| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| area vector | A vector perpendicular to the plane of a surface with magnitude equal to the surface area, pointing outward from a closed surface. |
| closed surface | A surface that completely encloses a three-dimensional volume with no openings or boundaries. |
| dot product | A mathematical operation between two vectors that produces a scalar result, used to determine the component of one vector in the direction of another. |
| magnetic field | A vector field that determines the magnetic force exerted on moving electric charges, electric currents, or magnetic materials. |
| magnetic flux | The measure of the total magnetic field passing through a surface, calculated as the dot product of the magnetic field vector and the area vector. |
| surface integral | A mathematical integration performed over a two-dimensional surface to calculate the total effect of a vector field across that surface. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| electromagnetic waves | Waves consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space at a constant speed in free space. |
| Faraday's law | The principle that describes the relationship between a changing magnetic flux and the induced emf in a system, expressed as ε = -∆ΦB/∆t. |
| induced electric potential difference | The voltage generated in a conductor or circuit due to a change in magnetic flux through it. |
| induced emf | The electromotive force generated in a conductor or circuit as a result of a change in magnetic flux. |
| Lenz's law | The principle that states an induced emf generates a current that creates a magnetic field opposing the change in magnetic flux. |
| magnetic flux | The measure of the total magnetic field passing through a surface, calculated as the dot product of the magnetic field vector and the area vector. |
| Maxwell's equations | A collection of four fundamental equations that fully describe electromagnetism and the behavior of electric and magnetic fields. |
| right-hand rule | A method for determining the direction of the magnetic field produced by a moving charged object by pointing the thumb in the direction of velocity and curling fingers to show the field direction. |
| solenoid | A coil of wire wound in a tight, helical pattern that produces a uniform magnetic field when current flows through it. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| charge carrier | Particles, typically electrons, that carry electric charge and constitute electric current in a conductor. |
| conductive loop | A closed path made of conducting material through which electric current can flow. |
| conductor | A material that allows electric charge to move through it, with resistivity that typically increases with temperature. |
| induced current | An electric current generated in a conductor due to a change in magnetic flux through a circuit. |
| induced emf | The electromotive force generated in a conductor or circuit as a result of a change in magnetic flux. |
| magnetic field | A vector field that determines the magnetic force exerted on moving electric charges, electric currents, or magnetic materials. |
| magnetic flux | The measure of the total magnetic field passing through a surface, calculated as the dot product of the magnetic field vector and the area vector. |
| magnetic force | The force exerted on a moving charged particle or current-carrying conductor in the presence of a magnetic field. |
| resistance | The opposition to the flow of electric current in a circuit, measured in ohms (Ω). |
| rotational acceleration | The angular acceleration of an object about a fixed axis due to an applied torque. |
| translational acceleration | The acceleration of an object's center of mass in a straight line due to an applied force. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Faraday's law | The principle that describes the relationship between a changing magnetic flux and the induced emf in a system, expressed as ε = -∆ΦB/∆t. |
| induced emf | The electromotive force generated in a conductor or circuit as a result of a change in magnetic flux. |
| inductance | The tendency of a conductor to oppose a change in electrical current. |
| inductor | A circuit element that stores electrical energy in a magnetic field and opposes changes in current. |
| magnetic field energy | Energy stored in the magnetic field generated by current flowing through an inductor. |
| magnetic permeability | A property of a material that describes how easily a magnetic field can be established within it; affects the inductance of a solenoid. |
| solenoid | A coil of wire wound in a tight, helical pattern that produces a uniform magnetic field when current flows through it. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| asymptote | A limiting value that a quantity approaches but never reaches, determined by the initial conditions of an LR circuit. |
| differential equation | A mathematical equation that relates a function to its derivatives, used to describe how quantities change over time. |
| electric potential difference | The difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in a circuit, measured in volts. |
| energy dissipation | The process by which a resistor converts electrical energy stored in an inductor into heat as current changes. |
| exponential function | A mathematical function describing how current, voltage, and energy in an LR circuit change with time, with asymptotic behavior. |
| induced emf | The electromotive force generated in a conductor or circuit as a result of a change in magnetic flux. |
| inductor | A circuit element that stores electrical energy in a magnetic field and opposes changes in current. |
| Kirchhoff's loop rule | A principle stating that the sum of potential differences across all circuit elements in a single closed loop must equal zero, based on conservation of energy. |
| LR circuit | A circuit containing a resistor and inductor in series with a power source, where current changes are governed by both resistance and inductance. |
| resistor | A circuit element that dissipates electrical energy and opposes the flow of current, characterized by resistance R. |
| steady state | A condition reached after a long time interval where circuit quantities no longer change with time. |
| time constant | A characteristic parameter that measures how quickly a circuit reaches steady state, calculated differently for RC and LR circuits. |
| transient behavior | The time-dependent behavior of an LR circuit immediately after a switch is opened or closed, before reaching steady state. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| angular frequency | The rate of oscillation of a periodic system, measured in radians per second, denoted by ω. |
| capacitor | A circuit element that stores electrical energy in an electric field between two conducting plates. |
| conservation of energy | The principle that the total energy in an isolated system remains constant, with energy transforming between different forms but never being created or destroyed. |
| differential equation | A mathematical equation that relates a function to its derivatives, used to describe how quantities change over time. |
| inductor | A circuit element that stores electrical energy in a magnetic field and opposes changes in current. |
| LC circuit | A circuit containing only a capacitor and an inductor that can oscillate, exchanging energy between electric and magnetic fields. |
| simple harmonic motion | Periodic motion in which an object oscillates about an equilibrium position with acceleration proportional to its displacement. |