AIM:-

To study the factor on which the self inductance of a coil depends

by observing the effect of this coil, when put in series with a resistor
(bulb) in a circuit fed up by an A.C. source of adjustable
frequency.

APPARATUS:-

A coil of large turns, a.c. source of adjustable frequency, an

electrical bulb , (6V) a.c. ammeter of suitable range rheostat , a
soft iron rod, one way key, connecting wires etc.

THEORY :-

Self inductance is the property of a coil which opposes the change in

current through it. The self inductance of a coil (long solenoid) is

L= µ0 µrN2A/ l
Where µr, = Relative magnetic permeability of magnetic material, µr =

µ/ µ0

N = Total number of turns in solenoid A = Area of cross-

section of solenoid l= length of solenoid.

Hence, the self inductance depends upon:

1. No. of turns (N), Lα N²

2. Geometry of coil, Lα A, L α(1/l)

3. Nature of core material, Lα µ

When an inductor is connected in series with a resistor (bulb) with a

variable source of frequency, then current flowing in the bulb is

Irms = Erms/Z

Where, Z = √ R2 + ω2 = Impedance of the a.c. circuit. Here

R= Resistance of the bulb L = Self inductance of coil ω = 2πf

= Angular frequency of a.c. source

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM :-

PROCEDURE:-
1. Make all connections as shown in the circuit diagram.

2. Switch on the a.c. supply & adjust the current in the

circuit by using the variable resistor (Rh).
3. Record the current in a.c. ammeter & see the brightness of bulb.

4. Now, put the soft iron rod inside the conductor core &
record the current in a.c. ammeter & again check the brightness
of bulb. The current & brightness both decreases.

5. Now, switch off the supply & decrease the frequency of a.c.
source (say 50 Hz).
6. Again switch on the supply & adjust the current in circuit at
same constant voltage 6 V by using the rheostat. Note the current in
ammeter & brightness of bulb. The current & brightness both will
increase.

7. Again insert the iron rod in the core of coil & note the current &
brightness. The current & brightness both decreases.
8. Repeat the steps 5, 6 and 7 for different frequency of a.c. source.

OBSERVATIONS:-
1. Least count of ammeter = 0.05 A.

2. Zero error of ammeter = 0 A.

3. Range of ammeter = 0 – 5 A
RESULT :-
1. The current in the circuit decrease on inserting the iron rod in
the core of coil at constant frequency of applied voltage &brightness
of bulb decreases & vice-versa.
2. The current in the circuit increases on decreasing the frequency
of applied voltage & vice-versa. Therefore, the brightness of bulb
increases.

PRECAUTIONS:-
1. The coil should have large number of turns.

2. Current should be passed for a small time to avoid the heating

effect.

SOURCES OF ERRORS :-
1. The resistance of circuit may increases lightly due to heating
effect of current.
2. There may be eddy current in soft iron coil.
Applications of Self-Inductance
There are many applications of self inductance, one of the major ones
being a tesla coil,
What is a tesla coil
A Tesla coil is a radio frequency oscillator that drives the air-core
double-tuned resonant transformer to produce high voltages with low
currents.

To understand better, let’s define what is a radio frequency oscillator.

Primarily, we are aware that the electronic oscillator is a device that
produces electrical signals of either a sine wave or a square wave.
This electronic oscillator produces signals in the radio frequency
range of 20 kHz to 100 GHz, known as a radio frequency oscillator.

Tesla Coil Working Principle

This coil has the ability to produce output voltages up to several
million volts based upon the size of the coil. The Tesla coil works on a
principle to achieve a condition called resonance. Here, the primary
coil emits huge amounts of current into the secondary coil to drive the
secondary circuit with maximum energy. The fine-tuned circuit helps
to shoot the current from primary to secondary circuit at a tuned
resonant frequency.
Tesla Coil Circuit Diagram

This coil has two main parts – a primary coil and a secondary coil,
with each coil having its own capacitor. A spark gap connects the coils
and capacitors. The functionality of the spark gap is to generate the
spark to excite the system.

Tesla Coil Working

This coil uses a specialized transformer called a resonant transformer,
a radio-frequency transformer, or an oscillation transformer.

