What term describes the phenomenon of an electric current flowing through a wire loop when passed through a magnetic field?

The phenomenon of an electric current flowing through a wire loop when it is passed through a magnetic field is best described by the term "induction." This process, specifically electromagnetic induction, occurs when a conductor (such as a wire) experiences a change in magnetic flux. According to Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction, the change in magnetic field around the conductor induces a voltage, which drives the current through the loop.

This principle is fundamental to the operation of various devices, including generators and transformers, where the interaction between magnetic fields and electrical circuits is harnessed for energy conversion or transmission. Understanding induction is crucial in the field of electrical engineering and physics, as it illustrates a key relationship between electricity and magnetism.

The other terms do not apply to this phenomenon in the same way. Magnetism refers more generally to the properties and interactions of magnets, polarity concerns the orientation of another characteristic (like the direction of an electric field or magnet), and capacitance deals with a capacitor's ability to store electrical energy. Thus, induction is the correct term that precisely captures the essence of how an electric current is generated through a loop within a magnetic field.