electronics fundamentals

circuits, devices, and applications

THOMAS L. FLOYD
DAVID M. BUCHLA

chapter 11

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
The Basic Inductor
When a length of wire is formed into a coil., it
becomes a basic inductor. When there is current in
the inductor, a three-dimensional magnetic field is
created.
A change in current
causes the magnetic
S N
field to change. This in
turn induces a voltage
across the inductor that
opposes the original
change in current.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
The Basic Inductor
One henry is the inductance of a coil when a current,
changing at a rate of one ampere per second, induces one
volt across the coil. Most coils are much smaller than 1 H.
The effect of inductance is greatly
magnified by adding turns and winding
them on a magnetic material. Large
inductors and transformers are wound
on a core to increase the inductance.

Magnetic core

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Faraday’s law
Faraday’s law was introduced in Chapter 7 and repeated
here because of its importance to inductors.

The amount of voltage induced in a coil is directly

proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic field
with respect to the coil.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Lenz’s law
Lenz’s law was also introduced in Chapter 7 and is an
extension of Faraday’s law, defining the direction of the
induced voltage:

When the current through a coil changes and an

induced voltage is created as a result of the changing
magnetic field, the direction of the induced voltage is
such that it always opposes the change in the current.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Lenz’s law
A basic circuit to demonstrate Lenz’s law is shown.
Initially, the SW is open and there is a small
current in the circuit through L and R1.
L
SW

+
VS R1 R2

 +

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Lenz’s law

SW closes and immediately a voltage appears

across L that tends to oppose any change in current.

L
SW
+ 

+
VS R1 R2

 +
Initially, the meter
reads same current
as before the switch
was closed.
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Lenz’s law

After a time, the current stabilizes at a higher level

(due to I2) as the voltage decays across the coil.
L
SW

+
VS R1 R2

 +
Later, the meter
reads a higher
current because of
the load change.
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Practical inductors
In addition to inductance, actual inductors have
winding resistance (RW) due to the resistance of the
wire and winding capacitance (CW) between turns.
An equivalent circuit for a practical inductor
including these effects is shown: CW
Notice that the winding resistance
is in series with the coil and the L
winding capacitance is in parallel RW
with both.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Types of inductors
There are a variety of inductors, depending on the
amount of inductance required and the application.
Some, with fine wires, are encapsulated and may
appear like a resistor.

Common symbols for inductors (coils) are

Air core Iron core Ferrite core Variable

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Factors affecting inductance
Four factors affect the amount of inductance for a
coil. The equation for the inductance of a coil is
N 2 A
L
l
where
L = inductance in henries
N = number of turns of wire
 = permeability in H/m (same as Wb/At-m)
l = coil length on meters

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary

What is the inductance of a 2 cm long, 150

turn coil wrapped on an low carbon steel core that
is 0.5 cm diameter? The permeability of low
carbon steel is 2.5 x104 H/m (Wb/At-m).

A  πr 2  π  0.0025 m   7.85 105 m 2

2

N 2 A
L
l
150 t   2.5 104 Wb/At-m  7.85 105 m2 
2


0.02 m
 22 mH

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Practical inductors
Inductors come in a variety of sizes. A few
common ones are shown here.

Encapsulated Torroid coil Variable

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Series inductors
When inductors are connected in series, the total
inductance is the sum of the individual inductors.
The general equation for inductors in series is
LT  L1  L2  L3  ...Ln

If a 1.5 mH inductor is L L
1 2
connected in series with
an 680 H inductor, the 1
.
5 m
H 6
80
H
total inductance is 2.18 mH

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Parallel inductors
When inductors are connected in parallel, the total
inductance is smaller than the smallest one. The
general equation for inductors in parallel is
1
LT 
1 1 1 1
   ... 
L1 L2 L3 LT

The total inductance of two inductors is

1
LT 
1 1

L1 L2

…or you can use the product-over-sum rule.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Parallel inductors

If a 1.5 mH inductor is connected in

parallel with an 680 H inductor,
the total inductance is 468 H

L1 L2
1.5mH 680H

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Vinitial
Inductors in dc circuits
When an inductor is connected
in series with a resistor and dc
source, the current change is 0 t
Inductor voltage after switch closure
exponential.
Ifinal
R

0 t
Current after switch closure

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Inductors in dc circuits
VS
The same shape curves are
seen if a square wave is
used for the source. Pulse
response is covered further VL
in Chapter 20.
R

L VR
VS

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Universal exponential curves
100%
Specific values for 98%
99%
95%
current and voltage 86%
80%
can be read from a Rising exponential

Percent of final value

universal curve. For 63%
60%
an RL circuit, the
time constant is
40%
37%
L
τ Falling exponential
R 20%
14%
5%
2% 1%
0
0 1t 2t 3t 4t 5t
Number of time constants

