ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Electrical Circuits 2 Manual

ACTIVITY 2A:

IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS:

2.1. SERIES RL CIRCUITS

2A.1 Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Activity

b. ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
d. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
e. ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
g. ability to communicate effectively

a. ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve engineering problems Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: a, b,
c, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.5" +
ability to design and conduct fieldworks, as well as to analyse and interpret data Indent at: 0.75"
b. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams

2A.2 Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this activity, the student shall be able to:
a. measure properly the voltage and current in a series RL circuit.identify Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: a, b,
c, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.5" +
b. calculate the voltage and current in a series RL circuit. Indent at: 0.75"
c. eEvaluate results by comparing measured and calculated values. Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Formatted: Font: Not Bold
2A.3 Objectives of the Activity Formatted: Font: Not Bold
The objectives of this activity are to: Formatted: Font: Not Bold

1. To determine the characteristics of series RL circuits using calculated Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2,
3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.5" +
1. and measured values. Indent at: 0.75", Tab stops: Not at 0.5"

2. To verify the results with the oscilloscope.

2A.4 Principle of the Activity

Many RL circuits contain multiple resistors and inductors that are in series. The total
inductive reactance of a circuit is determined in much the same way as total circuit
resistance. When inductors are in series, the total inductive reactance (XLT) is the sum of
the individual reactances.
XLT = XL1 + XL2 + XL3 + …
The total inductive reactance increases as the number of inductors in series
increases. The result is lower circuit and higher circuit impedance. As in circuits with
resistors only, the current flowing through each component in a series RL circuit is the
same. Figure 2.1-1 shows a series RL circuit.

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

 Figure 2.1-1
Circuit impedance (Z) is the square root of the sum of the squares of the total
resistance (RT) and the total inductive resistance (XLT). For the circuit in Figure 2.1-1, Z is
determined as follows.

RT = 1, 700 Ω XLT = 2, 500 Ω

Z= √(𝑅 𝑇 2 + 𝑋𝐿𝑇2 ) Formatted: Centered

Z= √(17002 + 25002 )
Z= √(9, 140, 000)
Z= 3, 023 Ω

To applied voltage (Vac), Z, and Ohm’s law is then used to determine the circuit
current.
I-T = V-ac/Z
I-T = 8/3023
I-T = 0.00265 mApk-pk (2.65 mApk-pk)

Voltage drops across individual components are determined from the circuit
current, Ohm’s law, and the resistance or reactance of the individual component. For
example, the voltage drop across L1 (VL1) in Figure 2.1-1 is as shown.

VL1 = I x XL1
VL1 = 0.00265 x 1000
VL1 = 2.65 Vpk-pk

In circuits with resistors only, the sum of the voltage drop across each resistor
equals the applied voltage. In RL circuits, however, the applied voltage does not equal the
sum of the voltage drops, but the square root of the sum of the squares of the voltage drops.
For the circuit in Figure 2.1-1, Vac is determined by the following formula.

Vac = √(𝑉𝑅𝑇2 + 𝑉𝑋𝐿𝑇 2 )𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠

Figure 2.1-2 shows this relationship in a phasor diagram. If the voltage drops in the
circuit in Figure 2.1-1 were added together, the sum would be greater than the applied
voltage (Vac).

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

 Figure 2.1-2

12A.5 Materials/Equipment

1- F. A. C. E. T. Base Unit
1- AC 1 FNDAMENTALS Circuit Board
2- 15 Vdc Power supply
1- Oscilloscope, dual trace
1- Multimeter
1- Generator, sine wave 1- F. A. C. E. T. Base Unit
12A.6 Circuit Diagrams / Figures / Source Codes (if Applicable)

Figure 1. Title
12A.7 Procedure/s
1. Turn off the power sources. Insert the AC 1 FUNDAMENTALS circuit board into the
base unit. Install the GENRATOR BUFFER if required. Turn on the power sources.

