JEE Main & Advanced Physics Electro Magnetic Induction Lenz's Law

This law gives the direction of induced emf/induced current. According to this law, the direction of induced emf or current in a circuit is such as to oppose the cause that produces it. This law is based upon law of conservation of energy.

(1) When N-pole of a bar magnet moves towards the coil, the flux associated with loop increases and an emf is induced in it. Since the circuit of loop is closed, induced current also flows in it.

(2) Cause of this induced current, is approach of north pole and therefore to oppose the cause, i.e., to repel the approaching north pole, the induced current in loop is in such a direction so that the front face of loop behaves as north pole. Therefore induced current as seen by observer O is in anticlockwise direction. (figure)

The various positions of relative motion between the magnet and the coil

Position of magnet
Direction of induced current	Anticlockwise direction	Clockwise direction	Clockwise direction	Anticlockwise direction
Behaviour of face of the coil	As a north pole	As a south pole	As a south pole	As a north pole
Type of magnetic force opposed	Repulsive force	Attractive force	Repulsive force	Attractive force
Magnetic field linked with the coil and it?s progress as viewed from left	Cross (×), Increases	Cross (×), Decreases	Dots (×) Increases	Dots (×) Decreases

(3) If the loop is free to move the cause of induced emf in the coil can also be termed as relative motion. Therefore to oppose the cause, the relative motion between the approaching magnet and the loop should be opposed. For this, the loop will itself start moving in the direction of motion of the magnet.

(4) It is important to remember that whenever cause of induced emf is relative motion, the new motion is always in the direction of motion of the cause.