MAHATMA GLOBAL GATEWAY

PHYSICS PROJECT FILE

2022-2023

SELF INDUCTANCE OF A COIL

REPORTED BY: G.M.ASHMITHA

ROLL NO :
CLASS 12 –SCIENCE

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 INDEX

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVE
ACTIVITY
 OBJECTIVE
 THEORY
 MATERIALS REQUIRED
 PROCEDURE
 OBSERVATION
 RESULT
 PRECAUTION
 SOURCE OF ERROR
 REFERENCE

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 ABSTRACT
To Study the Factor on which the Self Inductance of a
coil depends by observing the effect of this coil, when put in a
series with a resistor in a circuit fed up on AC source of
adjustable frequency.

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 INTRODUCTION

In electromagnetism and electronics, inductance is

the property of an electrical conductor by which a change in
current through it induces an electromotive force in both the
conductor itself and in any nearby conductors by mutual
inductance.
These effects are derived from two fundamental
observations of physics: a steady current creates a steady
magnetic field described by Oersted’s law, and a time-varying
magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) in
nearby conductors, which is described by Faraday’s law of
induction. According to Lenz’s law a changing electric
current through a circuit that contains inductance induces a
proportional voltage, which opposes the change in current
(self-inductance). The varying field in this circuit may also
induce an EMF in neighboring circuits (mutual inductance).

ACTIVITY
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Objective:
To study the factor on which the self inductance of a coil
depends by observing the effect of this coil, when put in series
with a resistor (bulb) in a circuit fed up by an A.C. source of
adjustable frequency.
Theory:
Self inductance is the property of a coil which opposes
the change in current through it. The self inductance of a coil
(long solenoid) is
L =( μ_0 μ_r N2 A)/l
where µr = Relative magnetic permeability of magnetic
material, µr =μ/μ_0
N =Total number of turns in solenoid
A = Area of cross-section of solenoid
l = Length of solenoid
Hence, the self inductance depends upon
No. of turns in solenoid
Geometry of coil, L A , L 1/l
Nature of core material, L µ
When an inductor is connected in series with a resistor (bulb)
with a variable source of frequency , then current flowing in
the bulb is
Irms = E_rms/Z
where Z =√(R2 )+ ω2 L2 = Impedance of the a.c. circuit
where Z =√(R2 )+ ω2 L2 = Impedance of the a.c. circuit

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Here R = Resistance of bulb
L = Self inductance of coil
ω = 2πf = Angular frequency of a.c. source.
The brightness of bulb i.e., Heat generated in bulb is
H = I_rme2 Zt
P = H/t = Irms2 Zt
P = Irms2 √R2 + ω2 L2

Materials Required:
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A coil of large turns
a.c. source of adjustable frequency
an electrical bulb
(6V) a.c. ammeter of suitable range rheostat
a soft iron rod
one way key
connecting wires etc.

Circuit Diagram:

Procedure:
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• Make all connections as shown in circuit diagram.
• Switch on the A.C. supply and adjust the constant current in
the circuit by using the variable resistor (R1) (let frequency of
source is 60 Hz and voltage is 6V).
• Record the current in A.C. ammeter and see the brightness
of bulb.
• Now, put the soft iron rod inside the inductor core and
record the current in A.C. ammeter and again check the
brightness of bulb. The current and brightness both decreases.
• Now, switch off the supply and decrease the frequency of
A.C. source (say 50 Hz).
• Again switch on the supply and adjust the current in circuit
at same constant voltage 6V by using the rheostat. Note the
current in ammeter and brightness of bulb. The current and
brightness both will increases.
• Again insert the iron in the core of coil and note the current
and brightness. The current and brightness both decreases.
• Repeat the steps 5, 6 and 7 for different frequency of A.C.
source(say 40 Hz,30 Hz and 20 Hz).

Observations:
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1. Least count of ammeter = .......... A
2. Zero error of ammeter= ............. A
3. Range of ammeter= ....................A

Result:
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1. The current in the circuit decrease on inserting the iron rod
in the core of coil at constant frequent of applied voltage and
brightness of bulb decrease and vice-versa.
2. The current in the circuit increase on decreasing the
frequency of applied voltage and vice-versa. Therefore, the
brightness of bulb increase.

