Definition

1. Noun:
   • An electrical device: A component, typically a coil of wire, designed to possess and provide inductance in an electrical circuit.
   • An electrical property: The inherent property of an electrical circuit or component (especially a coil) that opposes any change in the electric current flowing through it, resulting in the generation of an electromotive force (EMF) by electromagnetic induction.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Device):
  • The engineer selected a high-value inductance for the power filter circuit.
  • This component is an inductance wound on a ferrite core.
• Noun (Property):
  • The inductance of the coil determines how much it resists changes in current.
  • Mutual inductance describes how the changing current in one coil induces a voltage in a nearby coil.

Advanced Usage

• "Self-inductance": The property of a single coil where a change in its own current induces a voltage across itself.
  • The self-inductance of the solenoid was measured in henries.
• "Mutual inductance": The property where a change in current in one coil induces a voltage in a separate, nearby coil.
  • Transformers operate based on the principle of mutual inductance.

Variants and Related Words

• Inductor (n): The more common term for the physical device (the coil) that provides inductance.
  • The circuit diagram shows a resistor in series with an inductor.
• Inductive (adj): Relating to or operating by electrical or magnetic induction.
  • The sensor uses an inductive principle to detect metal objects.

Synonyms

• Electrical inertia: (Conceptual) A descriptive term highlighting how inductance resists changes in current flow, analogous to mass resisting changes in velocity.
• Coil: (For the device, informally) Often used to refer to an inductor.

Related Phrases / Compound Terms

• Inductance bridge: A type of bridge circuit used to measure an unknown inductance.
• Leakage inductance: The inductance due to magnetic flux that does not link both windings in a transformer.

Noun

1. an electrical device (typically a conducting coil) that introduces inductance into a circuit
2. an electrical phenomenon whereby an electromotive force (EMF) is generated in a closed circuit by a change in the flow of current