What type of circuit element opposes rates of change of voltage?

What type of circuit element opposes rates of change of voltage?

• A. Capacitor
• B. Resistor
• C. Inductor
• D. Transformer

Answer: (A)

The correct choice is an inductor, as this circuit element specifically opposes changes in current rather than voltage. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when an electrical current flows through them, and the key property of inductors is their opposition to changes in current. According to Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction, any change in current through an inductor creates a change in the magnetic field, which induces a voltage that opposes the rate of change of current. In circuits, this opposition to changes in current can be conceptualized using Lenz's Law, which states that the direction of induced current or voltage will oppose the change causing it. This characteristic makes inductors essential in various applications, such as in filtering and in power supply circuits, where maintaining stable current levels is crucial. The incorrect answer regarding capacitors indicates a common misunderstanding. Capacitors indeed store energy in an electric field and oppose changes in voltage rather than current; hence, they are not the right choice for this question. Resistors primarily oppose current flow and do not influence voltage changes in the same way as inductors do. Transformers, while they can step up or step down voltage, do not inherently oppose voltage changes themselves; instead, they transfer electrical energy

The correct choice is an inductor, as this circuit element specifically opposes changes in current rather than voltage. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when an electrical current flows through them, and the key property of inductors is their opposition to changes in current. According to Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction, any change in current through an inductor creates a change in the magnetic field, which induces a voltage that opposes the rate of change of current.

In circuits, this opposition to changes in current can be conceptualized using Lenz's Law, which states that the direction of induced current or voltage will oppose the change causing it. This characteristic makes inductors essential in various applications, such as in filtering and in power supply circuits, where maintaining stable current levels is crucial.

The incorrect answer regarding capacitors indicates a common misunderstanding. Capacitors indeed store energy in an electric field and oppose changes in voltage rather than current; hence, they are not the right choice for this question. Resistors primarily oppose current flow and do not influence voltage changes in the same way as inductors do. Transformers, while they can step up or step down voltage, do not inherently oppose voltage changes themselves; instead, they transfer electrical energy