Precautions:-
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1. The coil should have number of turn.
2. Current should be passed for a small time to avoid the
heating effect.
3. There should not be parallax in taking the reading of
ammeter.
Source of error:-
1. The resistance of circuit mat increase slightly due to
heating effect of current.
2. There may be eddy current in soft iron coil.
In electromagnetism and electronics, inductance is the
property of an electrical conductor by which a change in
current through it induces an electromotive force in both the
conductor itself and in any nearby conductors by mutual
inductance.
These effects are derived from two fundamental observations
of physics: a steady current creates a steady magnetic field
described by Oersted’s law, and a time-varying magnetic field
induces an electromotive force (EMF) in nearby conductors,
which is described by Faraday’s law of induction. According
to Lenz’s law a changing electric current through a circuit that
contains inductance induces a proportional voltage, which
opposes the change in current (self-inductance). The varying
field in this circuit may also induce an EMF in neighboring
circuits (mutual inductance).
The term inductance was coined by Oliver Heaviside in 1886.
It is customary to use the symbol L for inductance, in honors
of the physicist Heinrich Lenz in the SI system, the
measurement unit for inductance is the Henry, with the unit
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symbol H, named in honor of Joseph Henry who discovered
inductance independently of, but not before, Faraday.
Lenz's law named after the physicist Heinrich Lenz who
formulated it in 1834, says:
The direction of current induced in a conductor by a changing
magnetic field due to Faraday’s law of induction will be such
that it will create a field that opposes the change that produced
it.

Lenz's law is shown by the negative sign in Faraday’s law of

induction:-
which indicates that the induced voltage and the change in
magnetic flux have opposite signs. It is a qualitative law that
specifies the direction of induced current but says nothing
about its magnitude. Lenz's Law explains the direction of
many effects in electromagnetism, such as the direction of
voltage induced in an inductor or wire loop by a changing
current, or why eddy currents exert a drag force on moving
objects in a magnetic field.
Lenz's law can be seen as analogous to Newton’s third law in
classic mechanics.

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For a rigorous mathematical treatment, see electromagnetic
induction and Maxwell’s equations.
Inductors do this by generating a self-induced emf within
itself as a result of their changing magnetic field. In an
electrical circuit, when the emf is induced in the same circuit
in which the current is changing this effect is called Self-
induction, ( L ) but it is sometimes commonly called back-emf
as its polarity is in the opposite direction to the applied
voltage.
When the emf is induced into an adjacent component situated
within the same magnetic field, the emf is said to be induced
by -induction, (M) and mutual induction is the basic operating
principal of transformers, motors, relays etc. Self inductance
is a special case of mutual inductance, and because it is
produced within a single isolated circuit we generally call
self-inductance simply, Inductance.
The basic unit of measurement for inductance is called the
Henry, (H) after Joseph Henry, but it also has the units of
Webers per Ampere ( 1 H = 1 Wb/A ).
Lenz’s Law tells us that an induced emf generates a current in
a direction which opposes the change in flux which caused the
emf in the first place, the principal of action and reaction.
Then we can accurately define Inductance as being: “a coil
will have an inductance value of one Henry when an emf of
one volt is induced in the coil were the current flowing
through the said coil changes at a rate of one ampere/second”.
In other words, a coil has an inductance, ( L ) of one Henry,
( 1H ) when the current flowing through it changes at a rate of

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one ampere/second, ( A/s ) inducing a voltage of one volt,
( VL ) in it.
This mathematical representation of the rate of change in
current through a coil per unit time is given as:
di/dt (A/s)
Where: di is the change in the current in Amperes and dt is the
time taken for this current change in seconds. Then the
voltage induced in a coil, ( VL ) with an inductance of L
Henries as a result of this change in current is expressed as:
VL = -L di/dt (V)
Note that the negative sign indicates that voltage induced
opposes the change in current through the coil per unit time
(di/dt).
From the above equation, the inductance of a coil can
therefore be presented as:
Inductance of a Coil
L = VL/(di/dt) = 1volt/(1A/s) = 1Henry
Where: L is the inductance in Henries, VL is the voltage
across the coil and di/dt is the rate of change of current in
Amperes per second, A/s.
Inductance, L is actually a measure of an inductors
“resistance” to the change of the current flowing through the
circuit and the larger is its value in Henries, the lower will be
the rate of current change.
We know from the previous tutorial about the inductor, that
inductors are devices that can store their energy in the form of
a magnetic field. Inductors are made from individual loops of
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wire combined to produce a coil and if the number of loops
within the coil are increased, then for the same amount of
current flowing through the coil, the magnetic flux will also
increase.
So by increasing the number of loops or turns within a coil,
increases the coils inductance. Then the relationship between
self-inductance, ( L ) and the number of turns, ( N ) and for a
simple single layered coil can be given as:
Self Inductance of a Coil
L = Nφ/I
Where:
L is in Henries
N is the Number of Turns
Φ is the Magnetic Flux Linkage
Ι is in Amperes
This expression can also be defined as the flux linkage
divided by the current flowing through each turn. This
equation only applies to linear magnetic materials.

References:

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1.http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/
magnetic-effects-electric-current/force-current-carrying-
conductor.php
2.http://gradestack.com/CBSE-Class-10th-Course/Magnetic-
Effects-of/Force-on-a-Current-/15035-2998-4742-study-wtw
3.http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/
forwir2.html

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