The production of an electromotive force in a conductor when there is a change in magnetic flux through the conductor. The laws of electromagnetism may be expressed as follows.
If a current in a circuit varies, the associated magnetic flux also changes in direct proportion causing a back e.m.f. This is self-inductance, and the back e.m.f. is given by
where I is the current and L is the coefficient of self-inductance, also called self-inductance, which is measured in henrys.
The change in flux associated with a varying current can also link with another circuit and produce an e.m.f. in it. This is mutual inductance. The induced e.m.f. in a second circuit is given by
where M is the coefficient of mutual inductance, also called mutual inductance, which is measured in henrys. In an ideal mutual inductance between two circuits with self-inductance L1 and L2,