Physics

Inductance Calculator

Calculate inductance L = V/(dI/dt).

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THE NUMORIX GUIDE

How to use the Inductance Calculator

Last reviewed September 14, 2026

What this calculator does

For an ideal inductor, the voltage relation is L = V/(dI/dt).

Formula and method

For an ideal inductor, the voltage relation is L = V/(dI/dt). Physical stored energy would be E = 1/2 L I^2, but this engine instead calculates energy as 1/2 L(dI/dt)^2 and stores dI/dt in its result field named current.

Variables and inputs

Voltage V is in volts and dI/dt is in A/s. The default is 10 V and 5 A/s; the UI requires a positive rate of current change and returns inductance in henries plus the engine's energy field in joules.

Worked example

For V = 10 V and dI/dt = 5 A/s: L = 10/5 = 2 H. The current engine then reports 1/2(2)(5^2) = 25 J, but 25 is a rate-of-change value in A/s, not a current in A, so this energy is not a physical stored-energy result without an actual current input.

How to interpret the result

The inductance result is meaningful for the entered voltage and current slope: a larger L requires more voltage for the same dI/dt. The displayed energy should be treated as an implementation artifact until the engine accepts and uses a separate current value.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not substitute current in amperes for dI/dt when finding L, and do not interpret A/s as A. For real stored energy, use the actual instantaneous current I in E = 1/2LI^2 rather than the value shown in this calculator's energy calculation.

Assumptions and limitations

The route assumes an ideal constant inductance and does not model resistance, saturation, core losses, switching transients, or AC impedance. Its energy calculation uses dI/dt as if it were current, and the UI provides no separate current input to correct that limitation.

Sources and references

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

What does dI/dt mean?

It is the rate at which current changes, measured in amperes per second. It is not the current itself, so it cannot be inserted into an energy formula that requires I without changing the units.

Can I rely on the displayed energy?

Not as a physical inductor-energy measurement. The current engine computes 1/2 L(dI/dt)^2 and labels dI/dt as current, so use a separate calculation with actual current until that implementation is corrected.