What is the process of generating electric current by changing a magnetic field called?

The process of generating electric current through the alteration of a magnetic field is known as electromagnetic induction. This phenomenon occurs when a conductor, such as a wire, is exposed to a changing magnetic field, which induces an electromotive force (EMF) across the conductor. This is foundational in the operation of devices like generators and transformers.

Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction describes how the induced EMF is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic field. This principle is crucial in electrical engineering and physics, as it explains how electrical energy can be generated from mechanical movements, such as in power plants where turbines turn in a magnetic field to produce electricity.

The other options, such as capacitance, resistance, and inductance, pertain to different concepts in electricity. Capacitance refers to the ability of a system to store electric charge, resistance measures the opposition to current flow, and inductance describes the property of a coil or circuit that opposes changes in current. None of these processes directly involve the generation of current through changes in magnetic fields as electromagnetic induction does.