COURSE NO.

309
EXPERIMENT NO. 3

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT : DETERMINATION OF THE

SELF INDUCTANCE OF A COIL BY RAYLEIGH’S METHOD

Student name: A.F.M salem maula kollol

Exam roll : 150293
Department of Physics
THEORY
The arrangement of lord Rayleigh for measurement of the self
inductance of a coil is showed in fig-1 and fig-2. In this method the
inductance coil L and a low resistance r of the order of 0.1-0.001 ohm
are placed in series in the forth arm CD of a wheatstone network. R can
be short circuited by the key k, if it’s necessary. The resistances P,Q,R
should be of the same order as that in the arm CD. The galvanometer
circuit contains a ballistic galvanometer and a key k2. The balance is
obtained in two steps. First a balance is obtained in the ordinary way
with the help of the three non-inductive resistances P,Q and R. The key
K, being kept closed.
In this case the battery key k1 is closed before closing the key k2.

Fig-1: Bridge connection Fig-2: Circuit connection to

including coil L determined the self inductance of
a coil by Rayleigh’s method
Since the galvanometer key is pressed after establishing the current
through the network, the self-inductance L is not effective.
If a small e.m.f. is introduced in any one arm, a current depending on a
e will pass through each of the other resistances in the network.
Thus the galvanometer key k2 is already closed, if the battery key k1 is
then closed, there will be an inductive kick in the galvanometer,
because an extra e.m.f. e = L di/dt now acts in the arm CD due to the
growth of current in L.i is the existing current in the arm CD under the
first balance. Since emf acting in one arm of the bridge will unbalance
it, a current will now flow in every part of the network. Let ne be the
current in the galvanometer due to this emf e. induced in the arm CD,
where ne is a constant which depends on the value of the resistances.
As a result the ballistic galvanometer will show a deflection.
Now, ne = instaneous current in the galvanometer.
=
Therefore the total charge traversing the galvanometer while a current io
is being established in CD is equal to
Q=

Assuming L to be constance.
•For
  a suspended coil type ballistic galvanometer Q = n L i0
= ----- (i)

Where is the maximus of the galvanometer coil. The quantity

= K = ballistic reduction factor of the galvanometer where,
C = restoring couple per unit twist of the suspension fiber
H = magnetic field
T = time period of torsional oscillation of the suspended coil
n = number of turns of the coil
A = area of the coil
•To  eliminate n and i0 from the above equation the key k is now kept
open so that the low resistance r is included in the circuit. R is assumed
to be so small as not to alter the magnitude ri0 by any appreciable
extent. But it will introduced an emf of magnitude ri0 in the arm CD
which will cause a steady deflection By closing K1 first and then closing
the galvanometer key K2, can be determined which is given by,
C =
= / C --------- (ii)
From equation 1,
L=
L=

= (from equation 2)

= ------(iii)

The quantities T and the log decrement d can be experimentally

determined. So the value of L can be evaluated from the known value
of L can be evaluated form the known value of the small resistance r.
for this reason r is required to be a standard low resistance.
APPARATUS
• A post office box
• A ballistic galvanometer
• A piece of mangerin wire
• The inductance coil
• Standard small resistance
• Key
• Connecting wires etc.
 PROCEDURE:

i. Connections were making as shown in figure-(a) and figure-(b). A piece of manganin

wire DF in series with the inductance coil was included in the arm CD. r was a standard
low resistance of 0.1 ohm.

ii. The lamp and scale arrangement were set up.

 
iii. P=Q was made, key K was kept close to short circuit r. The battery key was pressed first
and then the galvanometer key . The bridge was balanced in the usual manner by taking
out a suitable resistance R from the arm AD. Since it is not possible to take out a resistance
of less than one ohm from AD. To get a perfect balance, the length DF of the mangerin wire
was adjusted by shortening or lengthening it at the binding screw D.
 PROCEDURE:
 iv. P and Q were kept unchanged and K been closed was closed first a . As result the
galvanometer coil would be deflected. The maximum displacement of this first ballistic
throw was recorded. There would be an inductive kick and the galvanometer would be
recorded another ballistic throw.

v. The equation (ii) and (iii) were repeated several times. The time was recorded for the
maximum displacement of the first ballistic throw both at make and break of the circuit and
their mean was taken.
 vi. Key K was opened thus introducing the small resistance r in the arm CD. First the
battery key was pressed and then the galvanometer key
 vii. The balance was disturbed. Then the galvanometer coil was given kick by closing the
key and . The key was opened. The coils began to oscillate freely. At the same time the
maximum displacement of several consecutive oscillations were recorded on the same of
the scale.
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
• Table-1: Data for the time period of the oscillator
No of obs Time for 10 Time period (sec) Mean T (sec)
oscillations

1 16 1.6

2 15 1.5 1.5667

3 16 1.6
• 
Table-2: Data for the value of
No of obs Displacement of the first Mean Steady deflection Mean
ballistic throw in mms ( In mm
Make Break
1 39 40 39 6

2 40 43 41.5 5 5

3 39 45 42 4
CALCULATIONS
•We
  have

Mean = 0.0987
Inductance = L =
= 1.5667/ 3.1416 x 0.1/2 x 40.833/ 5 x (1+ 0.0987/2)
= 213.6 mH
Table-2: Data for log decrement
No of obs Resistance Deflection of the No of Oscillation Mean
in Ohm (R) galvanometer in cm

1 100 9 8 1 0.0589

2 100 9 7 1 0.1257 0.0987

3 100 10 8 1 0.1116
RESULT
The self inductance of the coil used in the experiment by Rayleigh’s
method is 213.6 mH with 26.3% error
 DISCUSSION:
The entire experiment had been performed very carefully and got the value of self-inductance
of the coil as 161.2mH. That is a quite good result. But we could get more accurate and perfect
result if we did the experiment more carefully and could avoid some errors or problems.
i. This is not very accurate method of measuring inductance. Due to the heating of the
elements, the resistance increased the balance of network to suffer. Hence it is necessary to
take the readings for 0 as soon as a null is obtained. A small current should be passed to
lesson the effect of heating.
ii. The balance must be determined with great exactness.
iii. The keys must be closed in the correct order in every observation.
iv. All plugs must be kept tight.
v. The keys must be closed in the current order in every observation.
vi. The experiment is based on Wheatstone bridge principle.
vii.The mangarin wire is used to balance the bridge.