Magnetic flux & Magnetic flux linkage

What is the difference between Flux and Flux linkage?

Is it that Flux linkage involves a coil where each turn of the coil has magnetic flux linking it?

Reply 1

Eddie K

Flux is a flow. In terms of electromagnetism, flux is the flow of the magnetic field, which is shown by field lines.

Flux linkage is the interference of two or more paths of flux. It is not a term that applies to coils alone.

Reply 2

Morbo

byebyebye

What is the difference between Flux and Flux linkage?

Is it that Flux linkage involves a coil where each turn of the coil has magnetic flux linking it?

To investigate these ideas, it's useful to imagine yourself holding a loop of wire, and this acts as your 'fishing net', with which you will catch magnetic flux!

Recall the diagram of the magnetic field lines coming out of a bar magnet. Near the poles, the field lines are very close together: there is a high 'magnetic flux density',

B

. If you put your loop in the lines here, the high magnetic flux density, multiplied by the area of your loop

A

, gives you lots of magnetic flux that 'links' your loop.

So, magnetic flux

\phi = BA

.

If you put your loop into the magnetic field lines further away from the magnet, they are not so dense: the magnetic flux density is lower, and therefore you will catch fewer field lines and link less flux.

Magnetic flux linkage is just a term describing how much flux is linked by a loop or coil (i.e. how much is 'caught').