The primary coil is connected to the power source and the secondary
coil of a transformer is coupled loosely to ensure that it resonates. The
capacitor connected in parallel with the transformer circuit acts as a
tuning circuit or an LC circuit to generate signals at a specific
frequency.
The primary of the transformer, otherwise referred to as a resonant
transformer steps up to generate very high levels of voltage ranging
between 2kv to 30 kV, which in turn charges the capacitor. With the
accumulation of massive amounts of charge in the capacitor,
eventually, breaks down the air of the spark gap. The capacitor emits a
huge amount of current through the Tesla Coil (L1, L2), which in turn
generates a high voltage at the output.
Oscillation Frequency
The combination of a capacitor and primary winding ‘L1’ of the
circuit forms a tuned circuit. This tuned circuit ensures that both
primary and secondary circuits are finely tuned to resonate at the
same frequency. The resonant frequencies of the primary ‘f1’ and
secondary circuits ‘f2’ and are given by, f1=1/2π√L1C1 and
f2=1/2π√L2C2

As the secondary circuit cannot be adjusted, the moveable tap on ‘L1’

is used to tune the primary circuit till both the circuits resonate at the
same frequency. Therefore, the frequency of the primary is the same
as the secondary.
f = 1/2π√L1C1 =1/2π√L2C2

The condition for primary and secondary to resonate at the same

frequency is,

L1C1= L2C2
The output voltage in the resonant transformer does not depend on the
number-of-turns ratio as in ordinary transformer. As soon as the cycle
begins and as the spar sets up, the primary circuit’s energy is stored in
the primary capacitor ‘C1’ and the voltage at which the spark breaks
down is ‘V1’.
W1=1/2C1V12
Similarly, the energy at the secondary coil is given by,
W2=1/2C2V22
Assuming there is no loss of energy, W2 =
W1. Simplifying the above equation, we get

V2 = V1√C1/C2 = V1√L2/L1
In the above equation, the peak voltage can be achieved when air
breaks down do not occur. The peak voltage is the voltage at which
the air breaks down and begins to conduct.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Tesla Coil
The advantages are

• Allows uniform distribution of voltage throughout the

winding coils.
• Builds up the voltage at a slow pace and hence no damage.
• Great performance.
• The use of 3-phase rectifiers for higher powers can offer
tremendous load sharing.

The disadvantages are

• Tesla coil poses several health hazards due to high voltage

radio frequency emission that includes skin burn, damage to
the nervous system and heart.
• Involves high costs in buying large DC smoothing capacitor.
• Construction of circuit consumes much time as it needs to be
perfect to resonate
Applications of Tesla Coil
At present, these coils do not require large complex circuits to
produce high voltage. Nevertheless, small Tesla coils find their
applications in a range of sectors.

• Aluminium welding
• Cars use these coils for the spark plug ignition
• Created Tesla coil fans, used to generate artificial lighting,
sounds like music Tesla coils in Entertainment and
Education industry are used as attractions at electronics fairs
and science museums
 • High vacuum systems and arc lighters  Vacuum system leak
detectors

1). What do Tesla coils do?

This coil is a radio frequency oscillator that drives a resonant
transformer to generate a high voltage at low current.
2). Can a Tesla coil charge a phone?
Nowadays, smartphones are released with built-in wireless charging,
which uses the principle of a Tesla coil.

3). Is Tesla coil dangerous?

The coil and its equipment are very dangerous as they produce very
high voltages and currents which cannot be ensured by the human
body

4). Why do tesla coils make music?

Generally, this coil converts air around it into a plasma that changes
volume and causes the waves to spread across all the directions,
creating sound/music. This happens at a high frequency of 20 to 100
kHz.

5). How did Tesla transmit electricity wirelessly?

A spark gap is used to connect the capacitors and two coils. As the
power is fed in through a transformer, it produces the necessary
current and powers the entire circuit.
Thus, this is all about an overview of the Tesla coil that can be used to
generate electricity of high voltage, low current, and high-frequency.
Tesla Coil has the ability to transmit electricity wirelessly up to
several kilometres. We ensured that this article gives the reader
insights into the working of the Tesla coil, advantages and
disadvantages, and applications. Truly, his invention of wireless
transmission of electric energy has changed the way the world
communicates.
 Bibliography

Sites used:

https://www.elprocus.com/what-is-tesla-coilcircuit-diagram-working-
its-applications/
https://www.slideshare.net/karan_19951/selfinductance-40498923

Ncert class 12 Textbook

Physics Lab Manuel