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What is displacement current?

GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer

Displacement current is a concept in electromagnetism introduced by James Clerk Maxwell. It's not actually a flow of charge like conventional current, but rather a term that accounts for the changing electric field in regions where no actual current flows (like between capacitor plates). The formula is I_d = ε₀(dΦ_E/dt), where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space and dΦ_E/dt is the rate of change of electric flux. This concept is typically covered in advanced physics classes.

General · Class 12