DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Electronics Engineering Program

Electrical Circuits 2 Laboratory

Experiment 3

Inductive Reactance

Group No. ___ Date Performed: _______________

Members: Signature:
_________________________ __________________
_________________________ __________________
_________________________ __________________
_________________________ __________________
_________________________ __________________
_________________________ __________________

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Instructor
 Experiment 3: Inductive Reactance
Objectives
• Determine inductive reactance by using calculated and measured values,
• Describe the effect an inductor has on ac circuits,
• Measure impedance of an RL circuit,
• Determine the effect of changing frequency in inductive circuits.

Theory
Opposition to ac current flow due to inductance is known as inductive reactance (XL).
The magnitude of opposition depends on the measure of inductance on the frequency of
the applied signal. Inductive reactance is determined from the equation below, where f is
the frequency of the applied signal in Hertz (Hz), L is the measure of the inductance in
Henry (H), and XL is the reactance measured in ohms (Ω).

XL = 2πfL

The constant 2π signifies that the applied signal is a sine wave. The above equation is valid
only for sine wave applications.

Note that the equation above that XL does not depend on the amplitude of the applied
signal. For example, when the values of the inductance and frequency remain constant, XL
remains constant even if the amplitude of the applied signal changes.

Instrument/Materials/Equipment

1 unit FACET Base Unit

1 unit AC 1 Fundamentals Circuit Board
1 unit Oscilloscope
1 unit Function Generator
1 unit Multimeter
1 set Probes and Connectors

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Procedure
1. Make sure that the power sources are in the off position. Insert the AC 1
FUNDAMENTALS circuit board into the base unit. Turn on the power sources.

2. Locate the INDUCTANCE/INDUCTIVE REACTANCE circuit block and connect the circuit
as shown.

3. Using the given values, calculate the inductive reactance, XL.

XL = 2πfL; XL = __________________ ohms

4. Measure and record the total circuit current (IT) using current measuring resistor R2 by
measuring the voltage across R2 by the oscilloscope and divide by R2. Make sure to
remove the two-post connector before measuring the voltage and then replace it after
taking the measurement.

IL = VR2/R2; IL = ____________________

5. Measure and record the voltage drop across inductor L3 using the oscilloscope. Use IT
and VL3 to determine the measured inductive reactance, XL.

XL = VL3/IT; XL = _______________ ohms

Does the measured value agree with the calculated value of XL? _____________________

6. Place CM switch 17 in the ON position to modify the value of L3. Remeasure IT and VL3 to
determine the new value of XL.

IT = VR2/R2; IT = _______________ VL3 = ________________

XL = VL3/IT; XL = _________________ ohms

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7. Calculate the new value of L3 when CM 17 was turned on.

L3 = ___________________

Did L3 increased or decreased in relation to the initial value? _________________________

8. Return CM 17 to the OFF position. Decrease the generator frequency to 20 kHz.

Remeasure IT and VL3 as you did previously and determine the new measure of XL.

IT = VR2/R2; IT = _______________ VL3 = ________________

XL = VL3/IT; XL = _________________ ohms

Did XL increase, decrease, or remain the same in relation to the first measurement?

_____________________________________________________

9. Readjust the generator frequency to 60 kHz. Decrease the amplitude of the signal to 8
Vpk-pk. Remeasure IT and VL3 to determine XL.

IT = VR2/R2; IT = _______________ VL3 = ________________

XL = VL3/IT; XL = _________________ ohms

Record all the measured values of XL in the table below.

Initial CM 17 Decreased Decreased

Measurement Activated Frequency Amplitude

XL

What do you observe about the measurements of XL?

Inductive Reactance and Impedance

10. Adjust the generator for a 10 Vpk-pk, 20 kHz sine wave. Measure IT and VL3 as you did
previously to determine XL.

IT = VR2/R2; IT = _______________ VL3 = ________________

XL = VL3/IT; XL = _________________ ohms

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11. Calculate XL using the set frequency and inductance of the circuit.

XL = 2πfL = __________________ ohms

Does this conform to the measured value of XL? ____________________________

12. Calculate the total impedance of the circuit using the total voltage, VGEN and the
measured total current IT sing Ohm’s Law.

ZT = VGEN/IT; ZT = ______________ ohms

Plot the resistance (R1), reactance (XL), and ZT on the X-Y coordinate system and measure
the phase angle, ϴ.

13. Calculate the total impedance using the calculated values of R1 and XL.

ZT = sqrt( R12 + XL2 ); ϴ = tan-1 (XL/R1)

ZT = ______________ ohms ϴ = ___________ degrees

Do your calculated values conform with the measured values? _________________

17. Place CM switch 16 in the ON position to modify the value of L3. Following the
previous procedure, determine the new values of XL and ZT. Plot the graph of the values in
the X-Y coordinate system. Determine also the new value of L using the measured values.

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 XL = __________________ ohms

R1 = __________________ ohms

ZT = __________________ ohms

ϴ = _________________ degrees

L3 = _________________ mHenry

18. Record all the measured and calculated values in the table below.

With CM 16 OFF With CM 16 ON

Measured Calculated Measured Calculated
R1
XL
ZT
ϴ
L3

What do you observe about the values of reactance and impedance?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. Return CM switch in the OFF position and turn off all equipment.

-End-