Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Inductors are electronic components that store magnetic energy in response to changes in electric current passing through them. They consist of coils or windings made from conducting wire.
Related terms
Self-Inductance: Self-inductance is the property of an inductor to induce a voltage in itself due to changes in the current flowing through it.
Mutual Inductance: Mutual inductance refers to the ability of two nearby inductors to influence each other's magnetic fields and induce voltages across each other.
Back EMF (Electromotive Force): Back EMF is a voltage that opposes the change in current flow through an inductor, generated by the stored magnetic energy trying to maintain its original state.