Inductor
A passive two-terminal device that stores Energy in a Magnetic Field, characterized by it's Inductance.
analogy: An inductor acts as a turbine in a pipe. As water flows, the turbine builds and releases Intertia to resist the change in water flow.
Inductance (L)
Is the ability to store Energy in a Magnetic Field.
analogy: How much inertia the turbine can have. A heavier turbine means more inductance.
Units
Properties
- Lenz's Law dictates that inductors oppose changes in Current through them by inducing a Voltage called back EMF.
- Reactance leads to SC at low frequencies and OC at high frequencies.
- Voltage across a inductor is
- Current through a inductor is
- Energy stored in the magnetic field is
- Total inductance in series is
- Total inductance in parallel is
Practical Notes
- When switching an inductive load, a suppression diode is used to protect the switching device from a high Voltage spike caused by the inductor's collapsing magnetic field
Physical Definitions
- Formed by a coil of conducting wire
