Dynamic behavior — do inductors “boost” current?: Inductors oppose rapid changes in current; they do not inherently amplify or “boost” current flow. Evaluate the correctness of the claim that an inductor will boost current.

Introduction / Context:
Understanding how inductors influence current is essential in power converters, filters, and transient analysis. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field and resist changes in current according to v = L * di/dt. They are not active devices and cannot amplify current on their own.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Passive component: inductor with inductance L and some series resistance.
• Circuit context unspecified; consider general behavior.
• No active switching or control is implied.

Concept / Approach:
Inductors follow v = L * di/dt. To increase current, a positive voltage must be applied; the inductor then allows current to ramp at a rate di/dt = v/L. This is not “boosting” by the inductor; it is the source doing work while the inductor stores energy. In steady DC state after transients, an ideal inductor behaves like a short, passing whatever current the surrounding resistance allows, but it never amplifies current beyond what the source provides.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Examine a buck converter: although inductor current can exceed input current instantaneously due to energy transfer and duty-cycle control, the “boosting” action is from switching and storage, not from the inductor acting as an amplifier by itself.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Amplify current / ferrite-only / DC-only / wire-gauge-only: None convert a passive inductor into an active current booster; materials affect L and losses, not amplification.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating “passes more current in steady state” with amplification; misunderstanding that only active circuitry can provide gain; ignoring that inductors resist sudden current changes.

Final Answer:
Incorrect — an inductor does not boost current