Q.Current in a circuit falls from 5.0 A to 0.0 A in 0.1 s. If an average emf of 200 V induced, give an estimate of the self-inductance of the circuit.
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Self-Inductance of a Solenoid: From Intuition to Formula
Imagine you push a heavy door. It doesn't resist your push once it's moving — but it does resist you trying to change its speed suddenly. That resistance to change is inertia. A solenoid carrying current behaves the same way: it "wants" to keep its current steady, and fights any attempt to change it.
This property is called self-inductance. The solenoid generates a back emf that opposes the change in its own current — not the current itself, but the change in current. That's the core idea.
Why does a solenoid oppose current changes?
A solenoid is a long coil of wire. When current flows through it, it produces a magnetic field inside. If you try to increase the current, the magnetic field strengthens. But a changing magnetic field induces an emf in the coil itself (Faraday's law). By Lenz's law, this induced emf opposes the change that caused it — so it pushes back against the rising current.
If you try to decrease the current, the field weakens, and the induced emf tries to keep the current flowing. The solenoid acts like an electrical "flywheel."
The precise statement
Self-inductance L is defined by the relation:
E=−LdtdI
where E is the induced back emf, and dtdI is the rate of change of current. The negative sign tells you the emf opposes the change.
For a solenoid, L depends only on its geometry and the core material — not on the current. The formula is:
L=μ0n2Al
L=μ0n2Al
Let's unpack each symbol:
- μ0 — permeability of free space (4π×10−7 H/m). It's a universal constant that tells you how strongly a vacuum responds to magnetic fields.
- n — number of turns per unit length (turns/m). More turns per metre means a stronger field per ampere, so more inductance.
- A — cross-sectional area of the solenoid (m²). A wider coil encloses more magnetic flux.
- l — length of the solenoid (m). Longer solenoid means more total turns, hence more inductance.
Where does L=μ0n2Al come from?
Start with the magnetic field inside a long solenoid:
B=μ0nI
The magnetic flux through one turn is BA=μ0nIA. For all N=nl turns, the total flux linkage is:
Φtotal=N⋅BA=(nl)(μ0nIA)=μ0n2AlI
By definition, self-inductance is the constant of proportionality between flux linkage and current:
Φtotal=LI
Comparing, you get:
L=μ0n2Al
This formula assumes an ideal solenoid — infinitely long, with a uniform field inside and zero field outside. Real solenoids are close approximations if l≫A.
What does a larger L mean?
A solenoid with high L strongly resists changes in current. If you try to switch the current on quickly, the back emf is large, so the current rises slowly. If you short-circuit the solenoid, the current doesn't drop instantly — it decays gradually.
This is why inductors are used in filters, chokes, and timing circuits. They smooth out current variations. …
The key idea is self-inductance: the induced emf opposes the change in current, given by E=−LΔtΔI.
- The magnitude of the average induced emf is ∣E∣=LΔt∣ΔI∣.
- Here, ∣ΔI∣=5.0 A−0.0 A=5.0 A, Δt=0.1 s, and ∣E∣=200 V. …
The self-inductance is found using Faraday’s law for a changing current: L=∣ΔI/Δt∣∣E∣. With E=200 V, ΔI=−5.0 A, and Δt=0.1 s, we get L=4.0 H.
The key idea here is self-inductance — a circuit’s property that opposes a change in current by inducing an emf. When the current changes, the magnetic flux through the circuit itself changes, and that induces an emf (back emf) given by:
E=−LdtdI
The negative sign is Lenz’s law: the induced emf opposes the change. But for magnitude, we drop the sign and use the average values.
Since the current falls uniformly from 5.0 A to 0.0 A in 0.1 s, the average rate of change is:
ΔtΔI=0.10.0−5.0=0.1−5.0=−50 A/s
The magnitude of this rate is 50 A/s.
The average induced emf is given as 200 V. Using the magnitude form of Faraday’s law:
∣E∣=LΔtΔI
So:
200=L×50
Therefore:
L=50200=4.0 H …
Method: Faraday's Law of Self-Induction (using average emf)
This problem uses the average emf form of Faraday's law for self-inductance.
