ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel The Engineering Mindset Inductors Explained – The basics how inductors work working principle
Welcome to an exploration of inductors, a fundamental component in electrical circuits. Inductors play a crucial role by storing energy in a magnetic field and releasing it almost instantaneously. This ability makes them indispensable in various electronic applications. However, remember that working with electricity can be hazardous, so ensure you have the necessary qualifications before handling electrical tasks.
An inductor is an electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when current flows through it. This stored energy can be released quickly, making inductors vital in circuits where energy management is crucial. Inductors are often used alongside other components like capacitors, which we discussed in a previous lesson.
To grasp how inductors function, imagine water flowing through pipes. In this analogy, a pump represents a battery, pushing water through the pipes, which are akin to wires in a circuit. The pipe splits into two branches: one with a reducer (representing resistance) and the other with a water wheel (representing the inductor).
When the pump starts, water flows, creating a loop back to the pump, similar to electrons flowing in a circuit. Initially, the water wheel takes time to spin due to inertia, causing water to favor the path with the reducer. As the wheel gains speed, water flows more easily through it. When the pump stops, the wheel continues to spin, pushing water around the loop until it slows down due to resistance.
In electrical circuits, when an inductor is connected in parallel with a resistive load like a lamp, the current initially flows through the lamp. As the inductor’s resistance decreases, more current flows through it, dimming the lamp. When the power supply is disconnected, the inductor continues to push electrons through the lamp until the stored energy is depleted.
When current passes through a wire, it generates a magnetic field. This field can be visualized using compasses placed around the wire. Reversing the current direction also reverses the magnetic field. The more current flows, the stronger the magnetic field becomes. Wrapping the wire into a coil amplifies this effect, creating a more potent magnetic field.
When the power is cut, the magnetic field collapses, converting stored energy back into electrical energy, pushing electrons along the circuit. This process happens rapidly, although animations often slow it down for clarity.
Inductors resist changes in current. When current increases, they create an opposing force, and when it decreases, they push electrons out to maintain stability. Upon powering the circuit, the inductor generates back electromotive force (EMF) that opposes the current. As the magnetic field stabilizes, the inductor acts like a regular wire, allowing electrons to flow back to the battery, turning off the lamp.
When power is cut, the inductor attempts to keep the current constant by pushing electrons out, briefly powering the lamp. As the magnetic field collapses, the current decreases, eventually stopping the power supply.
Using an oscilloscope, we can observe the behavior of inductors and resistors. The current through a resistor rises instantly and stabilizes, while the current through an inductor rises gradually before stabilizing. When the current stops, the resistor’s current drops instantly to zero, but the inductor’s current decreases gradually.
On circuit boards, inductors are typically copper wires wrapped around a cylinder or ring. Some designs include casings to prevent magnetic interference with other components. In engineering drawings, inductors are represented by specific symbols. It’s important to note that any coiled wire, including those in motors, transformers, and relays, acts as an inductor.
Inductors are used in various applications, such as boost converters to increase DC output voltage while decreasing current, filtering different frequencies, and in transformers, motors, and relays. Inductance is measured in henries (H), with higher inductance indicating more energy storage and longer magnetic field build-up times. Standard multimeters may not measure inductance accurately; for precise measurements, an RLC meter is recommended.
That’s all for this lesson on inductors! Continue your learning journey by exploring related topics, and don’t forget to connect with us on social media and visit TheEngineeringMindset.com for more educational resources.
Gather basic electronic components, including an inductor, resistor, and LED. Construct a simple circuit to observe how the inductor affects current flow and the LED’s brightness. Document your observations and explain the role of the inductor in the circuit.
Use circuit simulation software like LTSpice or Multisim to model a circuit with an inductor. Experiment with different configurations and parameters to see how inductors influence current and voltage over time. Share your findings with classmates in a discussion forum.
Research a real-world device that uses inductors, such as a transformer or a motor. Prepare a presentation explaining how inductors are utilized in the device, highlighting their importance and functionality. Present your findings to the class.
In a lab setting, use an oscilloscope to observe the current and voltage changes in a circuit containing an inductor. Compare the behavior of the inductor with that of a resistor. Record your observations and discuss the implications of these behaviors in practical applications.
Participate in a group discussion to explore challenges and limitations associated with using inductors in electronic circuits. Consider factors such as size, cost, and efficiency. Propose potential solutions or alternatives to overcome these challenges.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Hello everyone, Paul here from TheEngineeringMindset.com. In this video, we will explore inductors to understand how they work, where they are used, and why they are important. Please remember that electricity can be dangerous, and you should be qualified to perform any electrical work.
So, what is an inductor? An inductor is a component in an electrical circuit that stores energy in its magnetic field and can release this energy almost instantly. This ability to store and quickly release energy is crucial, which is why inductors are used in various circuits.
