Question Details

Which of the following is the equivalent quantity of mass in electricity?

Options

A

Current

B

Charge

C

Potential

D

Inductance

Correct Answer :

Inductance

Solution :

The correct option is Inductance.

To understand why inductance is the equivalent quantity of mass in electricity, we can compare the mechanical properties of a system containing mass to the electrical properties of a circuit containing an inductor.

In classical mechanics, mass is a measure of inertia. Inertia is the inherent resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion (velocity). Newton's second law of motion is given by:
F=mdvdt
where F is the force applied, m is the mass, and v is the velocity. The mass m resists changes in velocity v.

In electrical circuits, current (I) is the flow of charge, which is analogous to velocity (v) in mechanical systems. An inductor resists any change in the electrical current flowing through it. The voltage (V) across an inductor is given by the formula:
V=LdIdt
where V is the voltage (analogous to force F), L is the self-inductance, and I is the current (analogous to velocity v).

By comparing these two equations, we can establish direct analogies:
1. Force (F) corresponds to Voltage (V)
2. Velocity (v) corresponds to Current (I)
3. Mass (m), which resists changes in velocity, corresponds to Inductance (L), which resists changes in current.

Furthermore, we can compare kinetic energy in mechanics to magnetic energy stored in an inductor:
Mechanical Kinetic Energy = 12mv2
Electrical Inductive Energy = 12LI2
Here again, mass (m) directly maps to inductance (L). Therefore, inductance represents the electrical inertia of the circuit and is the equivalent quantity of mass in electricity.

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