Question T6A07
From subelement T6 - T6A
What electrical component is typically constructed as a coil of wire?
Why is this correct?
An inductor is typically constructed as a coil of wire. When current flows through the coil, it creates a magnetic field around it, allowing the inductor to store energy in that magnetic field. Switches are mechanical contacts, capacitors consist of conductive plates separated by an insulator, and diodes are semiconductor junctions—none of these use coiled wire construction.
Memory tip
Remember the physical construction pattern: coiled wire always indicates an inductor. This coil structure is what enables the magnetic field formation that defines an inductor's function. The coil shape is the key visual clue in both actual components and circuit diagrams.
Learn more
In practical amateur radio circuits, inductors appear as coils in antenna tuners, filters, and oscillators. Their inductance value (measured in henries) depends on factors like the number of turns, coil diameter, and core material. Variable inductors allow frequency adjustment by changing the coil's physical properties, making them essential for impedance matching and resonant circuit tuning.
Think about it
Why do you think the coiled wire construction is specifically necessary for an inductor to store energy in a magnetic field, rather than using a straight wire?