3/17/2019 Homework #12 (phy 112)

Homework #12 (phy 112)

Due: 11:00pm on Friday, March 22, 2019
To understand how points are awarded, read the Grading Policy for this assignment.

A message from your instructor...

Notes for Part D: Based on course material graphs A and B corrrectly represent the decrease/increase of the current in a circuit with an inductor and resistor
(and a battery). In these cases the rate of change of current depends on the value of the current (apply the loop rule to these circuits), hence the exponetial
increase/decrease in the current in the circuit. The less obvious--but also correct answer--is graph C. This is the result of having an inductor in a circuit with no
resistance. Here the rate of change of the current is constant. Meaning a graph of I vs. t has constant slope, that is the current is a linear function of time (a
straight line). The correct answer for Part D is ABC.

± Basic Properties of Inductors

Learning Goal:
To understand the units of inductance, the potential energy stored in an inductor, and some of the consequences of having inductance in a circuit.

After batteries, resistors, and capacitors, the most common elements in circuits are inductors. Inductors usually look like tightly wound coils of fine wire. Unlike
capacitors, which produce a physical break in the circuit between the capacitor plates, the wire of an inductor provides an unbroken continuous path in which
current can flow. When the current in a circuit is constant, an inductor acts essentially like a short circuit (i.e., a zero-resistance path). In reality, there is always
at least a small amount of resistance in the windings of an inductor, a fact that is usually neglected in introductory discussions.
Recall that current flowing through a wire generates a magnetic field in the vicinity of the wire. If the wire is coiled , such as in a solenoid or an inductor, the
magnetic field is strongest within the coil parallel to its axis. The magnetic field associated with current flowing through an inductor takes time to create, and
time to eliminate when the current is turned off. When the current changes, an EMF is generated in the inductor, according to Faraday's law, that opposes the
change in current flow. Thus inductors provide electrical inertia to a circuit by reducing the rapidity of change in the current flow.

Inductance is usually denoted by L and is measured in SI units of henries (also written henrys, and abbreviated H), named after Joseph Henry, a
contemporary of Michael Faraday. The EMF E produced in a coil with inductance L is, according to Faraday's law, given by

ΔI
E = −L .
Δt

Here ΔI /Δt characterizes the rate at which the current I through the inductor is changing with time t.

Part A
Based on the equation given in the introduction, what are the units of inductance L in terms of the units of E , t, and I (respectively volts V, seconds s, and
amperes A)?
ANSWER:

1 H = 1 (V ⋅ s ⋅ A)

V⋅s
1 H=1 ( )
A

V⋅A
1 H=1 ( )
s

s⋅A
1 H=1 ( )
V

1
1 H=1 ( )
V⋅s⋅A

Correct

Part B
What EMF is produced if a waffle iron that draws 2.5 amperes and has an inductance of 560 millihenries is suddenly unplugged, so the current drops to
essentially zero in 0.015 seconds?
Express your answer in volts to two significant figures.

ANSWER:

93 V

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The elevated voltage does not last long, but it can sometimes be large enough to produce a potentially dangerous spark. Moral: Be very careful
when opening switches carrying current, especially if they are part of an inductive circuit!

Electrical potential energy U is stored within an inductor in the form of a magnetic field when current is flowing through the inductor. In terms of the current I
and the inductance L, the stored electrical potential energy is given by

1 2
U = LI .
2

Part C
Which of the following changes would increase the potential energy stored in an inductor by a factor of 5?
Check all that apply.

ANSWER:

increasing the inductance by a factor of 5; leaving the current unchanged

leaving the inductance unchanged; increasing the current by a factor of 5

leaving the inductance unchanged; increasing the current by a factor of √5

reducing the inductance by a factor of 5; increasing the current by a factor of 5

increasing the inductance by a factor of 5; reducing the current by a factor of 5

Correct

As indicated by the equation in the introduction to this part, the current flowing through an inductor is related to the amount of electrical potential energy stored
in the inductor. If the current is graphed as a function of time, the slope of the curve indicates the rate at which potential energy in the inductor is increasing or
decreasing. The rate at which energy changes over time is known as power.
Energy cannot be delivered to the inductor infinitely fast, nor can it be dissipated instantaneously in the form of heat or light by other circuit elements. Thus
power can never be infinite. This implies that the curve of current versus time must be continuous. A graph is discontinuous when it contains a point at which
the current jumps from one value to another without taking on all the values in between. When this happens, the slope of the curve at that location is infinite,
which would imply infinite power in this case.

Part D
Which of the graphs illustrate how the current through an inductor might possibly change over time?
Type the numbers corresponding to the right answers in alphabetical order. Do not use
commas. For instance, if you think that only graphs C and D are correct, type CD.

ANSWER:

ABC

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All real circuits, even those that do not specifically have inductors in them, have at least a small amount of inductance, just as real inductors have
a small amount of resistance in their windings. Circuit analysis in textbooks often assumes ideal batteries, resistors, capacitors, and inductors and
hence neglects such subtle details of real circuits.

Decay of Current in an L-R Circuit

A DC voltage source provides a voltage V = 12.0 V and is connected to a resistor of resistance R = 150 Ω and an ideal inductor with inductance L, forming
the circuit shown in the figure. For a long time, the switch has been in the position shown, so that a
constant current has been built up in the circuit by the voltage source. At t = 0 the switch is thrown
open to remove the voltage source from the circuit. At time t after t = 0 , the current through the
inductor and the voltage across the inductor are given by, respectively, I (t) and V (t).

