In the Inductor Chapter in the DC Volume, there is an example with a 6V battery and an inductor with a neon lamp attached across the inductor. The example says the following
It makes no sense to me why the example states that going from zero to positive amount of current in a very short time causes the inductor to "drop only a small amount of voltage" but going from some positive amount of current to zero in a short time all of a sudden creates this huge voltage (as it should).
It very well may be that the neon lamp is polarized, and thus going from zero->postive current creates a voltage in the wrong direction not igniting the neon gas, but that still doesnt mean there isnt a large voltage present.
So am I right? If not what I am failing to consider. Thanks
The part I question is highlighted in bold. When the switch is initially open, the current in the circuit is zero, however when the switch is closed, there is a very sudden current impulse making di/dt a large number (depending on intrinsic resistance in the wire). To the best of my knowledge this large current impulse should cause the inductor to induce a large voltage in opposition of this current, acting as a LOAD.In this circuit, a lamp is connected across the terminals of an inductor. A switch is used to control current in the circuit, and power is supplied by a 6 volt battery. When the switch is closed, the inductor will briefly oppose the change in current from zero to some magnitude, but will drop only a small amount of voltage. It takes about 70 volts to ionize the neon gas inside a neon bulb like this, so the bulb cannot be lit on the 6 volts produced by the battery, or the low voltage momentarily dropped by the inductor when the switch is closed
It makes no sense to me why the example states that going from zero to positive amount of current in a very short time causes the inductor to "drop only a small amount of voltage" but going from some positive amount of current to zero in a short time all of a sudden creates this huge voltage (as it should).
It very well may be that the neon lamp is polarized, and thus going from zero->postive current creates a voltage in the wrong direction not igniting the neon gas, but that still doesnt mean there isnt a large voltage present.
So am I right? If not what I am failing to consider. Thanks