The induced current always flows in a direction that opposes the change that caused it, either the movement of the conductor or the change in the magnetic field. This is a consequence of the conservation of energy.
Think of it this way: if the induced current helped the magnet move faster into the coil, you would be getting electrical energy for free. The magnet would speed up and make more current, which would speed it up further. This would break the law of conservation of energy. Instead, the induced current makes a magnetic field that pushes back against the incoming magnet. You have to do work to push the magnet in, and that work is transferred as electrical energy.
Practical implication: This is why generators need an energy input (wind, steam, water). The electricity they produce comes directly from the work done to keep the coil turning against the opposing force. There is no free electricity.
Quick Check: A student pushes a bar magnet into a coil, then holds the magnet still inside the coil. Explain what happens to the induced current while the magnet is still, and explain the direction of the induced current while the magnet was moving in.
While the magnet is still, no current is induced because the magnetic field through the coil is not changing. While the magnet was moving in, the induced current flows in a direction that makes a magnetic field opposing the magnet's entry, so the coil pushes back against the incoming magnet. The student has to do work to push it in, and that work becomes the electrical energy.
This higher tier covers Higher Tier: Why Induction Opposes the Change within Electromagnetic Induction for GCSE Physics. Revise Electromagnetic Induction in Magnetism for GCSE Physics with 20 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 9 in this topic. This section is most useful once the core foundation idea is secure, because it adds the detail that pushes answers higher.
Practice questions for Electromagnetic Induction
What is electromagnetic induction?
Explain how a potential difference (voltage) is induced in a conductor in a magnetic field.