Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge 2011 Paper 2 Section B B7 Solution 2026-10-20
Self-inductance relates current to its own magnetic flux linkage: , so the induced electromotive force is for fixed geometry. A long solenoid has and area . Its turns giveThe homopolar generator uses a disc rotating through this axial field; integrate the motional Lorentz force from shaft to rim:For a homopolar disc dynamo, choose the wiring and rotation sense giving positive magnetic feedback. Kirchhoff's voltage law isfor prescribed constant . ThusA nonzero seed grows when , decays when , and is marginal at equality. This explains the printed as the threshold including its boundary; equality does not itself give exponential growth. An exactly zero initial current remains zero in the ideal homogeneous equation, and reversing the feedback sense prevents the instability.
In the torque-controlled homopolar dynamo equilibrium, a radial current element exerts a braking torque , so . For steady rotation and nonzero steady current, and . Hence the field intensity magnitude isThe two current signs give opposite magnetic polarities. Finally,The steady magnetic and rotational energies do not change. This is a steady-state balance, not an assertion that every dynamical trajectory must approach that state.