Project File: The Effect of Frequency on the Self-Inductance of a Coil in an A.C.

Circuit

Index

1. Introduction

2. Theory and Concepts

3. Objective of the Experiment

4. Apparatus Used

5. Experimental Setup and Procedure

6. Observations and Results

7. Analysis of Results

8. Conclusion

9. Bibliography

1. Introduction

Inductance is a fundamental property of electrical circuits that opposes changes in current. This
phenomenon, known as self-inductance, occurs in any coil or solenoid when an electric current
flowing through it creates a magnetic field. The magnetic field, in turn, induces a voltage that
opposes the change in the current. This behavior is particularly evident when alternating current
(A.C.) is applied to a coil, as the current continuously changes direction. The study of self-inductance
is important in various electrical applications, including transformers, inductors, and many other
electronic components.

In this project, we aim to explore the effect of frequency on the self-inductance of a coil. The core
objective is to determine how the self-inductance influences the impedance and current in a circuit
when the coil is placed in series with a resistor (or a bulb) and connected to an A.C. source. The
experiment will help in understanding how inductive reactance (which depends on frequency) alters
the behavior of a simple A.C. circuit.

2. Theory and Concepts

Self-Inductance

Self-inductance is a property of a coil that quantifies the coil’s ability to resist changes in the current
flowing through it. This property is directly related to the number of turns in the coil, the area of the
coil, and the magnetic permeability of the material around the coil. The self-inductance LL is
measured in Henries (H), and it is given by:

L=N2μAlL = \frac{N^2 \mu A}{l}

Where:

 NN is the number of turns,

 μ\mu is the magnetic permeability of the core material,

 AA is the cross-sectional area of the coil, and

 ll is the length of the coil.

Inductive Reactance (X_L)

When an A.C. source is connected to a coil, the coil’s self-inductance opposes the change in current
by producing an inductive reactance. The inductive reactance XLX_L depends on the frequency ff of
the A.C. supply and the inductance LL of the coil, as given by:

XL=2πfLX_L = 2\pi f L

As the frequency increases, XLX_L increases, meaning the coil offers more opposition to the current
flow. This relationship is crucial in understanding how varying the frequency affects the behavior of
the circuit.

3. Objective of the Experiment

The primary objective of this experiment is to study the effect of frequency on the self-inductance of
a coil. By varying the frequency of the A.C. source, we aim to observe the change in current through
the circuit and analyze how the inductive reactance influences the total impedance and current flow.

4. Apparatus Used

 A.C. Power Supply (adjustable frequency)

 Coil with known inductance

 Resistor or Bulb (used as a load)

 Ammeter (to measure current)

 Voltmeter (to measure voltage across the coil or resistor)

 Rheostat (to vary resistance, if using a resistor)

 Frequency Counter (to monitor the A.C. frequency)

 Connecting Wires

5. Experimental Setup and Procedure

Setup:

1. Connect the Circuit:

o The coil is connected in series with a resistor or bulb, and the combination is
connected to the A.C. power supply.

o The A.C. source should be adjustable to vary the frequency.

2. Frequency Adjustment:

o Start with a low frequency and gradually increase the frequency using the A.C.
power supply.

3. Measurement:

o Measure the voltage across the coil and the current flowing through the circuit using
a voltmeter and an ammeter, respectively.

o Record the data for various frequencies.

4. Variation of Resistance (Optional):

o If using a resistor instead of a bulb, use a rheostat to vary the resistance and observe
how it affects the current.

6. Observations and Results

For different frequencies, the following observations are typically noted:

 At Low Frequencies:
The inductive reactance XLX_L is low, and the current through the circuit is relatively high.
The coil has little effect on the current at low frequencies.

 At High Frequencies:
The inductive reactance XLX_L increases, causing the current to decrease. At very high
frequencies, the coil offers significant opposition to current flow, and the current drops
noticeably.

Sample Data Table:

Frequency (Hz) Voltage (V) Current (I) Impedance (Z) Inductive Reactance (X_L)

50 10 0.2 50 62.83

100 10 0.1 100 125.66

200 10 0.05 200 251.33

7. Analysis of Results

From the observed data, the following points can be concluded:

 Effect of Frequency on Current:

As the frequency increases, the inductive reactance increases, causing the total impedance
of the circuit to rise. This leads to a decrease in current, confirming the relationship between
frequency and the coil’s opposition to current.

 Impedance and Self-Inductance:

The impedance of the circuit depends on both the resistance of the load and the inductive
reactance. The higher the inductance of the coil, the more significant the change in
impedance with frequency.
8. Conclusion

This experiment successfully demonstrates the effect of frequency on the self-inductance of a coil in
an A.C. circuit. As the frequency increases, the inductive reactance of the coil increases, which leads
to a higher impedance and a reduction in current. This behavior is a direct result of the coil's self-
inductance, which opposes changes in current. The results confirm the theoretical predictions,
providing insight into how inductance affects A.C. circuits. This knowledge is critical for designing
circuits involving inductive components, such as transformers and filters.

