What does inductance oppose in a circuit?

Inductance primarily opposes changes in current flow within a circuit. When current flowing through an inductor changes, the inductor produces a voltage in response to this change, which acts to oppose the alteration in current. This phenomenon is described by Lenz's Law, which states that the direction of induced current is such that it opposes the change that created it.

In practical terms, this means that if the current tries to increase, the inductor will generate a counteracting voltage that attempts to reduce that increase. Conversely, if the current attempts to decrease, the inductor will produce a voltage that supports the existing flow, further delaying the change in current.

This property makes inductors valuable in various applications, such as filtering, energy storage in electrical systems, and controlling current changes in circuits, illustrating their role in managing and stabilizing electrical flow over time.