Wednesday, February 6

Inductors in Ac Circuits


Description of an inductor:

An inductor in a AC circuit is a component that has the property of inductance. Inductors have very wide applications. The inductance of an inductor makes the current to lag the voltage in an AC circuit and this phenomenon is used in certain applications. The inductors are also called reactors, chokes and coils depending upon the application. I like to share this formula celsius to fahrenheit with you all through my article.

The inductor is basically a closely wound coil around a material of high permeability (magnetically susceptible).

Let us study what exactly are the functions of inductors in AC circuits.

Concept of Inductance by an Inductor in Ac Circuits:

The above diagram shows a AC circuit connected to an inductor. When an AC voltage is applied to an inductor, the rate of change in current passes through that induces an emf, as per Faraday’s law. This emf, as per Lenz’s law opposes the change in current.

The inductance of an inductor is denoted by L and its unit is Henry, named after the American scientist who discovered electromagnetic induction at the same time with the great scientist Michael Faraday from England.

One unit of Hendry produces an emf of 1 volt for a change in current of 1 ampere per second. Understanding An Electric Current is Measured in Units of is always challenging for me but thanks to all math help websites to help me out.

Inductors in Ac Circuits:

Inductors in AC circuits, as explained earlier opposes the change in current. In a way it can be termed as a magnetic resistor. Like resistors, the equivalent inductance of various inductors is the sum of the values of all the inductance values when they are connected in series. That is,

L = L1 + L2 + L3 ….. + Ln

Similar to the case of resistors, in parallel operation,

(1/L) = (1/L1)+ (1/L2) + (1/L3) ….. + (1/Ln)

Like resistors in resistive circuits, the inductors in AC circuits converts the electrical energy but stores that in the magnetic field.  The energy stored is given by,

E = (1/2) LI^2

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