Extra exam question E6D12
Subelement E6, CIRCUIT COMPONENTS· Group E6D
What causes inductor saturation?
- A.Operation at too high a frequency
- B.Selecting a core with low permeability
- C.Operation at excessive magnetic flux (correct answer)
- D.Selecting a core with excessive permittivity
WhyInductor saturation is caused by operation at excessive magnetic flux. Inductor saturation happens when the core is driven with excessive magnetic flux, pushing it beyond the point where it can continue supporting additional flux increases, at which point the core's effective permeability collapses and inductance drops sharply, answer C. It isn't caused simply by high-frequency operation, isn't caused by choosing a low-permeability core (that just limits inductance rather than causing saturation), and "excessive permittivity" isn't a real magnetic-core characteristic.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2024-2028 NCVEC Element 4 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
Related questions
- E6D01What is piezoelectricity?
- E6D02What is the equivalent circuit of a quartz crystal?
- E6D03Which of the following is an aspect of the piezoelectric effect?
- E6D04Why are cores of inductors and transformers sometimes constructed of thin layers?
- E6D05How do ferrite and powdered iron compare for use in an inductor core?