History of electromagnetic theory used to create positively charged anodes and negatively charged cathodes. When a conductor was attached between these, the difference in the electrical potential (also known as voltage) drove a current between them through the conductor. The potential difference between two points is measured in units of volts in recognition of Volta's work. The first mention of voltaic electricity, although not recognized as such at the time, was probably made by Johann Georg Sulzer in 1767, who, upon placing a small disc of zinc under his tongue and a small disc of copper over it, observed a peculiar taste when the
Inductance rate of change of current in circuit formula_7. This is the principle behind a "transformer". The sections below will describe self-inductance, the effect of inductance in a single conductor or circuit. Mutual inductance, inductance between circuits, is described in the section at the end. If the current through a conductor with inductance is increasing, a voltage formula_20 will be induced across the conductor with a polarity which opposes the current, as described above (this is in addition to any voltage drop caused by the conductor's resistance). The charges flowing through the circuit lose potential energy moving from the higher voltage