In the above circuit we have the resistor \(10 \Omega\) and the \(10 H\) inductor in parallel combination and \(20 \Omega\) is in series with them. The potential difference by the battery is \(2 V\).
We have to calculate the currents in the circuit at \(t=0\) and at \(t \rightarrow \infty\)
If we consider the case of \(t=0\), we know that the inductor acts like an open circuit and does not allow the flux to change, therefore the current passes through the resistor in parallel and we can ignore the inductor.
The both resistors become in series with each other therefore the formula of resistors in series is applied. In this case the equivalent resistance of the complete circuit is
\(R_{e q}=R_1+R_2 \)
\(\Rightarrow R_{e q}=10+20 \)
\(\Rightarrow R_{e q}=30 \Omega\)
Now if we calculate the current through the battery it is given by Ohm's Law:
\(V=I R \)
\(\Rightarrow I=\frac{V}{R}\)
If we put the values in the above formula, we get current as:
\(I=\frac{2}{30} \)
\(\Rightarrow I=\frac{1}{15} A\)
So, the current through the battery at time \(t=0\) is \(\frac{1}{15} A\).
Now we will consider the case of \(t \rightarrow \infty\), the inductor acts like a short circuit and in this case, we have to assume that it lets all of the current to pass through it with no resistance. Once we have established this, we can conclude that there is only one resistancein the circuit and that is the \(20 \Omega\) resistor.
Now we have the equivalent resistance as \(R_{e q}=20 \Omega\), we can again use Ohm's Law to calculate the current through the battery.
\(I=\frac{V}{R} \)
\(\Rightarrow I=\frac{2}{20} \)
\(\therefore I=\frac{1}{10} A\)
So, the current through the battery at time \(t \rightarrow \infty\) is \(\frac{1}{10} A\).
The initial \((t=0)\) and final \((t \rightarrow \infty)\) currents through the battery are\(\frac{1}{15} A , \frac{1}{10} A\).