INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON
PHYSICS
A project submitted In Practical In
Fulfilment Of Physics Practical Examination

Class-XII
"Factors Affecting Coil Inductance"

CENTRAL PUBLIC SR. SEC. SCHOOL

Submitted to Submitted by
Dr. Jitendra Jain Manan Chhaparwal
 Certificate
This is to certify that Manan Chhaparwal of standard

XII Science of Central Public Sr. Sec. School, Udaipur

carried out the project on

Factor’s On Which The Self Inductance Of Coil Depends

Under my personal guidance and supervision. All the

work related to this study was done by the candidate

and his approach to the subject was sincere &

scientific

Principal
(Mrs. Poonam Rathore)

Internal Examiner External Examiner

(Dr. Jitendra Jain)
As a student of XII Science it was a pleasant duty to do a project in Physics

as a part of the course curriculum prescribed by the Central Board of

Secondary Education, New Delhi. In it’s compliance I chose to work on the

project :

Factor’s On Which The Self Inductance Of Coil Depends

I Received generous help from several in the completion of this project. At

the onset I am deeply indebted to our respected Principal Mrs. Poonam

Rathore for providing me excellent facilities without which it would not

have been possible for me to complete this project .

It is my pleasure to express a deep sense of gratitude and veneration to our

Subject Teacher Dr. Jitendra Jain Sir for suggesting this to me to complete

it to the best of my ability.

I am also thankful to my parents for their care, support and inspiration at

every step in the completion of this project .

Manan Chhaparwal
(XII Science)
 CONTENT

S. No. Topic
1 Objectives
2 Introductions
3 What Is Self Inductance ?
4 Factors Affecting Self Inductance
5 Number of Turns of Coil
6 Area of Cross-Section
7 Length of the Coil
8 Permeability of the Core Material
9 Type of Core Material
10 Current Flowing Through the Coil
11 Practical Applications Of Inductance
12 Conclusion
13 Bibliography
 Objective’s

The purpose of this project is to understand the

various factors that influence the self-inductance
of a coil. Self-inductance is an important property
that plays a key role in the working of several
electrical and electronic devices such as
transformers, electric motors, inductors, and
more. Through this project, we will explore how
different factors such as the number of turns in the
coil, the area of the coil, the material used, and
the length of the coil affect its self-inductance.
This knowledge will help us better understand
how coils are designed and used in real-world
applications..
 INTRODUCTION
Self-inductance is a property of coils (also called inductors) that resists
any change in the current flowing through them. When the current
flowing through a coil changes, it creates a changing magnetic field,
which induces an electromotive force (emf) opposing the change in
current. This property of the coil to oppose changes in current is
called self-inductance.

Self-inductance is a fundamental concept in electromagnetism and has

various applications in electrical devices like transformers, electric
motors, and inductors. To understand how self-inductance works, we
need to explore the different factors that affect the inductance of a
coil.

.
 What Is Self Inductance ?
Self-inductance is the property of a coil (or solenoid) that resists
changes in the electric current flowing through it by generating a
back electromotive force (emf). When the current in a coil changes,
it alters the magnetic field created by the coil. According to
Faraday’s Law of Induction, this changing magnetic field induces
an emf within the coil itself. This induced emf opposes the change
in current, as described by Lenz's Law.
In simple terms, when you try to increase or decrease the current in
a coil, the coil generates an emf that works to resist this change.
This resistance to changes in current is known as inductive
reactance or self-inductance.
Self-inductance is important because it allows coils to store energy
in the form of a magnetic field and to resist sudden fluctuations in
current. This property is particularly useful in devices such as
inductors, transformers, and electric motors, where controlling the
rate of change of current is essential. Essentially, self-inductance
helps control how quickly the current can increase or decrease in a
coil, making it a key factor in the operation of many electrical
components.
 Factors Affecting Self
Inductance
The self-inductance of a coil depends on several physical
properties and characteristics of the coil. The main factors
that influence self-inductance are:

1. Number of Turns (N) in the Coil

2. Area of Cross-Section (A)
3. Length of the Coil (l)
4. Permeability of the Core Material (μ)
5. Type of Core Material
6. Current Flowing Through the Coil
 Number of Turns in the Coil
(N)

