TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.

1 of 6

School Name Group No.

St. Pauls College ( ) Class (Class No.) Date (dd-mm-yy) ( )

Mark

10

AL Physics TAS Experimental Worksheet CS02 Measuring Reactances of A Capacitor And An Inductor CS02
Time Allowed

2 periods
Objective To investigate the relationship between r.m.s. current and r.m.s. voltage for a capacitor and for an

inductor at a fixed frequency. To calculate reactance from a plot of V-I graph. To work out capacitance & inductance from their reactances.
Apparatus

0-12 V low voltage power supply 1000 F capacitor 1100-turn coil with a soft-iron core 20 rheostat 5 k variable resistor (potentiometer) a.c. voltmeter -- 100 A base meter -- 1V, 5V and 10V a.c. multiplier a.c. ammeter -- 100 A base meter -- 10 mA, 50 mA and 100 mA, 1A, 5A and 10 A a.c. shunt Connecting leads

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8

Theory

The ability that capacitors and inductors limit current is called reactance. Reactance is defined as X = Vrms/Irms, where Vrms and Irms are the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) voltage and current through the device. R.m.s. voltage and current can be measured by an a.c. voltmeter and an a.c. ammeter respectively. The reactance of a capacitor is Xc = 1/(C) = 1/(2fC). The reactance of an inductor is XL = L = 2fL. In this experiment, you will measure reactance X of a capacitor or an inductor using either Fig.a or Fig.b, both giving the pair of data: Vrms and Irms required to find X.

Fig.a : Device of low reactance

Fig.b : Device of high reactance

TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.2 of 6

Fig.a. is suitable for device with small reactance Since the voltmeter takes up a comparatively lower current than the device, the ammeter gives a reasonably accurate reading (while the voltmeter reading is accurate). Fig.b is suitable for device with high reactance Since the ammeter has a much smaller resistance than the device, it takes up a comparatively smaller voltage, the voltmeter gives a reasonably accurate reading (while the ammeter reading is accurate). You will vary the current in the circuit by the variable resistors to give various pairs of data Vrms and Irms. The results are plotted in a graph and the slope of the graph gives the reactance of the device.

Part 1 Reactance of a Capacitor In this experiment, you will measure the reactance of a capacitor in a way similar to measuring the resistance of a resistor. I.e. using a voltmeter and an ammeter. You will vary the rheostat to control the current. The r.m.s. voltage and r.m.s. current through the capacitor are plotted in a graph to determine the reactance of the capacitor.
Procedure

1.

Examine the given circuit diagram and complete the 3D drawing below:

2.

Connect the capacitor, the 20 rheostat, the a.c. ammeter and the a.c. voltmeter to the a.c. output of the low voltage power supply. Set the output of the voltage supply to about 4V.

TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.3 of 6

3. 4.

Vary the rheostat freely to determine the largest and smallest reading in the meters. Determine the step size of current so that at least six sets of data can be obtained. Adjust the rheostat carefully to give six (or more) different pairs of data. Measure the readings in the ammeter and the voltmeter which give the r.m.s. current and r.m.s. voltage respectively. Tabulate the results in the following table: Vrms ( Irms ( ) )

Results & Data Analysis

5.

6.

Plot a graph of Vrms against Irms for the capacitor.

7.

Measure the slope of the graph to give the reactance of the capacitor. Slope of graph = Capacitive reactance =

TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.4 of 6

8.

Hence, calculate the capacitance. (f = 50 Hz)

Part 2 Reactance of an Inductor with Soft-Iron Core Since the reactance of the inductor with soft-iron core is large, the connection is slightly different from that in part 1. You will also change to use a potentiometer and milliammeter.
Procedure

1.

Examine the given circuit diagram and complete the 3D drawing below:

2.

Connect the 1100-turn induction coil (with soft-iron core), the 5 k potentiometer, the a.c. milliammeter and the a.c. voltmeter to the a.c. output of the low voltage power supply. Set the output of the voltage supply to about 8V.

TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.5 of 6

3. 4.

Vary the potentiometer freely to determine the largest and smallest reading in the meters. Determine the step size of current so that at least six sets of data can be obtained. Adjust the potentiometer carefully to give six (or more) different pairs of data. Measure the readings in the ammeter and the voltmeter. Tabulate the results in the following table: Vrms ( Irms ( ) )

Results & Data Analysis

5.

6.

Plot a graph of Vrms against Irms for the inductor with the soft-iron core.

7.

Measure the slope of the graph to give the reactance of the inductor. Slope of graph = Inductive reactance =

TAS_CS02_ MeasuringReactancesOfCap&Ind / p.6 of 6

8.

Hence, calculate the inductance. (f = 50 Hz)

Discussion

Q1

Can you suggest two precautions of this experiment ?

Q2

Discuss the sources of error of the above experiment.

Q3

If the 5 k variable resistor is used instead of the rheostat in Part 1, what would be the problem ?

Conclusion