Question

A bar magnet is moved along the axis of a copper ring placed far away from the magnet. Looking from the side of the magnet, an anticlockwise current is found to be induced in the ring. Which of the following may be true?
(a) The south pole faces the ring and the magnet moves towards it.
(b) The north pole faces the ring and the magnet moves towards it.
(c) The south pole faces the ring and the magnet moves away from it.
(d) The north pole faces the ring and the magnet moves away from it.

Answer 1

(b) The north pole faces the ring and the magnet moves towards it.
(c) The south pole faces the ring and the magnet moves away from it.

It can be observed that the induced current is in anti-clockwise direction. So, the magnetic field induced in the copper ring is towards the observer.
According to Lenz's law, the current induced in a circuit due to a change in the magnetic flux is in such direction so as to oppose the change in flux.
Two cases are possible:

(1) The magnetic flux is increasing in the direction from the observer to the circular coil.
(2) The magnetic flux is decreasing in the direction from the coil to the observer.

So, from the above mentioned points, the following conclusions can be made:

1. The south pole faces the ring and the magnet moves away from it.
2. The north pole faces the ring and the magnet moves towards it.