An inductor is a passive electronic component that stores electrical energy in the form of magnetic flux. It is usually shaped like a coiled wire, and when current flows through it, it generates a magnetic field to the right of the direction of current flow.
How do inductors work?
The formula for calculating inductance is shown below. The more coils, the stronger the magnetic field. Additionally, increasing the cross-sectional area or changing the magnetic core can also strengthen the magnetic field.
Let's see what happens when alternating current flows through an inductor. Alternating current (AC) is a type of current whose magnitude and direction change periodically over time. When AC current flows through an inductor, the magnetic field generated by the current cuts through the other windings, thus producing a reverse voltage that opposes the change in current. Specifically, when the current suddenly increases, an electromotive force (EMF) is generated in the opposite direction to the current, i.e., in the direction of decreasing current, to oppose the increase in current. Conversely, when the current decreases, an EMF is generated in the direction of increasing current.
If the direction of the current is reversed, a reverse voltage will also be generated. Before the current is impeded by the reverse voltage, the direction of the current flow will reverse, and thus the current cannot flow.
On the other hand, since the current in direct current (DC) does not change, there is no reverse voltage or risk of short circuit. In other words, an inductor is a component that allows DC to pass through but not AC.
