Republic of the Philippines

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
City of Malolos, Bulacan

CIRCUITS 2
LABORATORY MANUAL

Name: Alcanar, Carmie F. Score:

Section: BS ECE 2B Date: March 13, 2024

Instructor: Engr. Ronel I. Serrano

Inductive Reactance
ACTIVITY No. 3

OBJECTIVES

To examine the inductive reactance and its relationship to inductance and frequency, including a
plot of inductive reactance versus frequency.

INTRODUCTION

The current – voltage characteristic of an inductor is unlike that of typical resistors. While
resistors show a constant resistance value over a wide range of frequencies, the equivalent
ohmic value for an inductor, known as inductive reactance, is directly proportional to frequency.
The inductive reactance may be computed via the formula:

𝑋𝐿 = 𝑗2π𝑓𝐿

The magnitude of inductive reactance may be determined experimentally by feeding an

inductor a known current, measuring the resulting voltage, and following Ohm’s law. This
process may be repeated across a range of frequencies to obtain a plot of inductive reactance
versus frequency. An AC current source may be approximated by placing a large resistance in
series with an AC voltage, the resistance being considerably larger than the maximum reactance
expected.

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

AC function generator (1) 1 mH inductor

Oscilloscope (1) 10 mH inductor
Digital Multimeter (1) 10 kΩ resistor

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

Figure 3.1 Series RL Circuit

PROCEDURE

1. Using Figure 3.1 with Vin = 10 V p-p and R = 10 kΩ, and assuming that the reactance of
the inductor is much smaller than 10kΩ and can be ignored, determine the circulating
current and record in Table 3.1. Also, measure the DC coil resistances of the inductors
using an ohmmeter or DMM and record in Table 3.1.
2. Build the circuit of Figure 3.1 using R = 10 kΩ, and L = 10 mH. Place one probe across
the generator and another across the inductor. Set the generator to a 1000 Hz sine wave
and 10 V p-p. Make sure that the Bandwidth Limit of the oscilloscope is engaged for
both channels. This will reduce the signal noise and make for more accurate readings.
3. Calculate the theoretical value of XL and record in Table 3.2.
4. Record the peak-to-peak inductor voltage and record in Table 3.2.
5. Using the source current from Table 3.1 and the measured inductor voltage, determine
the experimental reactance and record it in Table 3.2. Also compute and record the
deviation.
6. Repeat steps three through five for the remaining frequencies of Table 3.2.
7. Replace the 10 mH inductor with the 1 mH unit and repeat steps two through six,
recording results in Table 3.3.
8. Using the data of Tables 3.2 and 3.3, create plots of inductive reactance versus frequency
on a graphing paper. Plot to scale. Create separate graphs for 10 mH and 1mH inductors
and label properly.

DATA TABLES

Table 3.1 Current Source and Resistances of Inductors

𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒 (𝑝−𝑝) 998 μA

𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙 of 10 mH 142 Ω

𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙 of 1 mH 13.94 Ω

Table 3.2 Reactance and Voltage of 10 mH Inductor

Frequency (Hz) XL Theory (Ω) VL(p-p) Exp (V) XL Exp (Ω) % Dev
1k 62.8319 0.062982 62.9737 0.2258
2k 125.6637 0.126056 126.0394 0.2990
3k 188.4956 0.188980 188.9551 0.2438
4k 251.3274 0.251782 251.7488 0.1677
5k 314.1593 0.314682 314.6405 0.1532
6k 376.9911 0.377402 377.3523 0.0958
8k 502.6548 0.502758 502.6917 0.0073
10k 628.3185 0.628108 628.0252 -0.0467

Table 3.3 Reactance and Voltage of 1 mH Inductor

Frequency (Hz) XL Theory (Ω) VL(p-p) Exp (V) XL Exp (Ω) % Dev
10k 62.8319 0.06298 62.9717 0.2226
20k 125.6637 0.126056 126.0394 0.2990
 30k 188.4956 0.18898 188.9551 0.2438
40k 251.3274 0.251782 251.7488 0.1677
50k 314.1593 0.314682 314.6405 0.1532
60k 376.9911 0.377402 377.3523 0.0958
80k 502.6548 0.502758 502.6917 0.0073
100k 628.3185 0.628108 628.0252 -0.0467

QUESTIONS

1. What is the relationship between inductive reactance and frequency?

The opposition of an electric component in an AC circuit, usually an inductor and a

capacitor, is known as reactance. On the other hand, reactance comes in two flavors: inductive
and capacitive. The main issue is the Inductive Reactance because the students were working
with inductors in this experiment. It has been noted that the inductive reactance rises with
increasing frequency. Given that inductors act as resistance to a fluctuating current flow, this is
accurate and truthful. Because it reacts faster at higher frequencies, it has substantially stronger
reactance.

2. What is the relationship between inductive reactance and inductance?

It has a straight proportion. Increased inductance indicates a tendency to resist

variations in the incoming current. When changes in current are applied, this will strengthen the
opposing force inside the inductor and result in a larger inductive reactance.

3. If the 10 mH trial had been repeated with frequencies 10 times higher than those in Table 3.2,
what effect would that have on the experiment?

According to the earlier hypotheses, this will lead to a stronger inductive reactance,
which will fight the current much more and result in less of it. Increased inductor voltage will
result from larger inductive reactance, which also increases inductive voltage.

4. Do the coil resistances have any effect on the plots?

While altering the resistance has no effect on the inductive reactance, it does alter the
impedance, which determines how much current may flow through the circuit. This has an
impact on how much voltage the various parts—especially the inductor—will draw.