FALL2020 : CNET219

Lab #3
Name: _______________________ Date: _________________

Inductive Reactance (in RL Circuits)

Introduction
This laboratory continues the study of series linear circuits, this time looking at the effect of
inductors in series linear circuits. Besides studying the behavior of inductors, you will use
measurements of magnitude and phase to construct phasor diagrams for sinusoidal voltages in a
series circuit.

Objectives
Educational
• Learn to predict and to measure inductive reactance.

• Learn to apply Ohm’s law to reactance

• Learn to measure phase angles between voltages.

• Learn to draw impedance and voltage phasor diagrams for resistors and inductors in series.

• Gain experience in the construction and use of phasor diagrams.

Experimental
• Determine the reactance of an inductor in a series RL circuit by measuring voltages.

• Draw impedance and voltage phasor diagrams for a series RL circuit.

• Explain the effect of frequency on the impedance and voltage phasors for a series RL circuit.

Background
The voltage induced across the inductor is a maximum when the change in current is a maximum.
When a sinusoidal current is applied to an inductor, the largest induced voltage appears across the
inductor when the current is passing through zero. At the peaks of the applied current, the slope is
zero and the current is not changing, so the induced voltage is zero. Therefore, the voltage that
appears across an inductor leads the current in the inductor by 1/4 cycle. Figure 3.1 illustrates this
relationship.

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FALL2020 : CNET219

Figure 3.1: Resistive, Inductive, and Capacitive Loads

Inductive Reactance

As the frequency of the sine wave increases, the rate of change of the current also increases, and
so the induced (reacting) voltage across the inductor increases. As a result, the net current through the
inductor decreases. That means, the inductor’s reactance increases with frequency. The inductive
reactance is given by:
XL = 2πfL (3.1)
As with capacitors and resistors, Ohm’s law can be applied to inductive circuits:

(3.2)

Series RL circuits

When a sine wave is applied to a series circuit of linear components (resistors, capacitors, and
inductors), the phase relationships between current and voltage depend on the types of components.
The current and voltage are always in phase across an ideal resistor. The current through a capacitor
leads the voltage across the capacitor by 90◦. The voltage across an ideal inductor leads the current
through the inductor by 90◦.

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FALL2020 : CNET219

From Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL), we know that the current is the same throughout a series
circuit. Since the current and voltage are in phase for a resistor, we can determine the phase of the
current by measuring the phase of the voltage across the resistor. This is commonly done by using an
oscilloscope/waveform viewer to compare the voltage from the source to the voltage across the
resistor.
Consider the series RL circuit shown in Figure 3.2(a). Graphical representations for the
impedance phasors are shown in Figure 3.2(b). As with the series RC circuit, the total impedance of
the series RL circuit is obtained by the vector sum of the impedance phasors. (Because the vectors are
in the complex plane, this summation can also be done equivalently by summing the complex
numbers.)

Figure 3.2: Phasor Diagram

In this example, 5V are applied and the total impedance is 5 kΩ, so the total current is 1.0 mA.
Because the current is the same in all components of the series circuit, we use its direction through
the resistor for the phase reference direction. Multiplying the impedance phasors by the current gives
the voltage phasors, as shown in Figure 3.2(c).
M
M
R1
R = 5k Ohm
+
L = 50m H

Vsin1
VA = 2 V
-
L1

FREQ = 10k Hz

Figure . 3.3
Procedure:
• Built the Series RL Circuits of Figure 3.3
• Setup the signal generator to 4 volts p-p, at 10k hertz.
• Measure and record the voltages across L and R in table 1 for each frequency.
• Using the measured value calculate the current Ir and Ic (use V p-p ÷R or XL) for each frequency
in table 1. Remember, the current is the same throughout the circuit, so this current also flows
through the capacitor.
• Calculate XL= 2𝜋𝑓L and record the value for each frequency point in table 1.

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FALL2020 : CNET219

• Calculate circuit impedance Z, using the formula, for each frequency point and record the values
in table 1. ZTotal by applying Ohm’s law to the circuit (Z = Vs∠0 / I∠φ)
• Measure the phase angle φ between VL and VS by using the cursors on the oscilloscope
/waveform viewer display
• Position the time cursors on corresponding zero crossings (or peaks) of the V L and Vs waveforms.
Determine the time difference Δt between the waves. Indicate which waveform arrives at the reference
point first
• The phase shift, θ, is related to the time shift, Δt, that you observe on the oscilloscope/waveform
viewer. T is the period of the waveform. the waveform.
θ = Δt × 360° = Δt × f × 360°
T

Sample Calculation of Phase angle:

θ = Δt × 360° = Δt × f × 360°
T
= 1.79x 10-5 x 10 x 103 x360
= 64.40

Figure 3.4 Transient Response of RL circuit @ 10K Hz

• Record the measured phase value on the data sheet . Complete the table with your measurments3

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FALL2020 : CNET219

Lab3_WorkSheet
Table 1:
(𝑓 =Hz) VR peak VL (peak) XL (𝛺) IL = Z(𝛺) 𝜃∘
VL/XL

1000

2000

4000

8000

10000

14000

16000

20000

1. Using the values listed in the table, draw a diagram of the impedance phasors and a second
diagram of the voltage phasors, as illustrated in Figure 3.2 of the Background section of this
laboratory experiment.

Probing Further Questions

Q1. What you think would happen to the current in this RL series circuit if the frequency were
decreased, say, to 2000 Hz? Why?

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FALL2020 : CNET219

Q2. Simulate the circuit in OPTI SPICE and graph VL and VR versus frequency from 1000 Hz to
20,000 Hz. Does the simulation support your prediction in question 1?

Lab Report

Your Name __________________________ Student ID ________________________

Lab # :____________________________

Course Name__________________

Prof. Name : ____________________________

Section______________________

Due Date____________________

Date of Submission_____________

Include your:

• circuit simulation Diagram

• input/output wave form graph (for any three frequencies) (refer figure.2.4)
• Lab2 worksheet
• Conclusion

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