Chapter 32
Inductance
Some Terminology
Use emf and current when they are
caused by batteries or other sources
Use induced emf and induced current
when they are caused by changing
magnetic fields
When dealing with problems in
electromagnetism, it is important to
distinguish between the two situations
Self-Inductance
When the switch is
closed, the current
does not
immediately reach
its maximum value
Faraday’s law can
be used to describe
the effect
Self-Inductance, 2
As the current increases with time, the
magnetic flux through the circuit loop
due to this current also increases with
time
This corresponding flux due to this
current also increases
This increasing flux creates an induced
emf in the circuit
Self-Inductance, 3
The direction of the induced emf is such that
it would cause an induced current in the loop
which would establish a magnetic field
opposing the change in the original magnetic
field
The direction of the induced emf is opposite
the direction of the emf of the battery
This results in a gradual increase in the
current to its final equilibrium value
Self-Inductance, 4
This effect is called self-inductance
Because the changing flux through the
circuit and the resultant induced emf arise
from the circuit itself
The emf εL is called a self-induced
emf
Self-Inductance, Coil Example
A current in the coil produces a magnetic field
directed toward the left (a)
If the current increases, the increasing flux creates an
induced emf of the polarity shown (b)
The polarity of the induced emf reverses if the current
decreases (c)
Self-Inductance, Equations
A induced emf is always proportional to
the time rate of change of the current
dI
εL L
dt
L is a constant of proportionality called
the inductance of the coil and it
depends on the geometry of the coil
and other physical characteristics
Inductance of a Coil
A closely spaced coil of N turns carrying
current I has an inductance of
Nε B
L L
I d I dt
The inductance is a measure of the
opposition to a change in current
Inductance Units
The SI unit of
inductance is the
henry (H)
V ⋅s
1H = 1
A
Named for Joseph
Henry (pictured
here)
Inductance of a Solenoid
Assume a uniformly wound solenoid
having N turns and length ℓ
Assume ℓ is much greater than the radius
of the solenoid
The interior magnetic field is
N
Bμ n o I μ o I
l
Inductance of a Solenoid, cont
The magnetic flux through each turn is
NA
B BAμ o I
l
Therefore, the inductance is
BN A o
Nμ 2
L
I l
This shows that L depends on the
geometry of the object
RL Circuit, Introduction
A circuit element that has a large self-
inductance is called an inductor
The circuit symbol is
We assume the self-inductance of the
rest of the circuit is negligible compared
to the inductor
However, even without a coil, a circuit will
have some self-inductance
Effect of an Inductor in a
Circuit
The inductance results in a back emf
Therefore, the inductor in a circuit
opposes changes in current in that
circuit
RL Circuit, Analysis
An RL circuit contains an
inductor and a resistor
When the switch is closed
(at time t = 0), the current
begins to increase
At the same time, a back
emf is induced in the
inductor that opposes the
original increasing current
Active Figure 32.3
(SLIDESHOW MODE ONLY)
RL Circuit, Analysis, cont.
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule to the
previous circuit gives
dI
ε IR L 0
dt
Looking at the current, we find
ε
I 1 e Rt L
R
RL Circuit, Analysis, Final
The inductor affects the current
exponentially
The current does not instantly increase
to its final equilibrium value
If there is no inductor, the exponential
term goes to zero and the current would
instantaneously reach its maximum
value as expected
RL Circuit, Time Constant
The expression for the current can also be
expressed in terms of the time constant, τ, of
the circuit
ε
I 1 e tτ
R
where τ = L / R
Physically, τ is the time required for the
current to reach 63.2% of its maximum value
RL Circuit, Current-Time
Graph, (1)
The equilibrium value
of the current is ε /R
and is reached as t
approaches infinity
The current initially
increases very
rapidly
The current then
gradually approaches
the equilibrium value
RL Circuit, Current-Time
Graph, (2)
The time rate of
change of the
current is a
maximum at t = 0
It falls off
exponentially as t
approaches infinity
In general,
dεI
e tτ
dt L
Active Figure 32.6
(SLIDESHOW MODE ONLY)
Energy in a Magnetic Field
In a circuit with an inductor, the battery
must supply more energy than in a
circuit without an inductor
Part of the energy supplied by the
battery appears as internal energy in
the resistor
The remaining energy is stored in the
magnetic field of the inductor
Energy in a Magnetic Field,
cont.
