Question

the current in the inductor is ________ relative to the voltage across the inductor. A : lagging by less than 1/4 of a cycle B : in phase C : leading by less than 1/4 of a cycle D : lagging by 1/4 of a cycle E : leading by 1/4 of a cycle

Answer 1

D : lagging by 1/4 of a cycle (ideal inductor)

Step-by-step explanation:

The rate of change of current in an inductor is proportional to the voltage across the inductor. Hence voltage must increase before current can. That means current in an inductor lags the voltage across it.

For an ideal inductor (with no effective series resistance), the lag will be 1/4 cycle of a sinusoidal waveform.

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If the inductor has internal losses (resistance), then the lag will be less than 1/4 cycle.

_____

Comment on the problem

No circuit image or other description of the inductor is provided here, so we don't know that the inductor is ideal.