gen-explain-inductor-behavior-in-an-rl-circuit-as-you-would-to-a-405e

Explain inductor behavior in an RL circuit as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

# Inductor Behavior in an RL Circuit An inductor resists *changes* in current by generating a voltage that opposes the change—this is called "back EMF" from Faraday's law. When you first apply voltage to an RL circuit, the inductor acts almost like an open circuit, blocking current flow, but as the magnetic field builds up, it gradually allows more current through until reaching a steady state determined by the resistor. When you remove the voltage source, the inductor tries to maintain the current by releasing its stored magnetic energy, causing the current to decay exponentially rather than stopping instantly. The time constant τ = L/R tells you how quickly these changes occur—larger inductance means slower current changes.