In order to determine the effective way of measuring the Mode I stress intensity factor($K_1$) by means of the alternating current potential drop(ACPD) technique for a material containing a two-dimensional surface crack, the change in magnetic flux in the air due to load was studied theoretically and experimentally. The magnetic flux in the air between crack surfaces is uniform and is not changed by increasing the load in the specimen and experimental results are the same as those obtained from theoretical analysis. Therefore, the change in potential drop due to load in the measuring system which was designed to induce a large amount of electro-motive force was caused by the change in internal inductance of material and the change in the mutual inductance concerned with internal inductance of material.