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

 2. On the INDUCTANCE/ INDUCTIVE REACTANCE circuit block, connect the circuit
shown in Figure 2.1-3. Adjust the VGEN for a 10Vpk-pk, 20 kHz sine wave. What type of
circuit is shown in Figure 2.1-3? ___________________________.
3. Measure the voltage drops across R1 (VR1) and L3 (VL3). Record your results in Table
2.1-1.
NOTE: Use the ADD-INVERT method to measure the voltage drop across Rr
VR1 VL3 VGEN VR1 +
√(V𝑅1 2 + VR1 + VL3 2 )
VL

Table 2.1-1
4. Add VR1 and VL3’ and record your results in Table 2.1-1. Does the sum of the voltage
drops equal the amplitude of the applied voltage (VGEN = VR1 and VL3)?
5. Determine the square root of the sum of the squares of VR1 and VL3. Record your result
in table 2.1-3. Does this result equal the applied voltage of VR1 and VL3 [VGEN = Ö(VR12 +
VL32)]?
NOTE: Your result will not be exact. It will differ slightly due to the resistance of L3 and
typical measurement errors. _______________________________________________.

6. Measure circuit current by using current-sensing resistor R2. Record your result in the
Table 2.1-2. (Be sure to remove the two post connectors shorting R2 only when taking-the
current measurement. Replace the two-post connector after measurement.)

SERIES RL CIRCUIT WITH SERIES RL CIRCUIT WITH

SINGLE INDUCTOR (L3) 2 INDUCTORS (L1 AND L2)
I
Z

7. Determine the value of Z from VGEN and IT[Z=VGEN / IT (measured)]. Record your
result in Table 2.1-2.
8. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 2.1-4 to essentially add an introductor in series.
Adjust VGEN if necessary, for a 10 Vpk-pk’ 20 kHz sine wave.
9. Calculate and XLT’ RT’ and Z(XLT’=XL1+XL2’ RT = R1’ Z = √(RT2 + XLT2).

NOTE: Because there are no other resistors in the circuit and because we are ignoring
coil resistance, RT=Rr
XLT=________ RT=________Ω, Z=________Ω
10. Calculate and record circuit current (I = VGEN / Z). I = ______A

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

 11. Measure IT, and record your result in Table 2.1-2. Did the added series inductor
increase or decrease the circuit current?
IT = ________ A , ________
12. Determine the measured value of Z [Z (measured) = VGEN/ I (measured)]. Record
your result in Table 2.1-2. Did the added series inductor increase or decrease circiut
impedance?
Z=________ Ω , ________
13. Turn off the power sources and remove all circuit board connections.
PROCEDURE A:

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. An RL circuit containing three series inductors with reactances of 500Ω, 1000Ω, and 21,000Ω
has a total inductive reactance of

a. 288Ω.

b. 3600Ω.

c. 3400Ω.

d. 500Ω.

2. As inductors are in series,

a. circuit current increases.

b. circuit impedance decreases.

c. circuit current decreases.

d. total inductive reactance decreases.

3. The total inductive reactance of inductors in series is..

a. the sum of individual reactances.

b. determines from the reciprocal formula.

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

 c. the sum of the individual inductances.

d. the reciprocal of the individual inductances.

4. What is the total inductive reactance of the circuit in Figure 2.1-5?

a. 2.2Ω. c. 327Ω.

b. 3.6Ω. d. 10.2Ω.

5. If another inductor were added in series to the circuit in Figure 2.1-5, the..

a. circuit current would increase.

b. circuit impedance would increase.

c. total inductance would decrease.

d. circuit impedance would decrease.

1. The controls that adjust frequency on an ac waveform generator are the frequency and

Section: Date Performed:

Course Code: Date Submitted:
Course Title:
Instructor:
Group No.: Activity No.:

Group Members: Signature:

1. Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2,
3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" +
2. Indent at: 0.5", Tab stops: Not at 0.5"

3.
4.
5.

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

12A.8.1 Data and Results

12A.8.2 Calculations

12A.8.3 Observations (if applicable)

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS

12A.8.4 Conclusion/s

6.2A.8.5 Rating (See Attached Rubric)

ACTIVITY 1: FAMILIARIZATION WITH AC INSTRUMENTS 2: IMPEDANCE OF RL CIRCUITS