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Universal exponential curves
The curves can give 100% 99%
98%
specific information 95%

about an RL circuit. 80%

86%

Percent of final value

63%
60%

In a series RL circuit,
when is VR > 2VL? 40%
37%

Read the rising

20%
exponential at the 14%

67% level. After 1.1 t 5%

2% 1%
0
0 1t 2t 3t 4t 5t
Number of time constants

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Universal exponential curves
The universal curves can be applied to general formulas for
the current (or voltage) curves for RL circuits. The general
current formula is
i =IF + (Ii  IF)eRt/L
IF = final value of current
Ii = initial value of current
i = instantaneous value of current
The final current is greater than the initial current
when the inductive field is building, or less than the initial
current when the field is collapsing.
Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle
Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Inductive reactance

Inductive reactance is the opposition to

ac by an inductor. The equation for
inductive reactance is
X L  2πfL

The reactance of a 33 H inductor when a

frequency of 550 kHz is applied is 114 W

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Inductive reactance
When inductors are in series, the total reactance is the sum of the
individual reactances. That is,
X L(tot )  X L1  X L2  X L3    X Ln

Assume three 220 H inductors are in series with a 455 kHz

ac source. What is the total reactance?

The reactance of each inductor is

X L  2 fL  2  455 kHz  220 μH   629 W
X L(tot )  X L1  X L2  X L3
 629 W  629 W  629 W  1.89 kW

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Inductive reactance
When inductors are in parallel, the total reactance is the reciprocal of
the sum of the reciprocals of the individual reactances. That is,
1
X L(tot ) 
1 1 1 1
    
X L1 X L2 X L3 X Ln

If the three 220 H inductors from the last example are placed
in parallel with the 455 kHz ac source, what is the total
reactance?
The reactance of each inductor is 629 W
1 1
X L(tot )    210 W
1 1 1 1 1 1
  + +
X L1 X L2 X L3 629 W 629 W 629 W

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Summary
Inductive phase shift

When a sine wave

is applied to an VL 0
inductor, there is a
90
phase shift between
voltage and current
such that voltage
always leads the I 0
current by 90o.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1

Power in an inductor
True Power: Ideally, inductors do not dissipate power.
However, a small amount of power is dissipated in
winding resistance given by the equation:
Ptrue = (Irms)2RW
Reactive Power: Reactive power is a measure of the rate
at which the inductor stores and returns energy. One form
of the reactive power equation is:
Pr=VrmsIrms
The unit for reactive power is the VAR.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1

Q of a coil
The quality factor (Q) of a coil is given by the ratio of
reactive power to true power.
I2XL
Q 2
I RW

For a series circuit, I cancels, leaving

XL
Q
RW

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Key Terms
Inductor An electrical device formed by a wire wound
around a core having the property of inductance;
also known as a coil.

Winding The loops or turns of wire in an inductor.

Induced Voltage produced as a result of a changing

voltage magnetic field.

Inductance The property of an inductor whereby a change in

current causes the inductor to produce a voltage
that opposes the change in current.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Key Terms
Henry (H) The unit of inductance.

RL time A fixed time interval set by the L and R

constant values, that determines the time response of a
circuit. It equals the ratio of L/R.
Inductive The opposition of an inductor to sinusoidal
reactance current. The unit is the ohm.

Quality factor The ratio of reactive power to true power for an

inductor.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

1. Assuming all other factors are the same, the inductance

of an inductor will be larger if
a. more turns are added
b. the area is made larger
c. the length is shorter
d. all of the above

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

2. The henry is defined as the inductance of a coil when

a. a constant current of one amp develops one volt.
b. one volt is induced due to a change in current of
one amp per second.
c. one amp is induced due to a change in voltage of
one volt.
d. the opposition to current is one ohm.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

3. The symbol for a ferrite core inductor is

a.

b.

c.

d.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

4. The symbol for a variable inductor is

a.

b.

c.

d.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

5. The total inductance of a 270 H inductor connected in

series with a 1.2 mH inductor is
a. 220 H
b. 271 H
c. 599 H
d. 1.47 mH

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

6. The total inductance of a 270 H inductor connected in

parallel with a 1.2 mH inductor is
a. 220 H
b. 271 H
c. 599 H
d. 1.47 mH

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

7. When an inductor is connected through a series resistor

and switch to a dc voltage source, the voltage across the
resistor after the switch closes has the shape of
a. a straight line
b. a rising exponential
c. a falling exponential
d. none of the above

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

8. For circuit shown, the time constant is

L
a. 270 ns
b. 270 s 2
70
H
VS R
c. 270 ms 1
0V 1 W
.0k

d. 3.70 s

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

9. For circuit shown, assume the period of the square wave

is 10 times longer than the time constant. The shape of the
voltage across L is

a. L

b.
V
S R

c.

d.

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

10. If a sine wave from a function generator is applied to an

inductor, the current will
a. lag voltage by 90o
b. lag voltage by 45o
c. be in phase with the voltage
d. none of the above

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 11
1
Quiz

Answers:
1. d 6. a
2. b 7. b
3. d 8. a
4. c 9. c
5. d 10. a

Electronics Fundamentals 8th edition © 2010 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle

Floyd/Buchla River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.