BeginnerTopic 17 of 106Electrical Engineering
Inductors
Store energy in a magnetic field; V=L dI/dt.
In depth
An inductor stores energy ½LI² in its magnetic field with v=L di/dt, so current cannot change instantly. It acts as a short to DC and opposes AC. Inductance L=μN²A/l. Used in filters, converters and chokes.
Key points
- Unit: henry
- Back EMF on switch-off
- Cores raise inductance
ExampleSwitching off an inductive load can create a high voltage spike.
Inductors store energy in magnetic fields and oppose changes in current, which makes them central to filters, converters and motors.
What is Inductors?
Store energy in a magnetic field; V=L dI/dt.
Why is it important to understand inductors?
Inductors store energy in magnetic fields and oppose changes in current, which makes them central to filters, converters and motors.
Why does an inductor resist changes in current?
A changing current induces a voltage that opposes the change, so the current cannot jump instantly.
Why does an inductor look like a short circuit at DC?
Once the current is steady the induced voltage is zero, so the inductor offers no resistance apart from its winding resistance.
How is Inductors used in practice?
Typical applications include designing a choke to limit ripple in a switching power supply, storing energy for a boost converter and filtering noise on a power line with a ferrite bead.
What should I learn before Inductors?
Study "Capacitors" first (topic 16 of 106 in Electrical Engineering). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Inductors?
Unit: henry. Back EMF on switch-off. Cores raise inductance.
Can you give an example of Inductors?
Switching off an inductive load can create a high voltage spike.
What comes after Inductors?
The next topic is "Series and parallel capacitors and inductors", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Inductors?
It is classed as Beginner in Electrical Engineering (topic 17 of 106). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.