetic Flux is defined as;

“a total number of lines of magnetic force passing through any surface placed perpendicular to the magnetic field. It is denoted by φ (Greek Letters Phi).

Magnetic Flux Formula

The magnetic flux is also defined as the dot product of magnetic field B and vector Area A, as shown in the following figure.

  $\text{Magnetic }\!\!~\!\!\text{ Flux}=\text{ }\!\!\varphi\!\!\text{ }=B.A~~~\text{      }\cdots \text{   }~~~~~\left( 1 \right)$

Where θ is the angle between B and vector area A or the outward normal drawn to the surface area as shown in above figure. A is a vector area whose magnitude is the area of the element and its direction is along the normal to the surface of the element.

Maximum Flux

If the magnetic field is directed along the normal to the area, so θ is 0 as shown in the following figure.

Now by equation (1), we get

$\varphi =BAcos~\left( {{0}^{}} \right)$

Hence

$\varphi =BA~~~~\cdots \text{   }~~~~\left( 2 \right)$

Equation (2) shows that the magnetic flux is maximum when the angle between a magnetic field and normal to an area is zero.

Minimum Flux

If the magnetic field is parallel to the plane of area and angle between the field and normal to an area is 90°   as shown in the figure.

Then

$\varphi =BAcos~\left( {{90}^{o}} \right)$

$\varphi =0$

It means that flux through an area in this position is zero or minimum.

Magnetic Flux Unit

SI unit of magnetic flux is Weber, as explained below,

$\varphi =BAcos\theta $

$\varphi =BA~~~~\text{      }~~\therefore ~~surface~area~perpendicular~to~B,~so~Cos\theta =1~~$

$\varphi =\frac{Newton}{Ampere-meter}*~mete{{r}^{2}}$

$\varphi =\frac{N}{A-m}*~{{m}^{2}}$

$\varphi =\frac{Nm}{A}$

$\varphi =Weber$

Hence magnetic flux unit is  NmA-1 or weber. Whereas

\[1\text{ }Weber={{10}^{8}}lines\text{ }of\text{ }force\]

Example

A certain magnet has a flux φ = 1.5 Weber. How many lines of force does flux represent?

Solution:

By definition,

\[1\text{ }Weber={{10}^{8}}lines\text{ }of\text{ }force\]

So,

\[1.5\text{ }Weber\text{ }=\text{ }1.5\text{ }*\text{ }{{10}^{8}}lines\]

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