In our previous video, we discussed how capacitors work. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check it out; the link is below.
Now, how does an inductor work? To understand this, think of water flowing through pipes. A pump pushes the water, which is similar to a battery in a circuit. The pipe splits into two branches, representing the wires. One branch has a reducer that makes it harder for water to flow, similar to resistance in an electrical circuit. The other branch has a water wheel that rotates as water flows through it. This water wheel represents the inductor.
When the pump starts, water flows and tries to return to the pump, creating a closed loop. This is analogous to electrons leaving the battery and flowing back. As the water reaches the branches, it encounters the water wheel, which takes time to get moving due to its inertia. This causes the water to prefer the path with the reducer, allowing it to flow back to the pump more easily.
As the water continues to push, the wheel speeds up until it reaches maximum speed. At this point, the water can flow more easily through the wheel than through the reducer. When the pump is turned off, the water wheel continues to rotate due to inertia, pushing water around the loop until resistance slows it down.
We see a similar scenario when connecting an inductor in parallel with a resistive load, such as a lamp. Initially, most current flows through the lamp, but as the inductor’s resistance decreases, more current flows through it, causing the lamp to turn off. When the power supply is disconnected, the inductor continues to push electrons through the lamp until the energy is dissipated.
So, what happens inside the inductor? When electrical current passes through a wire, it generates a magnetic field around it. This magnetic field can be visualized with compasses placed around the wire. When the current direction reverses, the magnetic field also reverses. The more current that flows, the larger the magnetic field becomes. Wrapping the wire into a coil merges the magnetic fields, creating a stronger overall magnetic field.
When the power supply is turned off, the magnetic field collapses, converting stored energy back into electrical energy, which pushes electrons along. This process happens very quickly, and the animations are slowed down for clarity.
Inductors resist changes in current. When current increases, they create an opposing force, and when it decreases, they push electrons out to maintain stability. When the circuit is powered on, the inductor generates back electromotive force (EMF) that opposes the current. Eventually, as the magnetic field stabilizes, the inductor behaves like a normal wire, allowing electrons to flow back to the battery, which turns off the lamp.
When we cut the power, the inductor tries to keep the current constant by pushing electrons out, which can briefly power the lamp. The magnetic field collapses as the current decreases, eventually ceasing to provide power.
If we connect a resistor and an inductor to an oscilloscope, we can observe their effects. The current through a resistor rises instantly and then stabilizes, while the current through an inductor rises gradually and then stabilizes. When the current stops, the resistor drops instantly to zero, but the inductor decreases gradually.
Inductors on circuit boards typically consist of copper wire wrapped around a cylinder or ring. Some designs have casings to shield the magnetic field from interfering with other components. Inductors are represented in engineering drawings with specific symbols. It’s important to note that any coiled wire acts as an inductor, including motors, transformers, and relays.
Inductors are used in various applications, such as boost converters to increase DC output voltage while decreasing current, filtering different frequencies, and in transformers, motors, and relays.
Inductance is measured in henries (H). A higher inductance means more energy can be stored and longer times for the magnetic field to build. Standard multimeters typically cannot measure inductance accurately; for precise measurements, an RLC meter is used.
That’s it for this video! To continue your learning, check out one of the videos on-screen now, and I’ll see you in the next lesson. Don’t forget to follow us on social media and visit TheEngineeringMindset.com.
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This version removes informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the essential information.
Inductor – A passive electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. – In the circuit, the inductor was used to filter out high-frequency noise.
Energy – The capacity to do work or the power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources. – The energy stored in the capacitor was released suddenly, causing a spark.
Magnetic – Relating to or exhibiting magnetism, the force exerted by magnets when they attract or repel each other. – The magnetic field around the solenoid was measured using a Hall effect sensor.
Current – The flow of electric charge carried by electrons as they move through a conductor. – The current flowing through the resistor was calculated using Ohm’s Law.
Resistance – A measure of the opposition to the flow of electric current, resulting in the generation of heat. – The resistance of the wire increased as its temperature rose.
Circuit – A closed loop through which an electric current flows or may flow. – The circuit was designed to amplify the input signal for better audio output.
Voltage – The electric potential difference between two points, which causes current to flow in a circuit. – The voltage across the terminals of the battery was measured to ensure it was fully charged.
Inductance – The property of an electrical conductor by which a change in current through it induces an electromotive force. – The inductance of the coil was increased by adding more turns to it.
Oscilloscope – An electronic device used to display and analyze the waveform of electronic signals. – The oscilloscope was used to visualize the alternating current waveform in the experiment.
Applications – The practical uses of scientific principles and theories in real-world scenarios. – The applications of quantum mechanics have revolutionized modern technology, including semiconductors and lasers.
