
Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs. It is the tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electric current flowing through it. The electric current produces a magnetic field around the conductor, and the strength of this magnetic field depends on the magnitude of the electric current. Inductance is caused by the magnetic field generated by electric currents flowing within an electrical circuit. The unit of inductance is the Henry (H), which is the amount of inductance that causes a voltage of one volt when the current is changing at a rate of one ampere per second.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electric current flowing through it. |
| Discovery | Discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831. |
| Unit | The unit of inductance is the Henry (H), which is the amount of inductance that causes a voltage of one volt when the current is changing at a rate of one ampere per second. |
| Symbol | The symbol for inductance is L. |
| Inductance in circuits | The inductance of a circuit depends on the geometry of the current path and the magnetic permeability of nearby materials. |
| Inductors | An inductor is an electrical component designed to add inductance to a circuit. |
| Inductor construction | An inductor is typically made with a coil or helix of wire wrapped around a conductive metal core. |
| Inductor function | Inductors store energy in their magnetic fields when energized. |
| Self-inductance | When an EMF is induced in the same circuit as that in which the current is changing, it is called self-inductance. |
| Mutual inductance | When an EMF is induced in a circuit by a change of flux due to a current change in an adjacent circuit, it is called mutual inductance. |
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What You'll Learn
- Inductance is the tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electric current
- Inductance is caused by the magnetic field generated by electric currents in a circuit
- Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs
- Inductors are electronic components that store electric energy through their magnetic fields
- Inductance is used to generate eddy currents in test pieces

Inductance is the tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electric current
Electrical inductance is a property of an electrical conductor, often a coil, that opposes any change in current. This property is described as inductance, and it is caused by the magnetic field that surrounds a current-carrying conductor. When a current flows through a conductor, it creates a magnetic field around it. If the current changes, the magnetic field also alters, and this change induces a voltage in the conductor, which in turn opposes any alteration in current. This phenomenon is known as electromagnetic induction and is described by Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.
The induced voltage has a direction that will produce a current to oppose the original change in current. This means that any change in current through a conductor will be met with resistance due to the induced voltage, which acts to keep the current constant. The strength of this effect is dependent on the rate of change of current and the number of turns in the coil. A faster change in current and a higher number of turns will result in a greater induced voltage and, therefore, a greater opposing force to the change in current.
Inductance is measured in Henrys (H), named after Joseph Henry, an American scientist who discovered electromagnetic induction independently of Faraday. One Henry is equal to one volt per ampere per second (1H = 1 V·s/A). This unit describes how much current change is required to induce one volt for each ampere of current change per second.
L = (Δt / ΔI) x N
Where L is inductance, Δt is the time it takes for the current to change, ΔI is the change in current, and N is the number of turns in the coil.
Inductance is an essential property in many electrical components and circuits, particularly in coils and transformers, where it is a key factor in energy storage and transfer. Understanding and utilizing inductance is critical in the design and operation of electrical systems, ensuring efficient and controlled current flow.
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Inductance is caused by the magnetic field generated by electric currents in a circuit
Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs. It is the ability of an inductor to store energy in the magnetic field created by the flow of electric current. This magnetic field is generated around an electrical conductor when there is a flow of electric current. The strength of the magnetic field depends on the magnitude of the electric current and changes with the electric current's magnitude.
When the current through an inductor is increased, the magnetic field increases in strength, and this change in field strength produces a corresponding voltage according to the principle of electromagnetic self-induction. The magnetic field stores energy, and when the current through the inductor is decreased, the magnetic field decreases in strength, and the stored energy is released.
The inductance of a circuit depends on the geometry of the current path and the magnetic permeability of nearby materials. Ferromagnetic materials with higher permeability, like iron near a conductor, tend to increase the magnetic field and inductance. A coiled wire has a higher inductance than a straight wire of the same length because the magnetic field lines pass through the circuit multiple times, resulting in multiple flux linkages.
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Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs
Inductance is defined as the ratio of the induced voltage to the rate of change of current causing it. In the International System of Units (SI), the unit of inductance is the henry (H), which is the amount of inductance that causes a voltage of one volt when the current is changing at a rate of one ampere per second. One henry is equal to 1 Wb/A. Inductance is caused by the magnetic field generated by electric currents flowing within an electrical circuit.
