1.

**Definition:** An inductor is a passive electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic

field when current flows through it. It consists of a coil of wire wound around a core, which can be
air, iron, ferrite, or other materials.

2. **Symbol:** The symbol for an inductor in circuit diagrams is a coil or spiral of wire, often labeled
with its inductance value in henries (H).

3. **Inductance Value:** Inductors are characterized by their inductance, measured in henries (H),
which represents the amount of magnetic flux linkage produced per ampere of current flowing
through the coil.

4. **Types of Inductors:** There are various types of inductors, including:

- Air Core Inductors: Have a coil wound around an air core, providing low inductance and minimal
interference with high-frequency signals.

- Iron Core Inductors: Have a coil wound around an iron core, providing higher inductance and
increased magnetic flux density, commonly used in power applications.

- Ferrite Core Inductors: Have a coil wound around a ferrite core, offering high inductance and
good performance at high frequencies, used in radio frequency (RF) circuits and
telecommunications.

- Toroidal Inductors: Have a coil wound around a toroidal (doughnut-shaped) core, providing
efficient magnetic flux containment and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI).

5. **Inductive Reactance:** Inductors exhibit a property called inductive reactance (XL), which is
the opposition to changes in current flow due to the magnetic field generated by the inductor. It is
measured in ohms (Ω) and depends on the frequency of the alternating current.

6. **Energy Storage:** Inductors store energy in their magnetic fields when current flows through
them. This stored energy is released when the current changes, creating a voltage across the
inductor according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.

7. **Applications:** Inductors are used in various electronic circuits and devices for:

- Filtering: In LC filters and power supplies to smooth out voltage and current fluctuations.

- Energy Storage: In energy storage devices such as chokes and transformers.

- Signal Processing: In radio frequency (RF) circuits, antennas, oscillators, and tuned circuits.
 - Magnetic Field Generation: In electromagnets, motors, and generators.

8. **Self-Inductance:** The inductance of an inductor is also referred to as its self-inductance,

which is a measure of the ability of the coil to induce a voltage in itself when the current changes.

9. **Mutual Inductance:** In addition to self-inductance, inductors can also exhibit mutual

inductance when the magnetic field of one inductor induces a voltage in a nearby coil.

10. **Quality Factor (Q):** The quality factor of an inductor (Q factor) is a measure of its efficiency
and is calculated as the ratio of its inductive reactance to its resistance. Higher Q factors indicate
lower energy losses and better performance in resonant circuits.