INDUCTANCE

When switch S is closed, it is found

that the current I2 through R
increases almost instantly to its final
value.
The current i1 through L takes an
appreciable time to grow.

 When S is opened, current through L

decreases comparatively slowly, but
the current through R instantly
reverses its direction and becomes
the same current as i1

 The growth of current in L is accompanied by

an increase of flux in steel core D and any
change in the flux linked with a coil is
accompanied by an e.m.f. induced in that coil.
the direction of which described by Lenzs law
is always such as to oppose the change
responsible for inducing the e.m.f., namely the
growth of current in L.
In other words the induced e.m.f. is acting in
opposition to the current and, therefore, to the
applied voltage.

Capacitance

 A charged capacitor may be regarded as a reservoir of electricity

and its action can be demonstrated by connecting a capacitor of,
say, 20 F in series with a resistor R, a centre-zero microammeter
A and a two-way switch S. A voltmeter V is connected across C.
If R has a resistance of, say, 1 M, it is found that when switch S is
closed on position a, the ammeter A shows a deflection rising
immediately to its maximum value and then falling off to zero.
This means that initially there has been a significant current due
to the inrush of electric charge into the uncharged capacitor,
subsequently reducing to zero once the capacitor was fully
charged.
At the same time the voltmeter indicates a rise in voltage across
the capacitor C. This rise of voltage is indicated by curve M.

 When the switch S is moved over to position b, the ammeter

again performs as before except that the indication is in the
reverse direction. The reverse deflection is due to the charge
rushing out from the capacitor. The current is indicated by
curve H.
At the same time the voltmeter indicates a fall in voltage
across the capacitor C. This fall in voltage is indicated by curve
N.
If the experiment is repeated with a resistance of, say, 2 M, it
is found that the initial current, both on charging and on
discharging, is halved, but it takes about twice as long to rise
up and to fall off, as shown by the dotted curves J and K

 The shaded area between curve G and the

horizontal axis represents the product of
the charging current and the time, namely
the quantity of electricity (in coulombs)
required to charge the capacitor to a p.d. of
V volts.
Similarly the shaded area enclosed by
curve H represents the same quantity of
electricity obtainable during discharge.