D3000 Electromagnetic Devices-1

Laboratory Manual Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Inductive Reactance

Objectives of
this Chapter
Having completed this chapter you will be able to:
! Determine the impedance and inductance of a coil.
! Observe the effect of core materials on coil inductance.
! Identify the relationship between inductance and coil
turns.
! Observe the effect of frequency on coil reactance.
! Demonstrate the relationship between impedance,
reactance and resistance.
! Relate reactance and back EMF.

Equipment
Required for
this Chapter
• Circuit #1 of D3000 - 1.4 Electromagnetic Devices-1 Module.
• Signal Generator.
• Two multimeters.
• Shorting links and connecting leads.

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Impedance

Impedance is the opposition to a flow of alternating current presented by an

electrical circuit to a source of EMF, and is given by the formula:

Z = VRMS
IRMS

Impedance consists of two components, resistance and reactance. The resistance

of a circuit is the same for both direct and alternating voltages, but reactance
applies only to AC and relates to capacitors and inductors (coils).

The difference in phase between the current and the voltage in an AC circuit
results from the complex nature of the relationship between impedance (Z),
resistance (R) and reactance (X).

Z= R 2 + X2

This relationship was discussed in detail in the D3000 AC Circuits-1 Laboratory

Manual 1.21.

In the case of an inductor, the impedance of the coil will depend on both the
resistance of the coil, and its reactance. However, in many situations the resistance
of a coil is much smaller than the coil’s reactance and so can be ignored. The
impedance and reactance will then be approximately equal.

The resistance of coil L1, for example, is approximately 25-30Ω. Providing the
coil’s reactance under given conditions is much greater than this value of
resistance, then the impedance of the coil is approximately equal to the coil’s
reactance.

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Inductance of a Coil

We know that when the current changes in a coil a back EMF is induced, and, by
Lenz's Law this will tend to oppose the action that causes it. If the varying, or
alternating, current is due to an alternating supply voltage, then the back EMF will
oppose and equal the supply voltage.

It was noted in the previous chapter that the back EMF varied with the rate of
change of flux.
Φ dΦ
EMF = N or e=N
t dt
EMF being the average value and e being the instantaneous value.

It has also been shown that the flux φ is directly proportional to the current I. So
the induced EMF must be proportional to the rate of change of current I. A new
constant is necessary to turn this into an equation, and this constant, which was
briefly met in Chapter 3, has the symbol L (unit of the henry - H) and is self-
inductance, or more simply the inductance of the coil.
I di
EMF = L or e=L
t dt

Definition
If a current changing at a rate of 1 amp/sec induces an EMF of 1V then the
inductance of the circuit or component is one henry.

Reactance XL
The formula evolved above relates the current to the voltage under any conditions
of waveform. Reactance, as established in studies of earlier modules, gives the
opposition presented by a coil (or a capacitor) to a flow of alternating current when
a sinusoidal (or sine waveform) voltage is applied. When related to coils, the back
EMF provides this opposition to the current.

Providing a coil’s resistance is sufficiently small to be ignored under normal

conditions, then the reactance of the coil can be calculated from the formula:

VRMS
XL =
IRMS

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Exercise 4.1 Reactance

" Set up the signal generator to produce a 1kHz sinewave.
" Set multimeter 1 to measure AC current.
" Connect the signal generator output to L1 via multimeter 1 by plugging the
connecting leads to sockets 1.2 and 1.4, and a shorting link between sockets
1.5 & 1.7 (as shown in Fig 4.1).

CIRCUIT #1 - INDUCTOR AND

TRANSFORMER

1.2 1.3 MAGNET

Black

1.1

multimeter 1 1.4
BRASS
Green

STEEL

A S.G.
Red

12V
FERRITE
Blue
1.5

IRON
1.8 White
1.6 1.7
CORE MATERIALS

G C
F

A
B H

D L1 L2 L3
1000T 250T 750T
1.9 1.10 1.13 1.16

VDR1 1.11 1.12 1.14 1.15

V SET
ZERO
O/P

multimeter 2
LINEAR HALL EFFECT PROBE

Fig 4.1

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" Fit a ferrite core in L1.

" Set multimeter 2 to measure AC voltage and connect it across L1, as shown
in Fig 4.1.

" Adjust the amplitude control of the signal generator to give 2V across L1, as
indicated by multimeter 2.

" Read the current in L1 from multimeter 1.

Current in L1 = mA at 1kHz

Calculate the impedance of L1; Z = VRMS Ω at 1kHz

IRMS

4.1a Enter the value of the impedance of L1 at 1kHz.

Note that at this frequency, the impedance is much larger than the coil’s resistance
(approximately 25-30Ω). This means that the measured impedance is
approximately equal to the coil’s reactance, XL.

