How Does Energy Increase in an RL Circuit with Time-Varying Current?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an RL circuit where the current through an inductor increases from 3 A to 5 A over a period of 1 second. Participants are exploring how to calculate the increase in energy stored in the inductor during this time, given the voltage across the inductor.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are considering the use of the energy formula U=1/2 I^2L to find the energy stored in the inductor. There are questions about how to determine the inductance L and how the energy increases over time.

Discussion Status

Some participants have suggested finding the inductance first, indicating that the defining formula for inductance involves a derivative. There is an ongoing exploration of how to relate voltage and the rate of change of current.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework problem, which may limit the information available for solving the problem. The specific values for inductance and the relationship between voltage and current are under discussion.

syhpui2
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Homework Statement



An inductor initially has 3 A of current passing through it at time t = 0. The current through the inductor increases at a constant rate until 5 A of current is flowing through it 1s later at t = 1 s. The voltage across the inductor is 4 μV while the current is increasing. What is the increase in the energy stored in the inductor between t = 0 and t = 1 s?

Answer: 16 μJ


Homework Equations



KVL, KCL

The Attempt at a Solution



I can use U=1/2 I^2L to find the energy? But how energy increased? And how can I find current over inductor?

Thx
 
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syhpui2 said:
I can use U=1/2 I^2L to find the energy? But how energy increased? And how can I find current over inductor?

Thx

I suggest that you find the inductance L first. What's the defining formula for inductance (hint: it involves a derivative).

Once you have the inductance you can determine the energy stored for each level of current.
 
gneill said:
I suggest that you find the inductance L first. What's the defining formula for inductance (hint: it involves a derivative).

Once you have the inductance you can determine the energy stored for each level of current.

So I just use V/ (dl/dt)?
 
syhpui2 said:
So I just use V/ (dl/dt)?

Try it and find out!
 

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