Updated: Dec 9, 2025 | Source: 2022-2026 Question Pool | Topic: T6A
T6A07T6A

What electrical component is typically constructed as a coil of wire?

Deep Dive: T6A07

The correct answer is D: Inductor. An inductor is the electrical component typically constructed as a coil of wire. Inductors are made by winding wire into a coil, often around a core material, to create inductance. Inductors are constructed by winding wire into a coil shape. The coil can be air-wound (no core) or wound around a magnetic core (ferrite, iron, etc.) to increase inductance. The number of turns, coil diameter, and core material determine the inductance value. This coil structure is what creates the magnetic field and stores energy. Inductors are essential in RF circuits for tuning, filtering, and impedance matching.

Why Other Answers Are Wrong

Option A: Incorrect. Switches are mechanical or electronic devices that open or close circuits. They're not constructed as coils of wire - they're contact mechanisms. Option B: Incorrect. Capacitors are constructed with conductive plates separated by a dielectric, not as coils of wire. They have a different structure. Option C: Incorrect. Diodes are semiconductor devices made of semiconductor material, not coils of wire. They have a PN junction structure.

Exam Tip

Inductor = Coil of wire. Remember: Inductors are typically constructed as coils of wire, often wound around a core, to create inductance and store energy in a magnetic field.

Memory Aid

**I**nductor = **C**oil of **W**ire (think 'I = CW')

Real-World Example

You're building a resonant circuit for your antenna tuner. You wind wire into a coil to make an inductor. The coil shape creates inductance - the more turns, the higher the inductance. This coil structure is fundamental to how inductors work.

Source & Coverage

Question Pool: 2022-2026 Question Pool

Subelement: T6A

Reference: 2022-2026 Question Pool · T6 - Electrical components

Key Concepts

Inductor Coil of wire Component construction Electronic components

Verified Content

Question from the official FCC Technician Class pool. Explanation reviewed by licensed amateur radio operators and mapped to the T6A topic.