In parallel, the total inductance of more than two inductors with different inductances is always:

In parallel, the total inductance of more than two inductors with different inductances is always:

• A. Less than the smallest individual inductance
• B. Greater than the largest individual inductance
• C. Equal to the sum of the inductances
• D. Equal to the reciprocal of the sum of reciprocals

Answer: (A)

When inductors are connected in parallel, the total inductance becomes smaller than any one of them. This happens because the current can split among the multiple paths, which increases the overall conductance for magnetic flux and lowers the stored energy per unit current. The exact relationship for parallel inductors is that the reciprocal of the total inductance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual inductances: 1/L_total = 1/L1 + 1/L2 + ... . Since all inductances are positive and there is more than one path, this sum is larger than 1 divided by the smallest inductance, so L_total is smaller than that smallest inductance. Therefore, the total inductance in parallel is always less than the smallest individual inductance. This is different from a series connection, where inductances add directly. The reciprocal-of-sum form is the precise rule for parallel inductors.

When inductors are connected in parallel, the total inductance becomes smaller than any one of them. This happens because the current can split among the multiple paths, which increases the overall conductance for magnetic flux and lowers the stored energy per unit current.

The exact relationship for parallel inductors is that the reciprocal of the total inductance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual inductances: 1/L_total = 1/L1 + 1/L2 + ... . Since all inductances are positive and there is more than one path, this sum is larger than 1 divided by the smallest inductance, so L_total is smaller than that smallest inductance. Therefore, the total inductance in parallel is always less than the smallest individual inductance.

This is different from a series connection, where inductances add directly. The reciprocal-of-sum form is the precise rule for parallel inductors.