What is defined as the ratio of induced voltage to change in flux linkage?

• A. Capacitance
• B. Impedance
• C. Inductance
• D. Resistance

Answer: (C)

Inductance is defined as the ratio of induced voltage to the rate of change of flux linkage. This relationship is rooted in Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, which states that a changing magnetic field through a coil of wire induces an electromotive force (voltage) in the wire. The induced voltage is directly proportional to the rate at which the magnetic flux is changing, and this proportionality constant is what we refer to as inductance.

Mathematically, this can be expressed as:

[ V = L \frac{d\Phi}{dt} ]

where ( V ) is the induced voltage, ( L ) is the inductance, and ( \frac{d\Phi}{dt} ) is the rate of change of magnetic flux. Thus, inductance essentially quantifies how effectively a coil can induce voltage in response to changes in magnetic flux, which is a fundamental concept in the study of electrical circuits, transformers, and electromagnetism.

Understanding inductance is crucial for applications involving alternating current (AC) circuits, where the inductance plays a key role in the behavior of the circuit in response to varying electrical currents.