From the course: Electronics Foundations: Basic Circuits
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What is an inductor?
From the course: Electronics Foundations: Basic Circuits
What is an inductor?
- [Instructor] An inductor is a reactive component that opposes changes in current by storing and releasing energy in a magnetic field. Structurally an inductor is just a piece of wire wrapped into a coil. And conveniently, the schematic symbol for an inductor looks like several loops of wire. You may also see the more modern version of the inductor symbol, which trades the loops for a series of humps. The inductance between the wires in the coil cause the inductor to build up a strong magnetic field as current flows through it. When the current through an inductor increases or decreases, it causes that magnetic field in the coils to grow or shrink, which stores or releases energy to oppose that change in the current. I like to think of the effect that an inductor has on current to the effect that inertia has on a moving car. When you push on the accelerator pedal in a stopped car, it takes a few seconds for the car to…
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