Inductors Explained - The basics how inductors work working principle

An inductor is an electrical component that stores energy in its magnetic field and can release it almost instantly. This ability to store and quickly release energy makes inductors important for various circuits.

How Inductors Work An inductor works like a water wheel in a closed loop system, resisting the flow of current at first and then allowing it to pass through easily. When connected with a resistive load, such as a lamp, the inductor causes the lamp to turn off when its resistance decreases. The magnetic field generated by passing electrical current through an inductor stores energy and converts it back into electrical energy when the power is cut.

Magnetic Field Generation Passing electric current through wire generates a magnetic field around it; wrapping wires into coils forms one large powerful magnetic field. This stored energy pushes electrons along when the power is cut due to collapsing of the magnetic field. Inductors oppose changes in current flow using back EMF (electromotive force) until they reach maximum stability.

Visual Effects on Oscilloscope When connecting an oscilloscope to separate circuits with resistor and inductor, we can visually see how an inductor resists initial increase and prevents sudden decrease of current flow compared to resistor's instant rise up or drop down effect.

What Are Inductors? Inductors in circuit boards are copper wire wrapped around a cylinder or ring, sometimes with casing to shield the magnetic field. They are represented on engineering drawings with specific symbols and can be used for boosting converters, choking AC supply, filtering frequencies, and in transformers, motors, and relays.

Measuring Inductance The unit of inductance is Henry (H), larger number means higher inductance which stores more energy. Measuring accurately requires an RLC meter as standard multimeters may not provide accurate results.