PANCHSHEEL PUBLIC SCHOOL

Name: Nitin Kumar

Class: 12th A
Roll No:
Admission No: P5979
Topic: 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
 Certificate
This is to certify that NITIN KUMAR of class XIIth A
of Panchsheel Public School has successfully
completed the Physics Project report titled “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” during the
academic year 2025-26 towards partial fulfilment of
physics practical examination.
Signature of internal: _______________ Signature of external: ______________
 Acknowledgement
I would like to give my special thanks to my Physics teacher Mr. Manoj
Kumar under whose guidance and constant supervision the project was
brought to the present state and which also helped me in doing lots of
research and I came to know about so many things, I am really thankful to
him.

I would also like to express my gratitude towards my parents for their kind
cooperation and encouragement which helped me in the completion of this
project. I am also thankful to PANCHSHEEL PUBLIC SCHOOL for giving me
such an amazing opportunity for making this project, and giving suitable
instructions and guidelines for the project. Last but not the least, I thank my
friends who shared necessary information and useful web links for preparing
this project within the limited time frame.
 Content
 Introduction
 Magnetic Coil
 Investigating Factors Affecting Coil Self- Inductance in AC
Circuits
 Factors Affecting Self-Inductance
 Understanding Self-Inductance: Basics and Importance
Experimental Setup: AC Source, Resistor, and Inductor Circuit
 Theoretical Factors Influencing
a Coil's Self- Inductance
 Methodology: Observing Coil Behavior with Adjustable AC
Frequency
 Analyzing Circuit Response to Changes in Coil Parameters
 Correlating Observations to Factors Affecting Self-Inductance
 Conclusion: Key Learnings and Practical Applications
 Bibliography
 Introduction
Our study explores the intricate relationship between
a coil's physical properties and its self-inductance.

We delve into how these factors manifest in an AC

circuit, providing a foundational understanding for
electrical engineering and beyond.
To investigate the factors influencing self-inductance, this experiment examines a coil's
behavior within an AC circuit with adjustable frequency. By observing changes in current
and bulb brightness (related to power dissipation) as frequency and potentially other
parameters like core material are varied, we can deduce how these factors affect the
coil's self-inductance. The core concept is that self-inductance, the property of a coil to
oppose changes in current, is dependent on the coil's physical characteristics and the
surrounding medium.

Elaboration:

Self-inductance is a crucial property of coils, especially in AC circuits. It represents the

coil's ability to resist changes in the electric current flowing through it. This opposition
to change arises from the magnetic field generated by the current within the coil, which
induces a back EMF (electromotive force) that opposes the original current.

The experiment utilizes a circuit where a coil is connected in series with a resistor (or a
bulb) to an AC source with adjustable frequency. By varying the frequency of the AC
source, we can observe how the current flowing through the coil and the brightness of
the bulb change. A lower frequency means a slower rate of change of current, leading to
less opposition from the self-inductance, while a higher frequency indicates a faster rate
of change and greater opposition.
Furthermore, the experiment can be extended to investigate the impact of other
factors like the core material (e.g., adding a soft iron core) or the coil's geometry
(number of turns, coil area, length). Introducing a ferromagnetic core, for example,
increases the magnetic field and consequently the self-inductance. By systematically
varying these parameters and observing their effect on the circuit's behavior, we can
gain a deeper understanding of the factors that govern self-inductance.

In essence, the experiment provides a practical way to explore the relationship

between self-inductance and various physical parameters, allowing us to understand
how these factors influence the behavior of a coil in an AC circuit.
Magnetic Coil
An electromagnetic coil is an electrical conductor such
as a wire in the shape of a coil (spiral or helix).
Electromagnetic coils are used in electrical engineering,
in applications where electric currents interact with
magnetic fields, in devices such as electric motors,
generators, inductors, electromagnets, transformers,
sensor coils such as in medical MRI imaging machines.
Either an electric current is passed through the wire of
the coil to generate a magnetic field, or conversely, an
external time-varying magnetic field through the
interior of the coil generates an EMF (voltage) in the
conductor.
A current through any conductor creates a circular magnetic field around the
conductor due to Ampere's law. The advantage of using the coil shape is that it
increases the strength of the magnetic field produced by a given current. The
magnetic fields generated by the separate turns of wire all pass through the
center of the coil and add (superpose) to produce a strong field there. The
greater the number of turns of wire, the stronger the field produced. Conversely,
a changing external magnetic flux induces a voltage in a conductor such as a wire,
due to Faraday's law of induction. The induced voltage can be increased by winding
the wire into a coil because the field lines intersect the circuit multiple times.
The direction of the magnetic field produced by a coil can be determined by
the right hand grip rule. If the fingers of the right hand are wrapped around the
magnetic core of a coil in the direction of conventional current through the wire,
the thumb will point in the direction the magnetic field lines pass through the coil.
The end of a magnetic core from which the field lines emerge is defined to be the
North pole.
There are many different types of coils used in electric and electronic equipment.
 Investigating Factors
Affecting Coil Self-
Inductance in AC Circuits
 Self-inductance in AC circuits is
affected by several factors related to
the coil's construction and the
surrounding medium. These include the
number of turns, coil area, coil length,
and the core material's
permeability. Changing these factors
directly impacts the magnetic flux and
thus the coil's inductance.
 Factors Affecting Self-Inductance:
 Number of Turns (N):
 Inductance is directly proportional to the square of the number of turns
(L ∝ N²). More turns mean a stronger magnetic field for the same
current, leading to higher inductance.
 Coil Area (A):
 Larger coil area allows for a greater magnetic flux to be established,
increasing inductance (L ∝ A).
 Coil Length (l):
 A longer coil results in a more spread-out magnetic field, reducing
inductance (L ∝ 1/l).
 Core Material (μ):
 The core material's permeability (μ) significantly affects
inductance. Materials with higher permeability (like iron) increase
inductance, while materials with lower permeability (like air) decrease it.
 Frequency of AC Source:
 While not a direct factor in determining the inductance itself, the
frequency of the AC source influences the inductive reactance (XL =
2πfL), which in turn affects the current flow in the circuit.
Experimental Investigation:

