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Subelement A: Principles— Topic 1: Electrical Elements

Question 3-1A5

Element 3 (GROL)

What formula would determine the inductive reactance of a coil if frequency and coil inductance are known?

Explanation
Inductive reactance (XL) is the opposition an inductor presents to the flow of alternating current (AC). Unlike resistance, reactance varies with frequency. The formula to determine inductive reactance is **XL = 2πfL**. * **XL** is the inductive reactance, measured in Ohms (Ω). * **2π** is a constant (approximately 6.28), derived from the relationship between frequency and angular frequency (ω = 2πf). * **f** is the frequency of the AC signal, measured in Hertz (Hz). * **L** is the inductance of the coil, measured in Henries (H). This formula shows that inductive reactance increases proportionally with both the frequency of the AC signal and the inductance of the coil. Higher frequencies or larger inductances cause the magnetic field around the coil to change more rapidly or store more energy, respectively, leading to greater opposition to current flow.

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