How far out of phase is the induced current from the regular current?

In electrical circuits, particularly those involving inductors, the current and voltage can indeed be out of phase due to inductive reactance. The correct answer indicates that the induced current is 180 degrees out of phase with the regular current.

This phenomenon occurs in inductive circuits where the back electromotive force (back EMF) created by the inductor opposes changes in current. When alternating current (AC) flows through an inductor, the magnetic field builds up and then collapses, which generates a current that opposes the initial current flow. This opposition causes the induced current to reach its peak value half a cycle (or 180 degrees) after the regular current does.

In a purely inductive circuit, the current lags the voltage by 90 degrees. However, when considering the idea of induced current, the context often shifts towards understanding the opposition created by the inductor as a whole, culminating in a phase difference of 180 degrees in feedback scenarios, where the induced current effectively attempts to "cancel out" the regular current.

Therefore, saying the induced current is 180 degrees out of phase highlights the counteractive nature of induction in this context.