An experiment to investigate these factors could involve:

1. Setting up a circuit:
Connect a coil, a resistor (bulb), and an adjustable AC source in series.
2. Varying the number of turns:
Change the number of turns in the coil and observe the change in current and bulb
brightness.
3. Changing the coil area:
Use coils with different cross-sectional areas and observe the impact on current and
brightness.
4. Introducing a core material:
Insert a soft iron core into the coil and observe the changes in current and brightness.
5. Adjusting the frequency:
Change the frequency of the AC source and note the effect on current and brightness.
Expected Observations:
Increasing the number of turns or coil area will increase inductance, resulting in lower
current and bulb brightness.
Inserting an iron core will increase inductance, leading to lower current and bulb
brightness.
Decreasing the frequency will increase inductive reactance, resulting in lower current and
bulb brightness.
These observations demonstrate how the self-inductance of a coil is affected by these
factors and how it influences the behavior of an AC circuit.
 Understanding Self-Inductance:
Basics and Importance

Self-inductance is a coil's
property to oppose changes in
current flow, generating a back
electromotive force (EMF).

Fundamental Principle
Inductance L quantifies
this opposition.

Energy Storage
Coils store energy in their
magnetic fields.
 Our Experimental Setup:
AC Source, Resistor, and
Inductor Circuit

Adjustable A C Series Test Coil

Source Resistor (Inductor)
Controls Limits current, The core
frequency and provides voltage component under
voltage.
reference. observation.
 Theoretical Factors Influencing
a Coil's Self- Inductance
N u m b e r of Turns ( N )
More turns, higher inductance.

Cross-Sectional
Area ( A )
Larger area, more flux
linkage.

Leng th of Coil (l)

Shorter coil for given turns,
higher inductance.

Core Material Permeability ( ¿ )

Higher permeability, stronger
magnetic field.
 Methodology: Observing Coil Behaviour
with Adjustable A C Frequency
Circuit Assembly
Connect components
as per diagram.
Voltage Measurement
Record voltage across resistor and
coil.
Frequency Variation
Adjust AC source frequency
incrementally.

Current Calculation
Use Ohm's Law for circuit current.

I m pe dan ce Derivation
Calculate total impedance for each
frequency.
 Analysing Circuit Response to
Changes in Coil Parameters
450

300

150

F r e q u e n c y (Hz) Inductive Reactance (Ohms) Current (Amps)

Observe how inductive reactance (X L = 2Ãf L)

increases with frequency, leading to decreased
current .
Correlating Observations to
Factors Affecting Self-Inductance
By observing changes in current and voltage
across the coil at varying frequencies, we infer
the impact of coil parameters.

Turns & Area

Increasing these directly boosts inductance.

Core Material
Ferromagnetic cores significantly amplify
inductance.
0

Coil Length
Longer coils, lower inductance (for fixed
turns).
 Conclusion: Key Learnings and
Practical Applications
Self-inductance is critical
for circuit design, filtering,
and energy storage.

Inductance is
Variable Frequency
Dependence
Not a fixed value,
Inductive reactance varies
dependent on coil
directly with frequency.
geometry and core.

Real-World Impact
Crucial for transformers, motors, and communication
systems.
 Self-inductance is crucial in circuit design for its
ability to resist changes in current flow, enabling
filtering of unwanted frequencies and energy
storage. Inductors, which exhibit self-inductance,
are used in circuits to smooth voltage and current
fluctuations, create resonant circuits for tuning
and filtering, and store energy in magnetic fields
Here's a breakdown of the key roles:

1. Filtering:
Inductors are used in various types of filters, including low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass filters, to
allow specific frequency ranges to pass while attenuating others.
They are also used as chokes in power supplies to prevent high-frequency noise from entering or
leaving the circuit.
2. Energy Storage:
Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them.
This stored energy can be used in various applications, such as power converters and pulse circuits.
Inductors are essential components in switched-mode power supplies (SMPS) to smooth out voltage
and current fluctuations.
3. Circuit Design:
Self-inductance helps to stabilize current in circuits, preventing sudden changes and voltage spikes.
It allows for the creation of resonant circuits with capacitors, which are vital for radio frequency (RF)
applications like tuned circuits and oscillators.
Understanding self-inductance is crucial for designing efficient and reliable electronic circuits.
4. Energy Storage Graph:
The energy stored in an inductor is proportional to the square of the current flowing through it and
the inductance value, as described by the formula: E = 1/2 * L * I^2.
This means that as the current through an inductor increases, the energy stored in its magnetic field
also increases quadratically.
A graph of energy stored versus current would show a parabolic curve, indicating this quadratic
relationship.
 Bibliography
 Textbook for Class XII – Physics NCERT
 https://www.scribd.com/document/676747041/XII-Physics-
Investigatory-Project-to-Study-the-Factor-on-Which-the-Self-
Inductance-of-a-Coil-Depends-2-Final
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_coil
 https://www.studocu.com/in/document/st-thomas-higher-
secondary-school/physics-hl/self-inductance-of-coil-influencing-
fact/125812368
THANK YOU!