Self-inductance (Joseph Henry)
Autoinducción (Joseph Henry)
- Date
- 1830-1832 · confidence high
- Place
- Albany, New York, United States
- Credited to
- Joseph Henry
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
Henry discovered that a coiled circuit produces a spark and an opposing voltage when current is cut off, self-inductance, and built powerful multi-turn electromagnets. The unit of inductance, the henry, is named after him.
Henry observed mutual induction in 1830, before Faraday, but published late (1832). Faraday described the 'extra current' in 1834.
What it led to
- induction coils and transformers
- powerful electromagnets and the telegraph
- the unit of inductance (henry)