How Electromotive Force Works

National MagLab3 minutes read

EMF is the voltage generated by a battery or changing magnetic field, while back EMF is induced by inductors, diverting current flow towards a light bulb in a circuit with a coil, battery, switch, and light bulb. Inductors store energy in magnetic fields, inducing a voltage when the magnetic field changes, with back EMF initially favoring the light bulb before the inductor once the magnetic field reaches maximum strength.

Insights

  • EMF, or electro-motive force, is the voltage produced by batteries or changing magnetic fields, while back EMF, also called counter EMF, is created by inductors in circuits, resisting current flow and redirecting it to light bulbs.
  • Inductors possess the ability to accumulate energy in magnetic fields, leading to voltage induction when these fields shift. In circuits involving coils, batteries, switches, and light bulbs, back EMF initially guides current towards the bulb, transitioning to favor the inductor as the magnetic field attains peak intensity.

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Recent questions

  • What is EMF?

    Voltage generated by battery or changing magnetic field.

  • What is back EMF?

    Induced by inductors in a circuit.

  • How do inductors store energy?

    Inducing a voltage when magnetic field changes.

  • What happens in a circuit with a coil, battery, switch, and light bulb?

    Back EMF diverts current towards the bulb initially.

  • Why does back EMF divert current towards the bulb?

    Opposing the current flow and protecting components.

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Summary

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Understanding EMF and Back EMF in Circuits

  • EMF, or electro-motive force, is the voltage generated by a battery or changing magnetic field, while back EMF, also known as counter EMF, is induced by inductors in a circuit, opposing the current flow and diverting it towards the light bulb.
  • Inductors store energy in magnetic fields, inducing a voltage when the magnetic field changes, as demonstrated in a circuit with a coil, battery, switch, and light bulb, where back EMF diverts the current towards the bulb initially before favoring the inductor once the magnetic field reaches its maximum strength.
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