Magnetic Core in Inductor Design Experiment

Objective

To study the effect of different magnetic core materials on the inductance and performance of an inductor in a circuit.

Theory

Inductors store energy in a magnetic field when current flows through them. The core material inside the inductor affects the strength of the magnetic field, and hence, the inductance value. Inductors can have air cores, iron cores, ferrite cores, or other magnetic materials. The magnetic permeability of the core material determines the inductance and other characteristics like core losses, saturation, and efficiency.

By varying the core material, we can see how it impacts the inductance value and the overall behavior of the circuit.

Components Required

• Inductor with interchangeable cores (air core, iron core, ferrite core)
• Function generator
• Oscilloscope
• Resistors (e.g., 1kΩ)
• DC power supply
• Breadboard
• Connecting wires

Circuit Diagram

The circuit consists of an inductor connected in series with a resistor, forming an RL circuit. The core material of the inductor can be changed to study the effect on the inductance. Here's a simplified circuit diagram:

In this setup:

• The inductor is placed in series with a resistor to form an RL circuit.
• The oscilloscope is connected across the resistor to measure the voltage drop and observe the effect of different core materials.

Procedure

1. Assemble the RL circuit on a breadboard as per the circuit diagram.
2. Set the function generator to produce a sine wave signal with a frequency between 10 kHz and 100 kHz.
3. Start with the air core inductor. Connect the power supply and observe the voltage drop across the resistor using the oscilloscope. Record the voltage and waveform characteristics.
4. Repeat the experiment using the iron core and ferrite core inductors, and record the measurements for each case.
5. Compare the inductance values and the voltage waveform for each core type, noting any changes in the waveform and response.

Results

Record your results in a table:

Conclusion

This experiment demonstrates how the core material in an inductor affects its inductance and performance in a circuit. The iron core and ferrite core inductors have higher inductance values compared to the air core inductor. This experiment highlights the importance of core selection for achieving the desired inductance and efficiency in various applications.