What is an inductor? What is an inductor used for?

2024-03-18 14:13:45

What is an inductor? What is an inductor used for?

An inductor, also known as a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when current flows through it. An inductor usually consists of insulated wire wound into a coil.

Many inductors have a core made of iron or ferrite inside the coil, which is used to increase the magnetic field and thus the inductance. Along with capacitors and resistors, inductors are one of three passive linear circuit elements that make up electronic circuits. Inductors are widely used in alternating current (AC) electronic equipment, especially radio equipment. They are used to block alternating current while allowing direct current to pass through; inductors designed for this purpose are called chokes. They are also used in electronic filters to separate signals of different frequencies, and in combination with capacitors to form tuned circuits for tuning radios and television receivers.

What are inductors used for?
Inductors are widely used in analog circuits and signal processing.
A tuned circuit consists of an inductor connected to a capacitor that acts as a resonator for the oscillating current.
Two (or more) neighboring inductors with coupled magnetic flux (mutual inductance) form a transformer, which is a fundamental part of every electric utility grid.
Inductors are also used in power transmission systems to limit switching and fault currents. In this field, they are often referred to as reactors.