Steps
-
Recall the formula for average induced emf due to self-inductance
The average emf induced in a circuit due to a change in its own current is:
E=−LΔtΔI
where:
- E = average induced emf (in volts)
- L = self-inductance (in henries)
- ΔI = change in current (in amperes)
- Δt = time interval (in seconds)
The negative sign indicates Lenz's law (opposition to change). For magnitude, we take the absolute value.
-
Identify the given values
- Initial current, Ii=5.0 A
- Final current, If=0.0 A
- Time interval, Δt=0.1 s
- Average induced emf (magnitude), ∣E∣=200 V
-
Calculate the change in current
ΔI=If−Ii=0.0−5.0=−5.0 A
The magnitude of change is ∣ΔI∣=5.0 A.
-
Rearrange the formula to solve for L
Using magnitudes: …
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Forgetting the Negative Sign in Faraday's Law
The mistake: Students often write:
ε=LΔtΔI
and plug in values without the sign, getting confused about the answer.
Why it's wrong: The correct relation is:
ε=−LdtdI
The negative sign indicates Lenz's law — the induced emf opposes the change in current. When current decreases (dtdI is negative), the induced emf is positive (it tries to keep current flowing).
How to avoid: Always write the full equation with the sign. Then, when using magnitudes, take absolute values:
∣ε∣=LΔtΔI
Mistake 2: Using ΔI=5.0 A Instead of the Change
The mistake: Some students take ΔI=5.0 A (the final value) or get confused about the direction of change.
Why it's wrong: The change in current is:
ΔI=Ifinal−Iinitial=0.0−5.0=−5.0 A
The magnitude of change is ∣ΔI∣=5.0 A.
How to avoid: Always compute ΔI=If−Ii explicitly. For magnitude problems, use ∣ΔI∣.
Mistake 3: Confusing Δt with Time Constant or Period
The mistake: Students think 0.1 s is the time constant (τ=L/R) or the period of oscillation.
Why it's wrong: Here, 0.1 s is simply the time interval over which the current changes. It has nothing to do with circuit time constants.
How to avoid: Read the problem carefully. The phrase "falls from ... to ... in 0.1 s" clearly indicates a time interval Δt, not a time constant.
Mistake 4: Incorrect Unit Handling
The mistake: Mixing up units — writing L=5/0.1200 without tracking units.
Why it's wrong: This leads to errors in the final unit (should be henry, not ohm or volt-second).
How to avoid: Write the calculation with units:
L=∣ΔI∣ε⋅Δt=5.0 A200 V×0.1 s=4.0 H
Remember: 1 H=1 V⋅s/A.
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Showing the 12 most recent of 35 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.When the current changes from +2 A to −2 A in 0.05 second in a coil, an e.m.f. of 8 V is induced in it. The coefficient of self-induction of the coil is(a) 0.1 henry(b) 0.2 henry(c) 0.4 henry(d) 0.8 henry
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using e=LΔI/Δt with ΔI=4 A and Δt=0.05 s gives L=0.1 H.
The current changes from +2 A to −2 A, so the magnitude of the change is
ΔI=∣(−2)−(2)∣=4 A,Δt=0.05 s
The magnitude of the self-induced emf is …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Self inductance is called(a) electric force(b) electrical inertia(c) electric pressure(d) electric energy
›Reveal solutionSolution
Self-inductance L makes a circuit resist a change in the current flowing through it (via a back-emf = -L dI/dt), analogous to inertia resisting a change in velocity.
Whenever the current through a coil tends to change, the induced back-emf (from self-induction) opposes that change (Lenz's law). This behaviour - opposing change rather than opposing the current itself - is directly analogous to mechanical inertia, which oppos …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The self-inductance of a coil is measured by(a) Electrical inertia(b) Electrical friction(c) Induced emf(d) Induced current
›Reveal solutionSolution
Self-inductance is defined via the induced emf a coil produces in itself when its own current changes - it behaves like the 'electrical inertia' of the circuit, but it is quantified through that induced emf.
