 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.

 MATERIAL REQUIRED.
 A coil of large turns, a.c. source of adjustable
frequency.
 An electric bulb.
 6V a.c. ammeter of suitable range rheostat, a
soft iron rod.
 One way key.
 Connecting wires.

 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 =Relative magnetic

permeability of magnetic material
Where, N= total number of turn in solenoid.
A= area of cross section of solenoid
L= length of solenoid
When an inductor is connected in series with resistor
(bulb) with a variable source of frequency, then
current flowing in the bulb is,
Irms=Erms/Z, where Z= impedence of a.c. circuit.
Here, R= resistance of bulb
L= self inductance of coil
2f= 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 + ω²L²

 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM.
 PROCEDURE.
 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 decreases 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 of coil
and note the current and brightness. The current
and brightness both decreases.
 Repeat the step 5, 6 and 7 for different frequency
of A.C. source (say 40 Hz, 30 Hz and 20 Hz).
  OBSERVATION.
1. Least count of ammeter= .......A
2. Zero error of ammeter= .......A
3. Range of ammeter= .......A
current in ammeter current in ampere
S.No. frequency of
applied voltage
without iron rod in with iron rod in
coil(A) coil(A)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

 RESULT.
1. The current in the circuit decreases 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 increases.

 PRECAUTION.
1. The coil should have number of turn.
2. Current should be passed for a small time to
avoid the heating effect.
 3. Not parallax in talking 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 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.
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).

 INDUCTANCE OF 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.
  SELF INDUCTANCE OF 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.