Have you ever noticed a spark when you unplug an appliance like a hair dryer? It's due to a phenomenon known as electromagnetic induction. This occurs when the appliance is in operation, generating a magnetic field. When you suddenly cut off the power supply, the magnetic field collapses rapidly, inducing a voltage in the coil. This voltage can be so high that it ionizes the air between the plug and the socket, producing the spark we see.
However, this same effect can be beneficial in the context of fast charging technology. The purpose of a charger is to take high voltage mains electricity and convert it into low voltage DC electricity, suitable for powering devices such as smartphones and laptops. To achieve this, chargers employ a technique called switching, rapidly turning the current on and off hundreds of thousands of times per second.
To smooth out these electrical pulses, a component called an inductor is used. An inductor acts as a shock absorber, storing energy in a magnetic field when the current rises and releasing it when the current falls. This helps to regulate the flow of electricity, making it smoother and more stable.
