APPLIED PHYSICS LAB

GROUP ASSIGNMENT # 2

Submitted to:
Sir Adnan Ashraf
Submitted By:
Muhammad Wamiq Sohail
Ali Haider
Shaheer Ul Haq
Zain Ul Abideen

Department:
Avionics (AVE-03)

Institute Of Space Technology,

Islamabad.
Q. Deduce the Value Curie Temperature by creation a
function in MATLAB & Provide with Error as well.
Introduction:
Curie temperature, also called the Curie point, is the
temperature at which certain magnetic materials
undergo a sharp change in their magnetic properties. 
Apparatus:
Following is the apparatus used in this experiment: -
 AC Mains
 Circuit Breaker
 Clamp Meter
 Ceramic Insulators
 Control Box
 Kanthal Wire
 Magnet
 Variac
 Stopwatch
Experiment:
Following are the steps being used in this process:
 Check Zero Error of both voltmeter & ammeter.
  Now set the apparatus.
 Set the regulator on the variac to minimum output
voltage, zero.
 Press start Button.
 Slowly increase output voltage to 15 V. Also check
the Current using Ammeter. If the readings are
shown, you can start the experiment.
Measurement Of Curie Temperature:
 Set the output to 20-25 V and press start button.
 Measure the current and the time until the wire is
detached from the magnet by stopwatch.
 When the wire snaps. Stop the stopwatch and note
the values.
 After this, switch off the main supply.
Calculations:
The Electrical Energy can be found by the formula
E=VIt
And the formula to find Curie Temperature is
T c=
√
4 Er
σst ∊
−T r

Where ∊ is 0.7 and σ is Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.675

*10^-8) and s is the surface area of heating element.
Results:
FUNCTION CREATED:

SOLUTIONS:
Questions/Answers:

Q1: What is coercivity?

Ans: For ferromagnetic material the coercivity is the
intensity of the applied magnetic field required to
reduce the magnetization of that material to zero
after the magnetization of the sample has been
reached to saturation.

Q2: Which material has more coercivity; Soft iron or

steel?
Ans: Steel has more coercivity as it’s a hard metal.

Q3: Why we use AC in our household usage?

Ans: We use AC due to its less power loss and its ability
to be stepped down and step up the voltage for
different household appliances by using
transformers, which DC cannot do. It can also be
transferred to long distances with less power loss.

Q4: How does the clamp meter work will it work for DC?
Ans: Ordinary clamp meters used to measure AC currents
work on the principle of electromagnetic induction
caused by the alternating current flowing in the
conductor which reverses direction causing a
dynamically changing magnetic field. However, in DC
conductors, the current flows in a fixed polarity.
Consequently, the magnetic field around the
conductor is fixed and does not change. Hence, a
conventional clamp meter will register no reading.
But a special modified one does.

Q5: What is the difference a circuit breaker and a fuse?

Ans: As is clear from the two pictures there are two
major differences between the two, fuse is an
analogue system and circuit breaker is a digital
system which can be used multi times, a fuse
employs a wire with low resistivity value it melts
over a specific temperature when large current
passes through, value of current depends on wire’s
resistivity, this wire being melt breaks the circuit and
stops the current from flowing through, and hence
need to be replaced after it melts. And a circuit
breaker uses magnetism it automatically shuts the
 power supply when large amount of current passes
through, it need not to be reinstalled like a fuse but
just the button is turned up. This is the basic
difference.
Q6: What is the function of earth wire? Draw a simple
diagram to describe your reasoning?
Ans: The earth wire is a crucial part of the home
electrical system and is designed to protect against
electric shock. If faults occur in the electrical system,
the electricity will flow to earth by the shortest and
easiest path.

Q: 12 what is the role of the magnetic contractor in a

circuit?
Ans:These are one of the Basic Switching Element in the
High Power Electrical circuits, in which through small
current (or power), Higher Current (or power) can be
controlled. From two Basic switching elements (i.e.
like push button or on/off switch) Magnetic
contactor work in a place where the later one is
required.