The number of turns in a coil is a key factor that affects its self-
inductance. The more turns (or loops) a coil has, the higher its self-
inductance. This happens because each turn creates its own
magnetic field, and as you add more turns, these fields combine to
create a stronger total magnetic field. A stronger magnetic field
increases the coil’s ability to resist changes in the current, which is
the core principle of self-inductance.
For example, a coil with 200 turns will have a higher self-
inductance and will oppose changes in current more strongly than a
coil with only 100 turns. The more turns there are, the stronger the
opposing emf generated when there’s a change in current.
This happens because when current flows through a coil, each loop
generates a magnetic field. As the number of turns increases, the
overall magnetic field becomes stronger, which increases the coil's
ability to store energy in that field and resist fluctuations in current.
This is why coils with many turns, like those in transformers, are
better at handling large changes in current. In simple terms, the
more turns a coil has, the greater its ability to resist changes in the
current, making the coil’s self-inductance higher.
magnetic field strength increases with
more turns.
 Area of Cross-Section of the Coil (A)
The self-inductance of a coil also depends on the area of its cross-
section. The larger the cross-sectional area, the higher the
inductance. This is because a coil with a larger cross-sectional area
allows more magnetic flux to pass through it for the same amount
of current. The greater the magnetic flux, the stronger the magnetic
field, which results in higher inductance.
Imagine a coil with a wide, circular cross-section compared to one
with a narrow cross-section. The coil with the wider cross-section
will have a higher self-inductance because it can accommodate
more magnetic flux in the same space, creating a stronger magnetic
field.
To better understand this, think of the magnetic flux like water
flowing through a pipe. A wider pipe can carry more water, just as
a coil with a larger cross-sectional area can carry more magnetic
flux. This increased flow of magnetic flux strengthens the magnetic
field, making the coil more effective at opposing changes in
current.
In simple terms, a larger cross-sectional area allows more magnetic
flux to pass through the coil, which increases the strength of the
magnetic field and the coil's self-inductance. Therefore, just as a
wider pipe carries more water, a coil with a larger cross-sectional
area can store more magnetic flux and better resist fluctuations in
current.
 Length of the Coil (l)
The length of a coil also affects its self-inductance. A shorter coil
generally has higher self-inductance compared to a longer one.
This is because the magnetic field created by the coil is more
concentrated in a shorter coil.
In a shorter coil, the loops are packed closer together, which results
in a stronger, more concentrated magnetic field. In contrast, a
longer coil spreads the magnetic field over a larger length,
weakening the field and reducing the coil's ability to resist changes
in current. Simply put, a shorter coil has a stronger magnetic field
per unit length, leading to higher self-inductance.
For example, if two coils have the same number of turns and cross-
sectional area, but one is shorter, the shorter coil will have a higher
self-inductance. This is because the magnetic field is more
concentrated in the shorter coil, making it more effective at
opposing changes in current.
In summary, a shorter coil creates a more concentrated magnetic
field, which increases its self-inductance, while a longer coil
spreads out the magnetic field, resulting in lower inductance
 Permeability of the Core Material (μ)
The core material of a coil plays a crucial role in determining
its self-inductance. This is because the material's magnetic
permeability (μ) affects how easily it can support a magnetic
field. Materials with high permeability, like iron, allow the coil
to generate a stronger magnetic field, leading to higher self-
inductance. In contrast, materials with low permeability, like
air, result in a weaker magnetic field and lower inductance.
For example, a coil wound around an iron core will have much
higher inductance than one wound around an air core, because
iron’s high permeability concentrates the magnetic field, while
air’s low permeability does not.
Iron-core inductors are commonly used in devices like
transformers and electric motors. This is because iron
enhances the magnetic field, making these devices more
efficient.
In summary, materials with high magnetic permeability, such
as iron, increase a coil’s self-inductance by strengthening the
magnetic field, whereas materials with low permeability, like
air, reduce the inductance.
 Type of Core Material
The core material plays an essential role in determining the self-
inductance of a coil. There are two main types of core materials
used in coils:
1. Ferromagnetic Materials (e.g., Iron, Nickel, Cobalt): These
materials have high magnetic permeability and are able to
concentrate magnetic flux within the coil. Using
ferromagnetic materials as the core of a coil increases its self-
inductance.
2. Non-Magnetic Materials (e.g., Air, Plastic, Wood): These
materials have low magnetic permeability and do not
concentrate the magnetic field. Coils with air cores (or non-
magnetic cores) have relatively low self-inductance.
Example: A coil wound around an iron core has much higher
inductance than a coil wound around an air core. This is why
transformers, which need to transfer energy efficiently, use iron
cores to increase inductance.
Current Flowing Through the Coil
The self-inductance of a coil is independent of the current
flowing through it, but the behavior of the coil depends on
how rapidly the current changes. The faster the current
changes, the greater the induced electromotive force (emf)
and the stronger the opposition to that change.
Although the self-inductance itself is not directly
proportional to the current, a changing current creates a
changing magnetic field, which induces an opposing emf.
The faster the current changes, the higher the induced emf,
and the stronger the coil’s resistance to that change. This is
why the rate of change of current is more important for
inducing emf than the actual value of the current.
For example, if the current is suddenly increased, the coil
generates an emf to oppose this increase. This effect is
commonly seen in inductors, which are used to smooth out
changes in current. In AC circuits, inductors are used to
oppose rapid changes in current, making them essential
components in power supplies and signal processing
circuits, where controlling fluctuations in current is crucial.
 Practical Applications of Self
Inductance

Self-inductance is a crucial property with many practical

applications across various electrical devices:
1. Transformers: Transformers use the principle of self-
inductance to step up or step down voltages in AC circuits.
The primary coil induces a changing magnetic field, which
then induces an emf in the secondary coil, transferring energy
between the two circuits.
2. Electric Motors: Electric motors rely on the interaction of
magnetic fields generated by coils to produce mechanical
movement. The self-inductance of the coils helps control the
current flow, generating motion and ensuring smooth
operation of the motor.
3. Inductors in Circuits: Inductors store energy in the form of a
magnetic field and are commonly used in electronic circuits.
Their self-inductance helps regulate current flow, filter
signals, and manage power supply voltages in applications
such as filters, oscillators, and power regulation circuits.
 Conclusion
Self-inductance is a property of a coil that resists changes in the current
flowing through it. It depends on several factors, including the number of
turns, the cross-sectional area, the length of the coil, the material of the
core, and the type of core used. These factors affect the strength of the
magnetic field produced by the coil and its ability to oppose changes in
current.
Understanding these factors is crucial for designing electrical devices like
transformers, electric motors, and inductors. For example, increasing the
number of turns or using a core material with high magnetic permeability
can increase the self-inductance of the coil, making it more effective at
controlling current and storing energy in a magnetic field.
In summary, self-inductance helps manage the flow of current and
improves the performance of electrical systems. By studying the factors
that affect it, engineers can design more efficient circuits and devices.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

➢ NCERT Physics Textbook for Class 12 – Chapter on

Electromagnetic Induction.
➢ H.C. Verma’s Concepts of Physics (Volume 2).
➢ D.C. Pandey’s Electricity and Magnetism for
additional understanding of inductance and related
concepts.
➢ www.google.com