As soon as we do that, we run into problems. We could try measuring inductors by the magnetic field that they create.

The working behavior of an inductor poses an interesting question РІР‚вЂњ how do we quantitatively measure the behavior of an inductor in terms that is easily measurable? The overall result of this battle is that the current through an inductor cannot change rapidly РІР‚вЂњ it is always a linear slope.

The currents do not cancel each other out РІР‚вЂњ rather, the induced current actively tries to oppose the incoming current due to the voltage across the inductor. This magnetic field again creates an induced current in the inductor of opposite polarity, according to LenzРІР‚в„ўs law. When a voltage is applied across the terminals of an inductor, the current flowing creates a magnetic field. This increases the magnetic field, like so: So in order to increase the magnetic field created by a specific length of wire, we wrap it into the form of a coil. However, if you plug in the value of the current into the formulas, then youРІР‚в„ўll realize that the magnetic field produced is tiny РІР‚вЂњ almost negligible, unless the currents are impossibly high, in the order of mega-amps. The lines near the symbol represent the core material РІР‚вЂњ something we will discuss later.Р”Р„n inductor, as already mentioned, is just a coil of wire.Р”В«efore we go into anything else, letРІР‚в„ўs ask the question, why a coil?Р”Р„s we already know, any current carrying conductor generates a magnetic field in the following fashion: Like many other electronic components, the symbol for an inductor is a simplified pictogram of what it actually looks like:

An Inductor on the other hand does not like the change in current within a circuit so it the current changes it will charge or discharge to equalize the current through the circuit.Р”Р„lso remember that an Inductor changes it polarity while discharging so the potential during charging will be opposite to the potential during dis-charge. We need a dig a lot deep in to understand that, but for now you can just remember that a Capacitor tries to level the voltage in a circuit, that is it does not like the change in potential across each component and hence it will charge or discharge to level up the voltage. Okay, but how does it affect its performance. And now that you have known the basics of inductor you might get a question, РІР‚Сљ What is the difference between an Inductor and Capacitor?РІР‚СњР”Р‡irst things first both store energy when a voltage potential is applied across it, but a Capacitor stores energy in form of an Electric Field and an Inductor stores energy in form of a Magnetic felid. We have already learnt about the capacitor in the previousР’В article. This induced magnetic field gives this bit of wire some interesting electrical properties, especially inductance РІР‚вЂњ which gives these parts their name.Р”Вifference Between an Inductor and Capacitor It is something that happens because of the shape of the wire РІР‚вЂњ a coil РІР‚вЂњ it creates a magnetic field when a current is passed through it. However, here, resistance is not the property weРІР‚в„ўre looking for. The inductor is perhaps the simplest of all electronic components, constructed much like a resistor РІР‚вЂњ a simple length of wire that is coiled up. In this tutorial let us understand the basics of an Inductor and demystify it so that we will know how and when to use one in our applications. The reason why many people do not understand Inductors is that they not only alter electric field but also the magnetic field around it. These are the coil like structures that you find in most power electronic circuits and it is because of its properties your transformers work. One Passive component that always remains obscure is the inductors.

Symbol for ferrite core inductor