Inductors in circuits 1
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Inductors in circuits 2
Activity – Inductors in Circuits
Please go to the following webpage and choose “RLC” -
[Link] PART A – Qualitative
Observations LR Circuit
1) Run the application and set up the following circuit. Click on the inductor and set it to 10
Henries. Click on each bulb and ensure that both bulbs are 10 ohms. Place ammeters in the
circuit as shown.
2) Close the switch. Describe your observations of current through each branch.
The current in the branch with the inductor grow exponentially from zero to a
maximum value. The current in the other branch maintains a constant value. After a
very long time, the currents in both braches have the same constant value.
3) Describe in your own words what effect the inductor has on the current.
The inductor acts as a coil with a magnetic field around it. The induced emf tends to
oppose current flow in the bulb. The induced emf decays exponentially, making the
current flow in the circuit. The current in the branch with the inductor, grows
exponentially from zero to the maximum value.
4) Now open the switch. Again, describe your observations of current through each branch.
Inductors in circuits 3
The current flowing in the branches decay exponentially from a maximum value up to
zero and the bulb go off.
5) Why do you think a current was able to flow after we effectively removed the battery from
the circuit?
Electrical energy was stored in the inductor when switch 1 was in the closed position.
After the switch was opened, the energy stored in the inductors magnetic field
discharged to the elements in the circuit. The electrical energy stored in the inductor,
discharge into the resistance in the circuit, hence the current flow.
PART B – Quantitative Analysis of LR Circuit
1.) Consider the RL circuit in the diagram above in which both switches have been open for
a long time. The inductor has a value of 5 H, the bulbs have a value of 10 Ohms, and the
ideal battery is 9V.
2.) Use Kirchoff’s Loop Rule to determine the current through Bulb 1 as a function of time,
(𝑡), when the top switch (S1) is closed. Assume t = 0 is the instant the switch is closed.
Using Kirchhoff’s Current law (KCL) the 9V battery is in series with the inductor and the
bulb (resistance R).
Using KCL, the voltage drop around a closed loop is equal to zero.
Inductors in circuits 4
di
V =L +iR
dt
Re-arranging the equation we have:
V L di
= +i
R R dt
This is a first order differential equal equation that can be solved by the integrating
constant:
The solution to the differential equation is:
V
i (t )= ¿
R
V
i (t )= ¿
R
Where,
L 5H
τ= = =0.5 s
R 10 Ω
Inserting the constant values, we have:
( )
−t
9
i (t )= 1−e 0 .5 A
10
3.) What is the current through bulb 1 after 0.1 seconds? Using the “current chart” try verifying
with the simulation.
( )
−t
9
i (t )= 1−e 0.5 A
10
T=0.1s
( )A
−0.1
9 0.5
i (t )= 1−e
10
¿ 0.16314 A
Inductors in circuits 5
3.) What is the current through bulb 1 after 1.0 seconds? Using the “current chart” try
verifying with the simulation.
( )
−1
9
i (t )= 1−e 0.5 A
10
¿ 0.77819 A
5.) What is the time constant in the circuit?
L 5H
τ= = =0.5 s
R 10 Ω
6.) What is current through bulb 1 after one time constant?
( )
−t
9
i (t )= 1−e 0.5 A
10
( )A
−0.5
9 0.5
i (t )= 1−e
10
¿ 0.5689 A
7.) What is the current through bulb 1 after a very long time? S1 S2 Bulb 1 Bulb 2
Current through bulb 1=0.9A
Current through S1=0.9A
Current through S2=0A
Current through bulb 2=0A.
Inductors in circuits 6
8.) Now let’s close switch 2 so that current is running through both bulbs. There should be 0.9 A
of current through each bulb. If we were to open switch 1 at t = 0, the source of EMF would be
from the inductor. Determine the current as a function of time, (𝑡), through bulb 2 starting when
switch 1 is opened.
The voltage is stored in the inductor’s magnetic field.
Ldi/dt+IR+IR=0
di
L =−iR '
dt
Re-arranging the equation we have:
'
di −i R
=
dt L
'
di −R
= dt
i L
Integrating both sides, we have:
'
−R
ln ( i )= t +C
L
'
−R t
+C
L
i=e
'
−R t
L
i=Ce
Applying the initial conditions,
'
−R t
i (t )=i 0 e L
The initial current I0=0.9A, R=20Ω, L=5H
The expression for the instantaneous current becomes:
−t
5
20
i (t )=0.9 e
Inductors in circuits 7
−t
0.25
¿ 0.9 e A
9.) What is the time constant in this circuit?
The time constant of the circuit is:
L 5H
τ= = =0.25 s
2 R 20 Ω
10.) What is the current through each bulb after 2 time constants?
−t
¿ 0.9 e 0.25 A
T=2*0.25
=0.5s
−0.5
0.25
¿ 0.9 e A
¿ 0.12180 A
11.) What is the current through the bulbs after a very long time?
After a very long time the current is zero
Inductors in circuits 8
PART C – LC Circuit
Set up a circuit like the one shown below. Make sure the battery is set to 9 V, the bulb is 10 Ω,
the capacitor is 0.10 F, and the inductor is 5 H.
1.) First close the top switch (S1) and charge the capacitor. What is the time constant for this
loop?
V=9V
R=10Ω
C=0.1F
L=5H
With the switch S1 in the close position, the capacitor (0.1F) is in series with the
bulb( 10Ω resistor) forming and RC circuit. The time constant of RC circuit is given
by:
1 1
τ= = =1 s
RC 0.1∗10
2.) What is the charge on the capacitor after a very long time?
The charge stored in the capacitor is:
Q=CV
=0.1F*9V
=0.9C
3.) How much energy is stored on the capacitor after a very long time?
1 2
E= C V
2
1 2
¿ ∗0.1∗9
2
¿ 4.05 J
4.) Now open the top switch (S1) and close the bottom switch (S2). Qualitatively describe the
current through the light bulb.
Inductors in circuits 9
The bulb continues lighting up as it is connected to two energy storing elements. After a
very long time the bulbs goes off when energy in form of heat is dissipated in the bulb. The
current flowing in the bulb keeps changing polarity.
5.) Using conservation of energy, determine the maximum current through the light bulb?
The maximum current flowing in the circuit is:
V 9V
I= = =0.9 A
R 10 Ω