Potential difference across an inductor

[Bipolarity]

I have some confusion about how emf across an inductor is generated:

The potential difference across an inductor is an induced emf produced by the changing magnetic flux through the coils of the inductor.

In general, electric potential is a scalar potential of the electric field. Hence the electric field is the gradient field of the electric potential, and is a conservative vector field (for stationary charges at least). Conservative vector fields are irrotational (having zero curl) and irrotational vector fields are conservative (on simply connected domains).

Now according to Resnick & Halliday, "electric potential has meaning only for electric fields that are produced by static charges; it has no meaning for electric fields that are produced by induction." This is because the electric field induced by a changing magnetic flux is rotational in nature, rather than emanating from a source of charge.

So if we can't define a potential function for the induced electric field, how can we define potential across an inductor that allows us to solve circuits etc. ?

Note my knowledge of E&M is rather rudimentary, but am willing to browse through more advanced texts to get a better understanding.

BiP

 

[tejas]

check Feynman lectures on physics, part II chapter on AC circuits beginning from 22-1. I think it is what your are looking for. I think Feynman explains it better than I would.