When the current in a RL circuit decreases, what happens to the voltage across the inductor?

In an RL circuit, which consists of a resistor (R) and an inductor (L), the behavior of the voltage across the inductor is determined by Lenz's Law and the properties of inductors. When the current through the inductor decreases, the inductor opposes this change in current flow by inducing a voltage in the opposite direction to the current.

This induced voltage across the inductor ensures that the inductor maintains the current, even as it is decreasing. As a result, when the current decreases, the voltage across the inductor actually increases. This phenomenon is a key characteristic of inductors and is a direct consequence of the energy stored in the magnetic field around the inductor when current flows through it. The inductor reacts to maintain the current flow, resulting in an increase in the voltage across it.

Understanding this principle is crucial for working with RL circuits, as it highlights how inductors respond dynamically to changes in current, thereby influencing overall circuit behavior.