From earlier studies you should recall the formula for the reactance of an inductor:
XL
XL = 2πfL from which L=
2 πf
XL XL
In this case it is henry or mH.
6283 6.283

Use this formula to calculate the value of the inductor (in millihenries), and record
this value below.

L1 = mH at 1kHz

4.1b Enter the value of inductor L1 in millihenries (mH).

" Leave the circuit connections as they are for Exercise 4.2.

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Exercise 4.2 Effect of Core Material on Inductance

This Exercise should only be attempted following Exercise 4.1.

" Enter the details for the ferrite core obtained in Exercise 4.1, in the first row
of Table 4.1 opposite.

The steps given in the previous Exercise should be repeated for each of the core
materials, including air (no core).

The connections and procedure are the same as in the previous Exercise.

" Connect the signal generator output to L1 via multimeter 1, by plugging the
connecting leads into sockets 1.2 and 1.4, and a shorting link between
sockets 1.5 & 1.7 (as shown in Fig 4.1).

" Set multimeter 2 to measure AC voltage and connect it across L1 as before.

" Remove the ferrite core from the coil.

" Re-adjust the signal generator output to give 2V across L1, as indicated on
multimeter 2. This re-adjustment will be necessary each time a different core
is fitted.

The reason for this re-adjustment is that the output of the signal generator is not
stabilized, so that every time you change the load it will affect the output voltage.

" Note the value of the current in L1 and record this in Table 4.1.

" Calculate the impedance as before, assuming once again that the measured
impedance is approximately equal to the coil’s reactance. Record in Table
4.1 the calculated values of reactance and inductance.

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Core
Current mA Reactance Ω Inductance mH
Material
FERRITE

AIR

BRASS

STEEL

IRON
Table 4.1

" Repeat all of the steps above for each of the other core materials in turn.
Calculate the impedance (reactance) and inductance in each case, and record
the results in Table 4.1 above.

" Enter the following information from your table:

4.2a Enter the value of the reactance (in Ω) with a Brass core.

4.2b Enter the value of the inductance (in mH) with an Air core.

4.2c Which of the following core materials produces the lowest inductance?
a Ferrite b Brass c Steel d Iron

4.2d Which of the following core materials produces the highest inductance?
a Ferrite b Brass c Steel d Iron

You should be able to see from your results that each of the core materials
produces a different current through the coil and hence a different inductance.

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Physical Factors Affecting Inductance

Earlier studies have established the relationships

Φ
EMF = N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i)
t

and B = µH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ii)

Φ NI
where µ = µo x µr, B = and H=
a l

If we bring these facts together it is possible to deduce what decides the

value of the inductance of a particular coil.

First substitute for B and H in expression (ii) above:

Φ NI
= µx
a l

µaNI µaN
Therefore Φ = or xI
l l

Φ µaN I
becomes x
t l t

Now this can be substituted into expression (i)

µaN I
EMF = N x x or,
l t

µaN 2 I
EMF = x
l t

µaN 2 µ o µ r aN 2
and L = or L=
l l

The inductance of a given coil therefore depends

on the:

relative permeability of the core material µr

permeability of free space µo
area of the core a
square of the number of turns N2
length of the magnetic path l

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Exercise 4.3 Effect of the Number of Turns on Inductance

This exercise is similar to the previous two, but since it starts by using L2 and then
links L3 in series, the connections will need to be made using connecting leads
instead of shorting links.

1.4 A
multimeter 1

L2
. . 1.13

1.11 1.12
multimeter 2
1.5 V
Fig 4.2

" Set up the signal generator to produce a 1kHz sinewave.

" Connect the signal generator output to L2 via multimeter 1, set to read AC
current, by plugging the connecting leads into sockets 1.4 and 1.13. Insert a
connecting lead between sockets 1.5 and 1.11.

" Fit a ferrite core into L2/3.

" Connect multimeter 2 on AC voltage range with the connecting leads to

socket 1.12 and any convenient ground socket (such as the Hall Effect probe
output ground terminal). All of these ground connections are linked
internally.

" Adjust the amplitude control of the signal generator to give 1V across L2, as
indicated on multimeter 2.

" Note the value of the current in L2 and record this value in Table 4.2.

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Number
Current mA Reactance Ω Inductance mH
of Turns
250

1000
Table 4.2

" Transfer the leads from 1.13 to 1.16 and 1.12 to 1.15.

" Fit a shorting link between sockets 1.12 & 1.14.

1.4 A multimeter 1

L2 L3
1.13
. . 1.16

1.11 1.12 1.14 1.15

multimeter 2
1.5 V

Fig 4.3

" Repeat the above procedures for the 1000 turn coil L2/3, setting the voltage
to 1V first and then measuring the current. Enter the value of the current in
Table 4.2 above.

