PH212, APCS 2021-2022 4/12/2022

Chapter
Chapter31
31
Inductance
Inductance

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Inductance, introduction
Mutual induction
 An emf is induced in a coil as a result of a changing magnetic flux
produced by a second coil.
Self-inductance
 A time-varying current in a circuit produces an induced emf opposing the
emf that initially set up the time-varying current.
 Basis of the electrical circuit element called an inductor
 Energy is stored in the magnetic field of an inductor.
 There is an energy density associated with the magnetic field.
Circuits may contain inductors as well as resistors and capacitors.

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Joseph Henry

1797 – 1878
American physicist
First director of the Smithsonian
First president of the Academy of
Natural Science
Improved design of electromagnet
Constructed one of the first motors
Discovered self-inductance
 Didn’t publish his results
Unit of inductance is named in his
honor

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.

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Mutual Inductance

Two wire loops are close to each other

 Turn on the switch
 I increases
 B increases
 Induced emf on the right loop
𝑑Φ 𝑑𝐼
𝜀=− ∝−
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Define mutual inductance between loop 1 and loop 2

Mutual Inductance

Current I1, I2 and induced emf 𝜀 , 𝜀 are related by

d I1 d I2
ε2  M12 ε1  M21
dt dt
The mutual inductances in two coils are equal
 M12 = M21 = M
d I2 d I1
ε1  M and ε 2  M
dt dt
EX: N loops wrapped around a solenoid (I varies)
Φ = 𝐵 𝜋𝑟 = (𝜇 𝑛𝐼) 𝜋𝑟
𝑑Φ 𝑑𝐼
𝜀 = −𝑁 = −𝑁 𝜇 𝑛𝜋𝑟
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
→ 𝑀 = 𝑁 𝜇 𝑛𝜋𝑟

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Self-Inductance

We don’t really need two circuits to find induction.

 Any circuit produces B field
 B field changes when the current I changes
 Induced emf appears on the circuit itself
Define (self) inductance L as

dI
ε L  L Φ = 𝐿𝐼
dt
 Minus sign from Lenz’s law : whenever the current changes,
the circuit tends to resist the change
 The SI unit of inductance is the henry (H)
V s
1H  1
A

Inductance of a Coil

A closely spaced coil of N turns carrying current I has an inductance L

N B ε
L  L
I d I dt
The inductance is a measure of the opposition to a change in current.

𝑑𝐼
𝜀 = Δ𝑉 = −𝐿
𝑑𝑡

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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 flux through each turn of area A is
N
 B  BA  μo n I A  μo IA

The inductance is

N  B μo N 2 A
L   μo n 2V
I 
This shows that L depends on the geometry of the object.
 L ~ n2: many turns help

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.

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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.

Remind:

Section 32.2

RL Circuit, Analysis

An RL circuit contains an inductor and a

resistor.
Assume S2 is connected to a
When switch S1 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.
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule to the previous
circuit in the clockwise direction gives

dI ε
ε IR L
dt
0 I
R

1  e Rt L 

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RL Circuit, Time Constant

The expression for the current can also be expressed in

terms of the time constant, t, of the circuit.
ε
I
R

1  e t τ 
 where t = L / R
 If there is no inductor, the exponential term goes to
zero and the current would instantaneously reach
its maximum value as expected.
The current initially increases very rapidly.
The current then gradually approaches the equilibrium
value

RL Circuit Without A Battery

Now set S2 to position b

The circuit now contains just the right hand
loop .
The battery has been eliminated.
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule

dI ε  tτ t
I R  L 0 I e  I0 e τ
dt R

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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 ×𝐼 dI
ε IR L 0 I ε  I2 R  LI
dt dt

 Ie 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 U is being stored
in the magnetic field.
To find the total energy, integrate and

dU dI I 1 2
 LI U  L I d I  LI
dt dt 0 2

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Energy Density of a Magnetic Field

Given 𝑈 = ½ 𝐿 𝐼2 and assume (for simplicity) a solenoid with L = mo n2 V
2
1  B  B2
U μo n 2V    V
2  μo n  2 μo

Since V is the volume of the solenoid, the magnetic energy density, uB is

U B2
uB  
V 2 μo
This applies to any region in which a magnetic field exists (not just the solenoid).
Remind: the electric energy density uE

ε0 E 2
uE 
2

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 (t = 0)
Assume no resistance and no energy
losses to radiation.

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Time Functions of an LC Circuit

Apply the Kirchhoff’s loop rule for the LC circuit

𝑞 𝑑𝑖 𝑞 𝑑 𝑞
+𝐿 =0→ +𝐿 =0
𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡
 𝑖=

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.

ω 1 𝑇=
2𝜋
= 2𝜋 𝐿𝐶
LC 𝜔

 It is the natural frequency of oscillation of the circuit.

Time Functions of an LC Circuit, cont.

The current can be expressed as a function of time:

dq
i  ωQmax sin(ωt  φ )  Imax sin(ωt  φ )
dt
The total energy can be expressed as a function of time:
2
Qmax 1 2 Q2
U  UC  UL  cos 2 ωt  LImax sin 2 ωt  max
2C 2 2C

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Charge and Current and Energy in an LC Circuit

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.
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.

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Oscillations in an LC Circuit, cont.

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.
Eventually, 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

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.

q2 1 2
U  UC  UL   Li
2C 2
Comment:
 The potential energy ½kx2 stored in the spring is analogous to the electric
potential energy (Qmax)2/(2C) stored in the capacitor.
 The kinetic energy (½ mv2) of the spring is analogous to the magnetic energy
(½ L I2) stored in the inductor.

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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

Assume the resistor represents the total

resistance of the circuit.
The total energy is not constant, since there
is a transformation to internal energy in the
resistor at the rate of dU/dt = -I2R.
 Radiation losses are still ignored
The circuit’s operation can be expressed as

d 2q dq q
L R  0
dt 2 dt C

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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.
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, cont.

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.
When R < RC, underdamped

Section 32.6

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Summary: Analogies Between Electrical and Mechanic Systems

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