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Henry (unit)

physical science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Scientists use a special unit to measure inductance. We call this unit the henry. The symbol for it is a big H.

Inductor
Inductor

Inductance is how much a coil helps control electricity. This unit is named after Joseph Henry. He was a scientist from America. He found out how induction works. He worked at the same time as Michael Faraday.

One henry happens in a specific way. If one ampere of current flows through a coil, it creates one weber of flux linkage. An ampere is a measure of electric current. A weber is a measure of magnetic flux.

Inductor
Inductor

Many things change how much inductance a coil has. The size of the coil matters. The number of turns in the wire matters too. The material inside the coil also helps.

We see henries in many tools. A small coil for a radio might have only a few microhenries. A microhenry is a very tiny part of a henry. Large motors can have hundreds of henries. These motors often use iron cores to help. The size of the coil also helps it handle more power.

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