Please explain - total electic field Ec + En within the coils must be zero

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the requirement that the total electric field (Ec + En) within inductor coils must be zero to apply Kirchhoff's rule in circuit analysis. Ec represents the conservative electric field, while En denotes the non-conservative electric field induced by changing magnetic flux. The rationale is that, in a good conductor with negligible resistance, a very small electric field is sufficient to move charge, leading to the conclusion that the sum of these fields must equal zero. The voltage drop across the inductor can be significant, but the electric field inside the conductor remains minimal. For further understanding, viewers are encouraged to watch Walter Lewin's lectures on the topic.
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Please explain -- total electic field Ec + En within the coils must be zero

Hi
This is from the text University Physics.
In pg. 1035, chap 10, in order to justify the use of Kirchoff's rule to analyze circuits containing inductors it is written :
Let's assume we are dealing with an inductor whose coils have negligible resistance. Then a negligibly small electric field is required to make charge move through the coils, so the total electic field Ec + En within the coils must be zero, even though neither field is individually zero.

The doubt is : Why should En + Ec be zero ?


TIA
sree
 
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I don't know what En and Ec mean, but I strongly recommend reading Walter Lewin's lecture on induced fem. He addresses the question why the electric field inside a good conductor should be very small.
 


Ec - conservative electric field (Couloumb's law)
En - non conservative electric field (induced field due to change in flux)
 


The voltage drop across an inductor, L dI/dt can be large. However, if you try to equal this figure to the integral of the electric along the coil wire you find a small number because, for any finite current, the field inside a good conductor must be very small.
How do you reconcile both points of view?
Walter Lewin shows how L dI/dt equals the integral of the electric field outside the coil.
I strongly suggest that you watch Lewin's lectures; they're free.
 

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