INDUCTOR

An inductor is a coil of wire on a former, and may

have a core of air, iron or ferrite. When an electric
current flows in the coil, a magnetic flux is produced
in the core.
inductors are widely used in industrial
electronics , and as with all electromagnetic devices
they are inherently very reliable.
 CLASSIFICATION of INDUCTORS
• Inductors are made in variety of shapes and
sizes. Basically, they fall into two general
categories: fixed and variable. The standard
schematic symbols are shown below.
– Both fixed and variable inductors can be classified
according to the type of core material. Three
common types are the air core, the iron core, and
the ferrite core. Each has a unique symbols as
shown.
 SELF INDUCTANCE
– When a length of wire is formed into a coil, it
becomes a basic inductor. Current through the coil
produces an electromagnetic field. The magnetic
lines of force form a magnetic field within and
around the coil. The net direction of the total
magnetic field creates a north and south pole as
indicated.
– When there is current through an inductor, an
electromagnetic field is established. When the
current changes, the electromagnetic field is also
changes. An increase in current expands the field,
and decrease in current reduces it.
Therefore, a changing current produces a
changing electromagnetic field around the inductor
(coil). In turn, the changing electromagnetic field
induces a voltage across the coil in a direction to
oppose the change in current.
– This property is called “self inductance”, but is
usually referred to as simply “ inductance.
Inductance is symbolized by L.
–The basic unit of inductance is Henry,
symbolized by H. By definition, the
inductance is one henry when current
through the coil, changing at the rate of one
ampere per second, Induces one volt across
the coil.
• In many practical applications, milli-henry
(mH) and micro-henry (µH) are the more
common units.
An inductor stores energy in the magnetic field
created by the current. The energy stored is
proportional to the inductance and the square of
the current. The energy stored is expressed as
follows.
 W= ½ LI²
Where: W= energy stored in the form of
magnetic field, joules
L= inductance, henry
I = current, ampere
 INDUCTIVE REACTANCE
• The opposition to sinusoidal current in an
inductor is called the inductive reactance. The
symbol for inductive reactance is 𝐗 𝐋 and its unit
is ohm (Ω).
𝐗 𝐋 = 2𝜋fL
• Where 𝐗 𝐋 = inductive reactance in ohms
𝜋 = 3.14
F = frequency in hertz
L = inductance in henry’s
• Sample problem
 SERIES AND PARRALLEL CIRCUITS
• When inductors are connected in series as
shown below, the total inductance 𝑳𝑻 is the
sum of the individual inductances.

• 𝑳𝑻 = L1 + L2 + L3 +……LN
• When inductors are connected in parallel. The
general formula states that the reciprocal of
the total inductance is equal to the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual inductances.
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
• = + + + …..
𝑳𝑻 𝑳𝟏 𝑳𝟐 𝑳𝟑 𝑳𝑵
IMPEDANCE
• Impedance, Z is the total opposition to the
flow of current in a sine wave AC circuit, in
an RC circuit, the impedance, Z takes into
account the 90° phase relation between Xc
and R. Impedance Z is measured in ohms.