Grade 11 Physical Sciences · Electricity and Magnetism

Use the right-hand rule

Use your right hand to find the direction of the magnetic field around a wire or coil (thumb along the current, fingers curl with the field).

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Electromagnetism grade 11 Lesson 1: Right Hand RuleKevinmathscience

Electromagnetism grade 11 Introduction and Right Hand RuleMiss Martins Maths and Science

Grade 11 Electromagnetism Lenz's Law: Direction of induced current and magnetic fieldMiss Martins Maths and Science

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Question 9.2 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks

An AC generator operates a fan. The directions of the rotation of the coil and the induced current are shown in the simplified diagram below. Diagram for this question

9.2 What is the polarity of the magnet at Z?(2)

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More past paper questions: use the right-hand rule

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3. Question 9.1.1 · May/June 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
9.1 The diagram below represents a simplified version of an AC generator.

The induced current flows from X to Y in the coil when the coil is rotated clockwise, as shown in the diagram below.

Answer the questions that follow.
9.1.1 What is the polarity of A? Choose from NORTH or SOUTH.(2)
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Polarity of ANorth
  2 marks · Use the right-hand rule
4. Question 8.2 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
The north pole of a magnet is pushed into a solenoid as shown in the diagram below.
8.2 In which direction will the current in the galvanometer deflect? Write down TOWARDS P or TOWARDS Q.(2)
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Direction of currentTowards Q
  2 marks · Use the right-hand rule
5. Question WE1 · Siyavula Grade 11 Physical Sciences, 10.3 Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, Worked example 1 · 4 marks
WE1 Consider a flat square coil with $5$ turns. The coil is $0, 50$ m on each side and has a magnetic field of $0, 5$ T passing through it. The plane of the coil is perpendicular to the magnetic field: the field points out of the page. Use Faraday's Law to calculate the induced emf, if the magnetic field increases uniformly from $0, 5$ T to $1$ T in $10$ s. Determine the direction of the induced current.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Faraday's law with flux $E = - N \frac{Δ ϕ}{Δ t}$
  The field is perpendicular to the coil (along the normal), so $ϕ = B A$ .
  $E = N \frac{A ( B _{f} - B _{i} )}{Δ t}$ (magnitude)
  1 mark · Calculate magnetic flux and induced emf
2. ✓
  Substitution $E = (5) \frac{( 0 , 50 ) ^{2} ( 1 - 0 , 50 )}{10}$
  1 mark · Calculate magnetic flux and induced emf
3. ✓
  Answer with unit $E = 0, 0625$ V
  1 mark · Calculate magnetic flux and induced emf
4. ✓
  Direction of the induced currentThe induced current is anti-clockwise as viewed from the direction of the increasing magnetic field.
  1 mark · Use the right-hand rule
6. Question 9.1.2 · May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 1 mark
9.1 The simplified sketch below represents an AC generator with the coil initially horizontal between the poles of a magnet. X and Y are two points on the coil, while A is one of the poles of the magnet.

When the coil of the generator rotates clockwise between the two poles of the magnet, the direction of the induced current is from X to Y, as shown above.

Answer the questions that follow.
9.1.2 The coil is now rotated through 180°.

Will the direction of the current be from X to Y or from Y to X?(1)
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Direction of currentY to X
  1 mark · Use the right-hand rule

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