Variation of Reactance

To Study the Variation of Reactance due to L and C with Frequency, and

Hence to find the Resonance Frequency from the 𝑿~𝒇 graphs

Theory: Circuit elements like an inductor and capacitor resist the flow of ac current which is
not always equal to the resistance created by those elements for an equal amount of dc current.
This is due to the presence of frequency in the ac current, and absence of frequency in the dc
current. DC current experiences only the ohmic resistance of a component whereas inductor
and capacitor are sensitive to the frequency of the impressed ac emf. These components can
produce reactance in addition to resistance in an ac circuit. Thus, reactance is defined as the
obstacle offered by the inductor or capacitor to the flow of ac current. Reactance has the unit
of “ohm” as has ohmic resistance.
For the ac current having angular frequency , the reactance XL due to an inductor having self-
inductance L is given by
𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 … … … (1)
Eq. (1) indicates that the reactance 𝑋𝐿 due to L is directly proportional to the applied frequency
f. If a graph is plotted with f in X-axis and 𝑋𝐿 in the Y-axis a straight line will be obtained which
in principle would not pass through the origin due to the presence of a small ohmic resistance
of the inductor coil.

Similarly, the reactance 𝑋𝐶 due to a capacitor having capacitance C is given

1 1
𝑋𝐶 = = … … … (2)
𝜔𝐶 2𝜋𝑓𝐶
Eq. (2) indicates that the reactance 𝑋𝐶 due to C is inversely proportional to the applied
frequency f. If a graph is plotted with f in X-axis and 𝑋𝐶 in Y-axis a rectangular hyperbola will
be obtained.
If the graphs 𝑋𝐿 ~𝑓 and 𝑋𝐶 ~𝑓 are plotted in same paper, the resonance frequency can be
obtained from the point at which the two curves meet.

Measurement of 𝑿𝑳 : Fig. 1(a) shows a series combination of L and R with an ac source .

Current I in the circuit will produce a voltage drop VL and VR across L and R, respectively.
We know the measured current in the circuit is given by
𝑉𝑅
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = … . . (3)
𝑅
𝑉𝐿
Therefore, for an inductor creating reactance 𝑋𝐿 , we have 𝑋𝐿 =
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝑉𝐿
Using equation (3), it can be written as 𝑋𝐿 = 𝑅 … . . (4)
𝑉𝑅
Using equation (4), the reactance due to L can be measured simply by knowing the voltage drop
across the inductor and resistor.

Measurement of 𝑿𝑪 Fig. 1(b) shows a series combination of C and R with an ac source . If

current I in the circuit produce a voltage drop VC and VR across C and R, respectively, then the
reactance XC due to C becomes
𝑉𝐶
𝑋𝐶 = … … . . . (5)
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠

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 Variation of Reactance
𝑉𝐶
Using equation (3), it can be written as 𝑋𝐶 = 𝑅 … … . . (6)
𝑉𝑅
Using equation (6), the reactance due to C can be measured simply by knowing the voltage drop
across the capacitor and resistor.
The resonance frequency 𝑓𝑜 is that frequency at which the 𝑋𝐿 ~𝑓 and the 𝑋𝐶 ~𝑓 curves meet
each other.

Apparatus: Audio Oscillator, Multimeter, Inductor, Capacitor, Resistor, etc.

Experimental Set-up

VR VL VR VC

R L R C

~ ~
 =  0 exp jt  =  0 exp jt

Fig.1(a) a series combination of L and R Fig.1(b) a series combination of C and R

with an ac source. with an ac source.

Fig.2 Variation of reactance with frequency

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 Variation of Reactance

Procedures:

(1) Prepare the LR circuit as shown in Fig. 1(a), keep the value of R within 100-300 Ω.
1
(2) Calculate the value of resonance frequency 𝑓𝑜 = 2𝜋√𝐿𝐶. Now adjust a suitable frequency
on the signal generator so that 𝑓 remains in the middle of the range
(3) Measure VL, and VR with an ac voltmeter, and hence calculate XL using Eq. (4).
(4) Repeat step-3 and 4 for about 10 to 12 different values of 𝑓.
(5) Now prepare the RC circuit as shown in Fig.1(b), measure VC and VR, and hence calculate
XC for different values of 𝑓.
(6) Draw the graphs with the applied frequency f as the abscissa (X-axis) and the
corresponding reactances 𝑋𝐿 and 𝑋𝐶 as the ordinate (Y-axis) in same paper.

Experimental Data

Table-1: Miscellaneous data.

Value of L Value of C Value of R
in Henry in Farad. in Ohm.

Table-2: Data for the LR circuit:

No Applied Voltage (in volts) across Inductive reactance,
of Obs. frequency, Inductor Resistor XL
f in Hz VL VR in ohms
1.
2.
3.
.
etc.

Table-3: Data for the RC circuit:

No Applied Voltage (in volts) across Capacitive reactance,
of Obs. frequency, Inductor Resistor XC in ohms
f in Hz VL VR
1.
2.
3.
.
.
etc.

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 Variation of Reactance

Results:
(a) Variation of reactance XL due to L with frequency was shown in XL ~ f graph, which
was a straight line but did not pass through the origin.
(b) Variation of reactance XC due to C with frequency was shown in XC ~ f graph, which
was a rectangular hyperbola.
(c) The resonance frequency is located from 𝑋𝐿 , 𝑋𝐶 ~𝑓 graph where the inductive reactance
and capacitive reactance are equal in magnitude i.e. 𝑋𝐿 = 𝑋𝐶 .

Calculations:
For LR Circuit:
𝑉𝐿 𝑉𝐿
𝑋𝐿1 = 𝑅 = …… ohms, for f = ……Hz., 𝑋𝐿2 = 𝑅 = …… ohms, for f = …Hz.
𝑉𝑅 𝑉𝑅
…….. ……. …… ……. ……. …… ……. ……. ……..
𝑉𝐿
𝑋𝐿12 = 𝑅 = ……… ohms, for f = ………Hz.
𝑉𝑅

For CR Circuit:
𝑉𝐶 𝑉𝐶
𝑋𝐶1 = 𝑅 = …… ohms. For f = …. Hz., 𝑋𝐶2 = 𝑅 = … ohms. For f = …. Hz.
𝑉𝑅 𝑉𝑅
…….. ……. …… ……. ……. …… ……. ……. ……..
𝑉𝐶
𝑋𝐶12 = 𝑅 = ……… ohms. For f = ………. Hz.
𝑉𝑅

Precautions:
1) The connecting wires should be cleaned up using sandpaper.
2) The circuit connections should be tight.
3) Voltage should be taken in ac range.

Discussion:
1) The inductive reactance increases with increasing frequency of the ac source, because
when the frequency is increased, the back emf across the inductor increases which
opposes the current flow.

2) On the other hand, the capacitive reactance decreases for the same, because the rate of
 dq 
change of current flow with time   across the capacitor increases which increases
 dt 
current flow through the capacitor.