2. Inductance (including LR and LC circuits)
- a) Students should understand the concept of inductance, so they can:
1) Calculate the magnitude and sense of the emf in an inductor through which a specified changing current is flowing.
2) Derive and apply the expression for the self-inductance of a long solenoid.
- b) Students should understand the transient and steady-state behavior of DC circuits containing resistors and inductors, so they can:
1) Apply Kirchhoff’s rules to a simple LR series circuit to obtain a differential equation for the current as a function of time.
2) Solve the differential equation obtained in (1) for the current as a function of time through the battery, using separation of variables.
3) Calculate the initial transient currents and final steady-state currents through any part of a simple series and parallel circuit containing an inductor and one or more resistors.
4) Sketch graphs of the current through or voltage across the resistors or inductor in a simple series and parallel circuit.
5) Calculate the rate of change of current in the inductor as a function of time.
6) Calculate the energy stored in an inductor that has a steady current flowing through it.