What is an inductor? why its current cannot change abruptly?

 

The inductor was invented in 1831 by Michael Faraday, an English scientist. Faraday was experimenting with electromagnetism when he discovered that a changing magnetic field could induce an electric current in a nearby conductor. This discovery led to the invention of the inductor, which is a coil of wire that can store energy in a magnetic field.

An inductor is a coil of wire that stores energy in a magnetic field. When current flows through an inductor, it creates a magnetic field around the coil. The strength of the magnetic field is proportional to the current flowing through the coil. When the current is changed, the magnetic field also changes. This change in the magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) in the coil. The EMF opposes the change in current. This is known as Lenz's law.

The amount of EMF induced in the coil is proportional to the rate of change of the current. If the current is changed suddenly, the EMF will be very large. This large EMF will oppose the change in current, and the current will not change suddenly.

Inductors are used in a variety of applications, including:

1. Power supplies: Inductors are used to filter out noise and fluctuations in power supplies.
2. Radios and televisions: Inductors are used to tune radio and television receivers.
3. Electric motors: Inductors are used to start and control electric motors.
4. Transformers: Inductors are used to transfer power between two different circuits.

Inductors are an essential part of many electronic devices. They are used to store energy, filter noise, and control the flow of current. The invention of the inductor was a major breakthrough in the development of electrical engineering.

Inductors are often considered to be the most difficult of the three basic components to understand since inductors create a magnetic field. This magnetic field can interact with other magnetic fields, which can make it difficult to predict how an inductor will behave in a circuit. The strength of the magnetic field created by an inductor is proportional to the current flowing through it. This means that the current through an inductor can affect the behavior of other components in the circuit. The magnetic field created by an inductor can store energy. This energy can be released suddenly, which can cause unexpected behavior in the circuit.

As an circuit design engineer, we usually get used to concept of voltage, current, but when it comes to magnetic field, we feel like not easy to catch it. Especially, when asking it combines with DC, and AC voltage.

There are many factors to consider when selecting an inductor for a particular application. Some of the most important factors include:

1. Inductance: The inductance of an inductor is its ability to store energy in a magnetic field. The higher the inductance, the more energy the inductor can store.
2. Current: The current rating of an inductor is the maximum current that the inductor can safely carry. If the current exceeds the current rating, the inductor may overheat and be damaged.
3. Voltage: The voltage rating of an inductor is the maximum voltage that can be applied across the inductor without damaging it. If the voltage exceeds the voltage rating, the inductor may arc over and be damaged.
4. Frequency: The frequency response of an inductor is its ability to work at different frequencies. Some inductors are designed for low frequencies, while others are designed for high frequencies.
5. Size: The size of an inductor is important for some applications. For example, inductors used in power supplies need to be large enough to handle the high current.
6. Cost: The cost of an inductor is also an important factor to consider. Inductors can range in price from a few cents to hundreds of dollars.

Even after considering all of these factors, a beginner may still need to read the datasheet to select the correct inductor. This is because there are many factors that can affect the performance of an inductor, and it can be difficult to know which ones are most important. As a beginner, it is best to err on the side of caution and select an inductor with a large enough margin to ensure that it will meet the requirements of your circuit.

ScienceExploraitonLab will create more useful documents in the future to discuss inductors. Please stay tuned.

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