When the current I through a coil changes, the magnetic flux linked with the coil changes too, and by Faraday's law this changing self-flux induces an emf in the SAME coil that opposes the change in current (Lenz's law). This self-induced emf defines the self-inductance L of the coil:
emf = -L * (dI/dt)
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The unit of inductance is(a) henry(b) weber(c) newton(d) ohm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Inductance L relates induced emf to the rate of change of current, so its unit works out to volt-second per ampere - named the henry.
From emf = -L*(dI/dt), we get L = emf / (dI/dt), so the unit of L is volt / (ampere/second) = volt.second/ampere. This combination is given the special SI name henry (H), after Joseph Henry. Weber is the u …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.In a solenoid number of turns per unit length are doubled, it's self-inductance:(a) Halved(b) Doubled(c) Remains constant(d) Becomes four times
›Reveal solutionSolution
Self-inductance of a solenoid is proportional to the square of the number of turns per unit length, so doubling n makes L four times as large.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Current in a circuit falls from 5.0 A to 0.0 A in 0.1 s. If an average e.m.f. of 100 V induced, give an estimate of the self-inductance of the circuit.(a) L = 4 H(b) L = 20 H(c) L = 40 H(d) L = 2 H
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using ∣ε∣=LdtdI, the self-inductance works out to 2 H.
Given: Current changes from Ii=5.0 A to If=0.0 A in Δt=0.1 s, with average induced emf ∣ε∣=100 V.
Step 1 — rate of change of current:
ΔtΔI=0.15.0−0.0=50 A/s
…
- CBSE 2025Set X11 markQ.When a ________ rod is inserted into a coil, its self-inductance increases.
›Reveal solutionSolution
ferromagnetic (soft iron) Self-inductance L=μrμ0n2Al. Inserting a ferromagnetic (soft iron) core has a large relative permeability μr≫1, which greatly increases the mag …
- CBSE 2025Set D1 markMCQQ.The self-inductance of a solenoid depends on (A) The current flowing through its medium (B) The number of turns per unit length (C) The length of the solenoid (D) Both (B) and (C)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Self-inductance depends on the solenoid's geometry (turns per unit length and length/area), not on the current.
For a solenoid the self-inductance is
L=μ0n2Al
where n is the number of turns per unit length, A the cross-sectional area and l the length. So it depends on the number of turns per unit length and the length (and area) — both geometric factors.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The self-inductance of a coil is 5 henry. A current of 1 ampere changes to 2 amperes within 5 seconds through the coil. The value of the induced e.m.f. is(i) 10 volts(ii) 0.1 volt(iii) 1 volt(iv) 100 volts
›Reveal solutionSolution
emf = L dI/dt = 5 x (1 A / 5 s) = 1 V.
…
- CBSE 2024Set A11 markMCQQ.Current in a coil changes from 1.6 A to 0.2 A in 2 second inducing an emf of 2.8 V. The value of self-inductance of the coil is(a) 40 H(b) 28 H(c) 4 H(d) 56 H
›Reveal solutionSolution
- CBSE 2024Set A1 markMCQQ.S.I. unit of self-induction is (A) coulomb (C) (B) volt (V) (C) ohm (Ω) (D) henry (H)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The SI unit of self-inductance L is the henry (H).
Self-inductance L links the flux (or back-emf) of a coil to the current through it:
ϕ=LIandε=−LdtdI.
…
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The SI unit of self-inductance of a coil is(a) farad(b) henry(c) weber(d) oersted
›Reveal solutionSolution
Self-inductance L is defined by the induced EMF equation EMF = −L(dI/dt); its SI unit is the henry (H).
When the current through a coil changes, the changing magnetic flux linked with the coil itself induces an EMF in it (self-induction). This is written as:
EMF = −L (dI/dt)
where L is the coefficient of self-inductance of the coil. Rearranging, L = −EMF/(dI/dt), so the unit of L is volt/(ampere/second) = volt·second/ampere. This combination is given the special SI name henry (H), where 1 H = 1 V·s/A.
…
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