On the motion of the field of a permanent magnet

Abstract

A description is given of a series of recent experiments using a rotating magnetic circuit comprising a permanent magnet ring and yoke, and a stationary conductor in the air gap between the ring and yoke. The EMF induced in this case cannot be described by a simple application of Faraday's flux law. This is because the magnetic flux in the air gap and the area of the gap both remain constant. The experimental results are best explained by the fact that the magnetic field itself rotates with the rotating magnet. This is controversial in the scientific and educational literature, as shown by citations from various authors (e.g. Feynman, Tamm and Landau all disagree, and with each other). However, these experiments, which may be readily reproduced, do in fact settle the question.