The inductance of a circuit depends on the geometry of the current path and the magnetic permeability of nearby materials. Ferromagnetic materials with a higher permeability like iron near a conductor tend to increase the magnetic field and inductance. The inductance of a coil can be increased by placing a magnetic core of ferromagnetic material in the hole in the centre. The magnetic field of the coil magnetises the material of the core, aligning its magnetic domains, and the magnetic field of the core adds to that of the coil, increasing the flux through the coil. This is called a ferromagnetic core inductor.
Inductors are widely used in alternating current (AC) electronic equipment, particularly in radio equipment. They are used to block AC while allowing DC to pass. Inductors are also used in power regulation systems, lighting, and other systems that require low-noise operating conditions. Inductance is a very important aspect of electronic circuit design, especially for higher frequencies in radio frequency designs.
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Inductors are electronic components that store electric energy through their magnetic fields
Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs. It is the ability of an inductor to store energy in the form of a magnetic field. The more current in the coil, the stronger the magnetic field, and the more energy the inductor will store. Inductors are electronic components that store electric energy through their magnetic fields.
An inductor is an electrical component consisting of a conductor shaped to increase the magnetic flux, to add inductance to a circuit. Typically, it consists of a wire wound into a coil or helix. A coiled wire has a higher inductance than a straight wire of the same length because the magnetic field lines pass through the circuit multiple times, resulting in multiple flux linkages. The inductance of a coil can be increased by placing a ferromagnetic core in the centre hole. The magnetic field of the coil magnetises the core, and the magnetic field of the core adds to that of the coil, increasing the flux through the coil. This is known as a ferromagnetic core inductor.
When a source of electric power is suddenly applied to an unmagnetised inductor, the inductor will initially resist the current flow by dropping the full voltage of the source. As the current increases, a stronger and stronger magnetic field is created, absorbing energy from the source. Eventually, the current reaches a maximum level and stops increasing. At this point, the inductor stops absorbing energy from the source and is dropping minimum voltage across its leads, while the current remains at a maximum level. As an inductor stores more energy, its current level increases, and its voltage drop decreases.
The ability of an inductor to store energy is due to the temporary alignment of magnetic dipoles. When a current flows within a conductor, a magnetic field builds up around it and affects the way in which the current builds up after the circuit is made. The inductance of a circuit depends on the geometry of the current path and the magnetic permeability of nearby materials. Ferromagnetic materials with a higher permeability like iron near a conductor tend to increase the magnetic field and inductance.
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Inductance is used to generate eddy currents in test pieces
Inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs. It is the tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose any change in electric current flowing through it. The electric current produces a magnetic field around the conductor, and the strength of this field depends on the magnitude of the electric current.
Electromagnetic induction was first described by Michael Faraday in 1831. Faraday's law of induction states that any change in the magnetic field through a circuit induces an electromotive force (EMF) (voltage) in the conductors, a process known as electromagnetic induction. This induced voltage, created by the changing current, has the effect of opposing the change in current.
An electronic component designed to add inductance to a circuit is called an inductor. It typically consists of a coil or helix of wire. The inductance of a coil can be increased by placing a magnetic core of ferromagnetic material in the hole in the centre.
Variations in the electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability of the test object, and the presence of defects, cause a change in the eddy current and a corresponding change in phase and amplitude that can be detected by measuring the impedance changes in the coil. This is the basis of standard (pancake coil) ECT. Eddy current array (ECA) technology provides the ability to electronically drive an array of coils arranged in a specific pattern, generating a sensitivity profile suited to the target defects.
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Frequently asked questions
Electrical inductance is a fundamental parameter in electrical and electronic circuit designs. It is the tendency of an electrical conductor to oppose a change in the electric current flowing through it. Inductance is caused by the magnetic field generated by electric currents flowing within an electrical circuit.
Electromagnetic induction was first described by Michael Faraday in 1831. In Faraday's experiment, he wrapped two wires around opposite sides of an iron ring. He expected that, when current started to flow in one wire, a sort of wave would travel through the ring and cause some electrical effect on the opposite side. This process of generating electrical current in a conductor by placing the conductor in a changing magnetic field is called electromagnetic induction.
When one circuit induces current flow in a second nearby circuit, it is known as mutual inductance. When an AC current is flowing through a piece of wire in a circuit, an electromagnetic field is produced that is constantly growing and shrinking and changing direction due to the constantly changing current in the wire.


























