SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/eng-lenz-law

By Lenz's law, the current induced by a changing magnetic flux does what?

Opposes the change in flux that caused it.

Start playing free

  1. Opposes the change in flux that made it ✔
  2. Adds to the change in flux
  3. Flows only when the flux is steady

Why: The induced current makes its own magnetic field that pushes back against the change. If it helped the change instead, you would get energy from nothing.

Huh, didn't know that: Lenz's law is a consequence of conservation of energy.

The dad joke
Lenz's law always opposes change. It likes the magnetic field just as it is.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Opposes the change in flux that made it. The induced current makes its own magnetic field that pushes back against the change. If it helped the change instead, you would get energy from nothing.

  1. OpenStax College Physics 2e, 23.2 Faraday's Law of Induction: Lenz's Law openstax.org/books/college-physics-2e/pages/23-2-faradays-law-of-induction-lenzs-law
    the emf creates a current I and magnetic field B that oppose the change in flux
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

EngineeringHow many base units does the International System of Units (SI) have?EngineeringSince the SI redefinition voted in 2018, what defines the kilogram?EngineeringIn today's SI, how precisely is the value of the Planck constant known?

That's stuff everyone should know.