PHYS 394 - Inductor Lab (Omkar and Jessica)

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School

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign *

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Course

394

Subject

Electrical Engineering

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

pdf

Pages

4

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Inductor Lab Report Introduction Inductors are electronic components that store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them. They are used in electrical circuits for various purposes such as filtering, energy storage, and power supply regulation. In this lab, the aim was to investigate the role of inductors in circuits and calculate the time constant of an RL circuit. Fig. 1. Current curve over time, measured through the high-gain sensor
Methods An RL circuit was constructed on a breadboard using a resistor and an inductor. The resistance of the circuit was measured using a multimeter, and the time constant of the circuit was observed as it charges and discharges. The time constant was approximated when the voltage went up to around 63.2% or down to approximately 36.8%. These steps were repeated with different resistances, and the behavior of the circuit over time was recorded. Finally, the inductance of the inductor was calculated using a graph of the time constant data. Results As the circuit charges, the voltage across the inductor increases while the voltage across the resistor decreases. Similarly, as the circuit discharges, the voltage across the inductor decreases while the voltage across the resistor increases. This behavior is consistent with the theory of inductors, which states that inductors resist changes in current. As shown in Fig. 1 , the component The following table shows the time constant data for each resistance: Resistance (ohms) Time Constant (seconds) 50 ~.1 100 ~.2 150 ~.3 200 ~.4 250 ~.5
Using the above data, the inductance of the inductor was calculated to be approximately 0.1 H. Discussion The results of the experiment confirm the behavior of inductors in circuits. As expected, the inductor resisted changes in current, resulting in a voltage drop across the resistor. The time constant of the circuit increased with increasing resistance, which is consistent with the formula for the time constant, tau = L/R. The inductance of the inductor was determined using the time constant data. This method can be used to calculate the inductance of an unknown inductor in a circuit. Conclusion In conclusion, this lab provided a practical demonstration of the function of inductors in circuits and how to calculate the time constant and inductance of an RL circuit. The results confirmed the behavior of inductors, and the calculated inductance value of approximately 0.1 H can be used in various electronic circuits and systems. This calculated value also approximately aligns with the number listed on the inductor.
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Lab Activity Feedback Form Names of Reviewers: Omkar and Jessica 1. What were some things you liked about the content of this group’s lab activity? We liked how they were able to create a fairly well thought out lab while also making the circuit fairly simple to create. This was helpful given that the report required a good amount of detail so this made it more streamlined and feasible to complete in the given time. 2. Comment on the clarity of the group’s instructions for completing the lab. I believe that the instructions were clear but also partly vague. However, we understood the reason behind why it was somewhat vague is because it was up to us to come up with our own approach on how to tackle the task. 3. Comment on the alignment of the learning goals and rubrics with the activity? It aligned well, we took something away from doing the lab and the rubrics were specific and matched up well with what was expected from the lab. 4. If the group was going to revise its activity, what suggestions would you provide? We would suggest providing guidelines for values, because there was trouble finding the right values to get accurate graphs. For some values outside those that we used, the graphs shot up out of range, or other problems occurred.