The inductive reactance of a coil is a property that depends on its inductance and the frequency of the alternating current passing through it. It is defined by the formula:
Inductive Reactance (XL) = 2 * π * f * L
Where:
XL is the inductive reactance in ohms (Ω)
π is the mathematical constant (approximately 3.14159)
f is the frequency of the AC signal in hertz (Hz)
L is the inductance of the coil in henrys (H)
The inductance of a coil depends on the number of turns of wire in the coil (N) and the core material. The formula for calculating the inductance of an ideal coil with an air core is:
Inductance (L) = (μ₀ * N² * A) / l
Where:
μ₀ is the permeability of free space (approximately 4π x 10^-7 H/m)
N is the number of turns
A is the cross-sectional area of the coil's winding in square meters (m²)
l is the length of the coil in meters (m)
When a coil is wound on a core made of a magnetic material (ferromagnetic material), such as iron or ferrite, the inductance increases due to the higher permeability of the core material compared to air. This increased inductance leads to a higher inductive reactance at a given frequency.
In summary, the inductive reactance of a coil increases with the inductance of the coil, which is influenced by the number of turns and the core material. A coil with more turns will have a higher inductance and thus a higher inductive reactance at a given frequency. Additionally, a coil wound on a core with higher permeability will also have a higher inductance and therefore a higher inductive reactance.