At a certain instant the current flowing through a 5.0-H inductor is 3.0 A. If the energy in the inductor at this instant is increasing at a rate of 3.0 J/s, how fast is the current changing

The current is changing at the rate of 0.20 A/s

Explanation:

Given;

inductance of the inductor, L = 5.0-H

current in the inductor, I = 3.0 A

Energy stored in the inductor at the given instant, E = 3.0 J/s

The energy stored in inductor is given as;

E = ¹/₂LI²

E = ¹/₂(5)(3)²

E = 22.5 J/s

This energy is increased by 3.0 J/s

E = 22.5 J/s + 3.0 J/s = 25.5 J/s

Determine the new current at this given energy;

25.5 = ¹/₂LI²

25.5 = ¹/₂(5)(I²)

25.5 = 2.5I²

I² = 25.5 / 2.5

I² = 10.2

I = √10.2

I = 3.194 A/s

The rate at which the current is changing is the difference between the final current and the initial current in the inductor.

= 3.194 A/s - 3.0 A/s

= 0.194 A/s

≅0.20 A/s

Therefore, the current is changing at the rate of 0.20 A/s.