Looking at this energy (in terms of rate)
dI
Iε I RLI
2
dt
Iε is the rate at which energy is being
supplied by the battery
I2R is the rate at which the energy is being
delivered to the resistor
Therefore, LI dI/dt must be the rate at which
the energy is being stored in the magnetic
field
Energy in a Magnetic Field,
final
Let U denote the energy stored in the
inductor at any time
The rate at which the energy is stored is
dU dI
LI
dt dt
To find the total energy, integrate and
I
U L I d I
0
Energy Density of a Magnetic
Field
Given U = ½ L I 2
2
1 B B2
Uμ n Ao 2
l A l
2 μo n 2 μo
Since Aℓ is the volume of the solenoid, the
magnetic energy density, uB is
U B2
uB
l 2 o
Aμ
This applies to any region in which a magnetic
field exists (not just the solenoid)
Example: The Coaxial Cable
Calculate L for the cable
The total flux is
b μo I μo I l b
B B dA l dr ln
a 2πr 2π a
Therefore, L is
B μo l b
L ln
I 2π a
The total energy is
1 2 μo l I 2 b
U LI ln
2 4π a
Mutual Inductance
The magnetic flux through the area
enclosed by a circuit often varies with
time because of time-varying currents in
nearby circuits
This process is known as mutual
induction because it depends on the
interaction of two circuits
Mutual Inductance, 2
The current in coil 1
sets up a magnetic
field
Some of the
magnetic field lines
pass through coil 2
Coil 1 has a current
I1 and N1 turns
Coil 2 has N2 turns
Mutual Inductance, 3
The mutual inductance M12 of coil 2
with respect to coil 1 is
N212
M12
I1
Mutual inductance depends on the
geometry of both circuits and on their
orientation with respect to each other
Induced emf in Mutual
Inductance
If current I1 varies with time, the emf
induced by coil 1 in coil 2 is
d 12 d I1
ε 2 N2 M12
dt dt
If the current is in coil 2, there is a
mutual inductance M21
If current 2 varies with time, the emf
induced by coil 2 in coil 1 is
d I2
ε1 M21
dt
Mutual Inductance, Final
In mutual induction, the emf induced in one
coil is always proportional to the rate at which
the current in the other coil is changing
The mutual inductance in one coil is equal to
the mutual inductance in the other coil
M12 = M21 = M
The induced emf’s can be expressed as
d I2 d I1
ε1 M and ε2 M
dt dt
LC Circuits
A capacitor is
connected to an
inductor in an LC
circuit
Assume the capacitor
is initially charged and
then the switch is
closed
Assume no resistance
and no energy losses
to radiation
Oscillations in an LC Circuit
Under the previous conditions, the current in
the circuit and the charge on the capacitor
oscillate between maximum positive and
negative values
With zero resistance, no energy is
transformed into internal energy
Ideally, the oscillations in the circuit persist
indefinitely
The idealizations are no resistance and no
radiation
Oscillations in an LC Circuit, 2
The capacitor is fully charged
The energy U in the circuit is stored in the
electric field of the capacitor
The energy is equal to Q2max / 2C
The current in the circuit is zero
No energy is stored in the inductor
The switch is closed
Oscillations in an LC Circuit, 3
The current is equal to the rate at which
the charge changes on the capacitor
As the capacitor discharges, the energy
stored in the electric field decreases
Since there is now a current, some energy
is stored in the magnetic field of the
inductor
Energy is transferred from the electric field
to the magnetic field
Oscillations in an LC Circuit, 4
The capacitor becomes fully discharged
It stores no energy
All of the energy is stored in the magnetic
field of the inductor
The current reaches its maximum value
The current now decreases in
magnitude, recharging the capacitor
with its plates having opposite their
initial polarity
Oscillations in an LC Circuit,
final
Eventually the capacitor becomes fully
charged and the cycle repeats
The energy continues to oscillate
between the inductor and the capacitor
The total energy stored in the LC circuit
remains constant in time and equals
2
Q 1 2
U UC UL LI
2C 2
LC Circuit Analogy to Spring-
