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henry

A2
noun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /hˈɛnri/

US

  • /ˈhɛnri/

Description

You probably know "Henry" as a classic boy's name. It comes from an old Germanic name meaning "ruler of the home" or "home ruler." Over time, it became common in English-speaking countries and also appears as a family name. People often connect it with kings, writers, actors, and other well-known figures.

But "henry" also has a scientific meaning. In physics and electrical engineering, it is the SI unit of inductance, usually written with the symbol "H." Inductance tells us how much a part such as a coil resists a change in electric current by creating a magnetic field. The unit was named after Joseph Henry, an American scientist known for important work in electromagnetism.

Examples

  1. 1

    Electrical unit

    The inductance of the coil is measured in henries.

    • Domain

      henry

      the standard unit for measuring inductance in electricity

  2. 2

    Engineering

    The engineer swapped the 2-henry inductor for a smaller one.

  3. 3

    Circuit behavior

    In this circuit, even half a henry can change how the signal behaves.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • henrynoun