9. Bibliography

1. “Fundamentals of Electric Circuits” by Alexander and Sadiku. 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2017.

2. “Introduction to Electrodynamics” by David J. Griffiths. 4th Edition, Pearson, 2013.

3. Online Source:
Physics Classroom (www.physicsclassroom.com) - Accessed on November 2024.

Note: The project must be written on double-sided ruled punched papers and placed in a hardcover
thread file. The cover should be white chart paper with a transparent cellophane sheet, as per the
given instructions.
To study how the self-inductance of a coil depends on various factors, you can set up an experiment
where the coil is placed in series with a resistor or a bulb in a circuit powered by an alternating
current (A.C.) source of adjustable frequency. Here's a step-by-step outline of how the experiment
can be conducted and the factors that will affect the self-inductance of the coil:

Equipment Required:

 Coil with adjustable inductance (or coils of different inductances)

 A.C. power supply with adjustable frequency

 Resistor (or a light bulb as the load)

 Ammeter to measure current

 Voltmeter to measure voltage across the coil or resistor/bulb

 Rheostat to adjust the resistance (if using a resistor)

 Oscilloscope (optional, for detailed analysis of the current and voltage waveforms)

 Frequency counter or a means to measure the A.C. supply frequency

Experimental Setup:

1. Connect the Coil in Series with the Resistor (or Bulb):

o Connect the coil in series with a resistor or bulb. The A.C. source should be
connected in such a way that the current flows through both the coil and the load.

2. Adjust the Frequency of the A.C. Source:

o Set the frequency of the A.C. source to a known value. You will vary this frequency
during the experiment to study the effect on the self-inductance.

3. Measurement of Current and Voltage:

o Measure the current flowing through the circuit using an ammeter.

o Measure the voltage drop across the coil or resistor/bulb using a voltmeter.

4. Adjust the Resistance (Optional):

o If using a resistor, adjust the resistance (using a rheostat) to see how the current and
voltage changes for different resistances.
Theory Behind the Experiment:

The behavior of a coil in an A.C. circuit is influenced by its self-inductance (L). The self-inductance
determines the coil's opposition to the change in current (known as inductive reactance). This
opposition depends on the frequency of the A.C. signal and the properties of the coil.

1. Inductive Reactance (X_L): The inductive reactance of the coil is given by the formula:

XL=2πfLX_L = 2\pi f L

Where:

o XLX_L is the inductive reactance,

o ff is the frequency of the A.C. source,

o LL is the inductance of the coil.

2. Impedance in the Circuit: In an A.C. circuit with both a resistor (R) and an inductor (L) in
series, the total impedance ZZ is given by:

Z=R2+XL2Z = \sqrt{R^2 + X_L^2}

Where RR is the resistance and XLX_L is the inductive reactance.

3. Current in the Circuit: Using Ohm's Law for A.C. circuits, the current II is given by:

I=VZI = \frac{V}{Z}

Where VV is the supply voltage and ZZ is the impedance of the circuit.

Effect of Frequency on Current:

As you vary the frequency of the A.C. source, the inductive reactance XLX_L changes, which affects
the total impedance ZZ of the circuit. Since ZZ is related to the current, the current flowing through
the circuit will change as well.

1. At Low Frequencies:

o At low frequencies, the inductive reactance XLX_L is small, so the impedance is

dominated by the resistance. The current is relatively high, and the effect of the
inductor is minimal.

2. At High Frequencies:

o At higher frequencies, the inductive reactance XLX_L increases, causing the

impedance to rise and the current to decrease. The coil opposes the change in
current more strongly, and this is more noticeable at high frequencies.

Factors Affecting Self-Inductance:

Through this experiment, you can observe how the self-inductance of the coil affects the circuit
behavior. The main factors that affect the self-inductance of a coil include:

1. Number of Turns (N):

o The self-inductance of a coil increases with the number of turns. More turns result in
a stronger magnetic field and a higher inductance.
2. Core Material:

o If the coil has a ferromagnetic core (like iron), the inductance will be higher than if
the coil has an air core, because the magnetic permeability of the core material
influences inductance.

3. Coil Dimensions:

o The inductance depends on the size and shape of the coil. For example, coils with
larger diameters or longer lengths tend to have higher inductance.

4. Frequency of the A.C. Source:

o The inductive reactance increases with frequency, which will affect the current in the
circuit. The self-inductance itself is not directly frequency-dependent, but its effects
are more pronounced at higher frequencies.

Observations:

 Current vs Frequency Plot: By plotting the current as a function of frequency, you will
observe that as the frequency increases, the current decreases due to the increasing
reactance.

 Voltage Drop: The voltage drop across the coil increases at higher frequencies due to the
increasing reactance.

Conclusion:

Through this experiment, you will be able to confirm that the self-inductance of the coil affects the
impedance of the circuit, which in turn affects the current. You will also observe the dependence of
the coil's behavior on frequency and the impact of coil properties such as the number of turns and
the core material.