" Calculate the value of impedance for each row of the table. Assuming that
the measured impedance is approximately equal to the coil’s reactance,
record in Table 4.2, the reactance and inductance for each case.

Notice how the inductance values are affected by the number of coil turns.

4.3a Enter the value of inductance for the 1000 turn coil L2/3.

A little earlier it was shown that the inductance is directly proportional to the
square of the number of turns. This exercise involved increasing the number of
turns to four2 times the former value. This should have increased the inductance by
a factor of 4 or sixteen times its initial value.

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4.3b Multiply your value of inductance for the 250 turn coil L2 by 16 and enter
your result.

Compare the two figures that you have just recorded.

4.3c From your results, what value of inductance would the 750 turn coil with a
ferrite core have?
1
a the 1000 turn coil’s value. b 3 times the 250 turn coil’s value.
3
1
c the 1000 turn coil’s value. d 9 times the 250 turn coil’s value.
2

Notes:

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Effect of Frequency

The value of the back EMF is directly proportional to the rate-of-change of

current. If there are twice as many cycles in one second (if the frequency is
doubled) then the rate-of-change of current at any point in the cycle is doubled
because the time taken for one cycle is halved.

f = 100Hz

f = 200Hz

t1 t2
= 2t1
Fig 4.4

I = 2 x I or di = 2 x di
t1 t2 dt1 dt2

The induced EMF will be twice as much for a given amplitude of current.
Alternatively, since the back EMF cannot exceed the value of the applied voltage,
the current must vary in amplitude so that the rate of change of current can be the
same for a given value of voltage.

This means that the current must decrease as the frequency of the supply voltage
increases. Remember that the impedance is directly proportional to the supply
frequency, which we know to be true from the formula:

XL = 2πfL

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Exercise 4.4 Effect of Frequency on Coil Impedance

The readings to be taken are again of a similar nature to the previous experiments,
relating the current that flows to the applied voltage, but this time as the frequency
of the supply is varied.

" Set up the signal generator to produce a 500Hz sinewave.

" Fit a ferrite core into coil L1.

1.4 A 1.2
multimeter 1

1.9 L1 1.10
. .
multimeter 2
V

1.5 1.7
Fig 4.5

" Connect the signal generator output to L1 via multimeter 1, set to AC current
range, by plugging the connecting leads into sockets 1.2 & 1.4 and a shorting
link between sockets 1.5 & 1.7.

" Connect multimeter 2 on AC voltage range across L1 with the connecting

leads to sockets 1.9 and 1.10.

" Set the amplitude control of the signal generator to produce 1V across L1.

" Take readings of current with the signal generator set to each of the
frequencies given, recording your results in Table 4.3.

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Frequency Current Reactance

500 Hz
mA Ω
1000 Hz
mA Ω
1500 Hz
mA Ω
2000 Hz
mA Ω
2500 Hz
mA Ω
3000 Hz
mA Ω
Table 4.3

" Calculate the value of the impedance for each step and record the result in
Table 4.3 under the heading ‘Reactance’. Note that this once again assumes
that the reactance of the coil is much larger than its resistance. As we shall
see later, at lower frequencies this will not always be the case.

" Plot the graph of reactance/frequency on the axes provided:

1000

900

800

700

600

Inductive 500
Reactance
Ω 400

300

200

100

500 1k 1.5k 2k 2.5k 3k

Frequency (Hz)

Graph 4.1 Reactance/frequency characteristic

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4.4a Enter the reactance in Ω at a frequency of 1.5kHz.

Using the values of reactance and frequency in the previous question, calculate the
inductance of the coil in mH.

Inductance of the coil = mH

4.4b Enter the inductance of the coil.

From your results you should notice that the impedance increases in proportion to
the frequency, thereby proving the formula XL = 2πfL. Using your results you can
calculate the inductance over the whole frequency range and note the effect on it.

4.4c Using your results, determine which of the following statements is true. As the
frequency increases:
a the current increases and the inductance decreases.
b the current and the inductance both decrease.
c the current decreases and the inductance stays the same.
d the current and the inductance both increase.

Effect of the Resistance of the Coil on the Impedance at Low Frequencies

The reactance of the inductor increases linearly with frequency, with the resistance
of the coil having little (if any) effect. This implies that at low frequencies the
reactance of the coil will be low, and the resistance of the coil will be significant.
You may recall that the coil's resistance is of the order of 25-30Ω.

Using the formula XL = 2πfL we can find the reactance of the coil XL at a
frequency of 100Hz. If we take, for example, the inductance of the coil L as 45mH
then this reactance will be:

XL = 2 x π x 100 x 45 x 10-3 = 28Ω

This would make the resistance of the coil significant.

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