- #1
Bipolarity
- 776
- 2
I have some confusion about how emf across an inductor is generated:
The potential difference across an inductor is an induced emf produced by the changing magnetic flux through the coils of the inductor.
In general, electric potential is a scalar potential of the electric field. Hence the electric field is the gradient field of the electric potential, and is a conservative vector field (for stationary charges at least). Conservative vector fields are irrotational (having zero curl) and irrotational vector fields are conservative (on simply connected domains).
Now according to Resnick & Halliday, "electric potential has meaning only for electric fields that are produced by static charges; it has no meaning for electric fields that are produced by induction." This is because the electric field induced by a changing magnetic flux is rotational in nature, rather than emanating from a source of charge.
So if we can't define a potential function for the induced electric field, how can we define potential across an inductor that allows us to solve circuits etc. ?
Note my knowledge of E&M is rather rudimentary, but am willing to browse through more advanced texts to get a better understanding.
BiP
The potential difference across an inductor is an induced emf produced by the changing magnetic flux through the coils of the inductor.
In general, electric potential is a scalar potential of the electric field. Hence the electric field is the gradient field of the electric potential, and is a conservative vector field (for stationary charges at least). Conservative vector fields are irrotational (having zero curl) and irrotational vector fields are conservative (on simply connected domains).
Now according to Resnick & Halliday, "electric potential has meaning only for electric fields that are produced by static charges; it has no meaning for electric fields that are produced by induction." This is because the electric field induced by a changing magnetic flux is rotational in nature, rather than emanating from a source of charge.
So if we can't define a potential function for the induced electric field, how can we define potential across an inductor that allows us to solve circuits etc. ?
Note my knowledge of E&M is rather rudimentary, but am willing to browse through more advanced texts to get a better understanding.
BiP