Question

what is a mutual inductance?

Answer 1

Mutual Inductance is the interaction of one coils magnetic field on another coil as it induces a voltage in the adjacent coil. Self-induction, ( L ). However, when the emf is induced into an adjacent coil situated within the same magnetic field, the emf is said to be induced magnetically, inductively or by Mutual induction, symbol ( M ). Then when two or more coils are magnetically linked together by a common magnetic flux they are said to have the property of Mutual Inductance. Mutual Inductance is the basic operating principal of the transformer, motors, generators and any other electrical component that interacts with another magnetic field. Then we can define mutual induction as the current flowing in one coil that induces a voltage in an adjacent coil. The amount of mutual inductance that links one coil to another depends very much on the relative positioning of the two coils. If one coil is positioned next to the other coil so that their physical distance apart is small, then nearly all of the magnetic flux generated by the first coil will interact with the coil turns of the second coil inducing a relatively large emf and therefore producing a large mutual inductance value. Likewise, if the two coils are farther apart from each other or at different angles, the amount of induced magnetic flux from the first coil into the second will be weaker producing a much smaller induced emf and therefore a much smaller mutual inductance value. So the effect of mutual inductance is very much dependant upon the relative positions or spacingof the two coils. THis is how mutual inductance plays its role .