Analysis & Conclusion

The researchers have successfully constructed an LC tank circuit excited it into oscillation with a
100Hz square wave. In addition, the researchers observed the damped oscillation and sine wave output of
the tank circuit.

The resonant frequency of the practical tank circuit is inversely proportional to the square root of
the inductance and the capacitance. The measured resonant frequency of the practical tank circuit with L
= 15 mH and C = 0.1 µF was found to be 4000 Hz which is comparable to its calculated frequency of
4105.36 Hz. With the addition of another 0.1 µF capacitor in parallel, the resonant frequency was
expected to decrease, because of the increased capacitance, to 2902.92 Hz. The measured value of this
frequency was 3000 Hz. After replacing the shunt capacitor with a 15 mH shunt inductor, the resonant
frequency was expected to increase, because of the decreased inductance, to 5805.86 Hz. The measured
value of this frequency was 6000 Hz. After replacing the shunt inductor with a 4.7 Ω shunt resistor, the
number of complete oscillations was expected to decreased, because of the damping provided by the
resistor, while the frequency remained the same.