Lenz's Law implies the induced current direction relative to the cause of induction is to ________.

• A. oppose the cause
• B. reinforce the cause
• C. be unrelated to the cause
• D. be random with no relation to the cause

Answer: (A)

Lenz's Law states that the induced current in a conductor will flow in a direction that creates a magnetic field opposing the change in magnetic flux that caused it. This opposition is encoded in Faraday's law as emf = -dΦ/dt, where the negative sign shows the current’s aim to counteract the flux change.

Think of a magnet near a coil: as the magnet approaches, the magnetic flux through the coil increases. The coil responds by generating a magnetic field that opposes that increase, effectively pushing back against the approaching magnet. If the magnet moves away and the flux through the coil decreases, the induced current produces a field that tries to maintain the flux, pulling or attracting to oppose the decrease. In all cases, the induced current acts to oppose the cause of the induction, not reinforce it, be unrelated, or be random.