Mass System, 1
The potential energy ½kx2 stored in the spring is
analogous to the electric potential energy ½C(∆Vmax)2
stored in the capacitor
All the energy is stored in the capacitor at t = 0
This is analogous to the spring stretched to its
amplitude
LC Circuit Analogy to Spring-
Mass System, 2
The kinetic energy (½ mv2) of the spring is analogous
to the magnetic energy (½ L I 2) stored in the
inductor
At t = ¼ T, all the energy is stored as magnetic
energy in the inductor
The maximum current occurs in the circuit
This is analogous to the mass at equilibrium
LC Circuit Analogy to Spring-
Mass System, 3
At t = ½ T, the energy in the circuit is
completely stored in the capacitor
The polarity of the capacitor is reversed
This is analogous to the spring stretched to -A
LC Circuit Analogy to Spring-
Mass System, 4
At t = ¾ T, the energy is again stored in the
magnetic field of the inductor
This is analogous to the mass again reaching
the equilibrium position
LC Circuit Analogy to Spring-
Mass System, 5
At t = T, the cycle is completed
The conditions return to those identical to the initial
conditions
At other points in the cycle, energy is shared between
the electric and magnetic fields
Active Figure 32.17
(SLIDESHOW MODE ONLY)
Time Functions of an LC
Circuit
In an LC circuit, charge can be expressed as
a function of time
Q = Qmax cos (ωt + φ)
This is for an ideal LC circuit
The angular frequency, ω, of the circuit
depends on the inductance and the
capacitance
It is the natural frequency of oscillation of the
circuit
ω 1
LC
Time Functions of an LC
Circuit, 2
The current can be expressed as a
function of time
dQ
I ωQmax sin( ωt φ )
dt
The total energy can be expressed as a
function of time
2
Qmax 1 2
U UC Uωt
L L cos 2
ωt I max sin 2
2c 2
Charge and Current in an LC
Circuit
The charge on the
capacitor oscillates
between Qmax and
-Qmax
The current in the
inductor oscillates
between Imax and -Imax
Q and I are 90o out of
phase with each other
So when Q is a maximum, I
is zero, etc.
Energy in an LC Circuit –
Graphs
The energy
continually oscillates
between the energy
stored in the electric
and magnetic fields
When the total
energy is stored in
one field, the energy
stored in the other
field is zero
Notes About Real LC Circuits
In actual circuits, there is always some
resistance
Therefore, there is some energy transformed
to internal energy
Radiation is also inevitable in this type of
circuit
The total energy in the circuit continuously
decreases as a result of these processes
The RLC Circuit
A circuit containing a
resistor, an inductor
and a capacitor is
called an RLC
Circuit
Assume the resistor
represents the total
resistance of the
circuit
Active Figure 32.21
(SLIDESHOW MODE ONLY)
RLC Circuit, Analysis
The total energy is not constant, since
there is a transformation to internal
energy in the resistor at the rate of
dU/dt = -I 2R
Radiation losses are still ignored
The circuit’s operation can be
expressed as
d 2Q dQ Q
L 2 R 0
dt dt C
RLC Circuit Compared to
Damped Oscillators
The RLC circuit is analogous to a
damped harmonic oscillator
When R = 0
The circuit reduces to an LC circuit and is
equivalent to no damping in a mechanical
oscillator
RLC Circuit Compared to
Damped Oscillators, cont.
When R is small:
The RLC circuit is analogous to light
damping in a mechanical oscillator
Q = Qmax e-Rt/2L cos ωdt
ωd is the angular frequency of oscillation
for the circuit and
1
1 R 2 2
ωd
LC 2L
RLC Circuit Compared to
Damped Oscillators, final
When R is very large, the oscillations damp
out very rapidly
There is a critical value of R above which no
oscillations occur
RC 4L / C
If R = RC, the circuit is said to be critically
damped
When R > RC, the circuit is said to be
overdamped
Damped RLC Circuit, Graph
The maximum value
of Q decreases after
each oscillation
R < RC
This is analogous to
the amplitude of a
damped spring-
mass system
Overdamped RLC Circuit,
Graph
The oscillations
damp out very
rapidly
Values of R are
greater than RC
