Is a thermocouple inductive?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not enough information

Answer: (B)

Think about what a thermocouple does: two dissimilar metals joined at a point generate a voltage when there’s a temperature difference between the joints, by the Seebeck effect. That makes it a tiny voltage source whose signal is set by temperature, not by magnetic fields or changing currents. Inductors store energy in a magnetic field and respond to current changes; a thermocouple doesn’t rely on magnetic flux or energy storage in that way. Its output is a small voltage proportional to temperature difference, and in the circuit you model it as a high-impedance voltage source. So it is not inductive.