Part A
At t = 0 , the switch is thrown to remove the voltage source from the circuit. At time t after t = 0 , what happens to the voltage V (t) across the inductor
and the current I (t) through the inductor relative to their values prior to t = 0 ?

Hint 1. What is the relation between current and voltage for the inductor?
The current through an inductor cannot change abruptly, unless the voltage across the inductor is infinite. This follows from the fundamental
equation relating voltage and current for an inductor. In view of that, what is the voltage drop VL (t) across the inductor in the direction of the current
shown (clockwise) at time t after t = 0 ? In the following expressions ΔI /Δt denotes the time rate of change of the current I (t) at time t.
ANSWER:

RΔI

−RΔI

ΔI
VL (t) = L
Δt

ΔI
−L
Δt

ANSWER:

V changes slowly and I changes abruptly.

I changes slowly and V changes abruptly.

Both V and I change slowly.

Both V and I change abruptly.

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After t = 0 , the battery no longer provides a voltage that drives current around the circuit. If the circuit did not contain an inductor, then the
current would drop to zero immediately. However, inductors act to keep the current flowing. If the current starts to change, this causes an
electromotive force (EMF) to form across the inductor that (by Lenz's law) opposes the tendency for the current to change. Here, this causes the
current through the inductor to persist for a while as it decays toward zero.

After t = 0 , the current through the inductor decreases exponentially with time. In general, the current I (t) flowing in an L-R circuit at time t after the voltage
source is removed is given by
−t/τ
I (t) = I0 e ,

where I0 is the current through the inductor at t = 0 when the voltage source is removed, and τ is the time constant characteristic of the circuit.

Part B
What is the current I (τ ) that flows through the inductor one time constant after the voltage source is removed?

Express your answer in amperes.

Hint 1. Mathematical substitution

To find the current flowing in the circuit after one time constant, use the expression for I (t) given in the problem, with t equal to τ . Calculate I0
separately and plug in your result, but do not try to determine the time constant for this circuit. You would not be able to do so, because the
inductance L is unknown. Instead, after substituting τ for time, simplify your result to get a numerical value for the current.

Hint 2. Find the current at t = 0

What is the current I0 through the inductor at t = 0 when the voltage source is removed?
Express your answer in amperes.

Hint 1. How to approach the problem

Before the voltage source is removed, the switch has been in the position shown in the figure for enough time that a constant current is
flowing in the circuit. That is the same current that flows through the inductor at t = 0 .

ANSWER:

I0 = 8.00×10−2 A

Correct

ANSWER:

I (τ ) = 2.94×10−2 A

Correct
After only one time constant, the current in the circuit has already dropped more than 60% of its initial value. It will decrease to zero as time
approaches infinity.

Part C
If the inductor has inductance 60.0 mH , what is the time constant τ for this circuit?
Express your answer in seconds.

Hint 1. Time constant for an L-R circuit

The time constant of an L-R circuit is defined as
L
τ = ,
R
where R is the resistance of the resistor, and L is the inductance of the inductor.

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ANSWER:

τ = 4.00×10−4 s

Correct

Growth of Current in an L-R Circuit

Consider an L-R circuit as shown in the figure. The battery provides 12.0 V of voltage. The inductor
has inductance L, and the resistor has resistance R = 150 Ω . The switch is initially open as shown.
At time t = 0 , the switch is closed. At time t after t = 0 the current I (t) flows through the circuit as
indicated in the figure.

Part A
What is the voltage reading Vr (t) given by the voltmeter across the resistor at time t after
t = 0?

ANSWER:

RI (t)

−RI (t)
Vr (t) =

12 V

−12 V

Correct

Part B
What is the voltage reading Vind (t) given by the voltmeter across the inductor at time t after t = 0 ? In the following expressions, ΔI /Δt denotes the
time rate of change of the current in the inductor at time t.

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ANSWER:

RI (t)

−RI (t)

ΔI
L
Vind (t) = Δt

ΔI
−L
Δt

12 V

−12 V

Correct

After the switch is closed, the current in the circuit grows over time approaching a constant value. In general, at time t after a voltage source is connected to an
L-R circuit, the current I (t) in the circuit is given by the expression

V
),
−t/τ
I (t) = (1 − e
R

where V is the voltage provided by the battery, R is the resistance of the resistor, and τ is the time constant characteristic of the circuit.

Part C
What is the current reading I (τ ) given by the ammeter shown in the circuit at one time constant
after t = 0 ?

Express your answer in amperes.

Hint 1. Mathematical substitution

To find the current in the circuit after one time constant, use the expression for I (t) given in the problem, with t equal to τ . Do not try to determine
the time constant for this circuit. You would not be able to do so because the inductance L is unknown. Instead, after plugging in the numerical
values for V and R appropriate for this circuit and substituting τ for time, simplify your expression to get a numerical value for the current.

ANSWER:

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I (τ ) = 5.06×10−2 A

Correct

Part D
What is the current I (3τ ) at a time after t = 0 equal to three times the time constant?
Express your answer in amperes.

Hint 1. Mathematical substitution

Repeat the same calculation done in Part C using t = 3τ , instead of t = τ .

ANSWER:

I (3τ ) = 7.60×10−2 A

Correct

Part E
The current in the circuit will approach a constant value Ic after a long time (as t tends to infinity). What is Ic ?
Express your answer in amperes.

Hint 1. The exponential function

To find the value of the current after a long time, you need to evaluate the exponential expression for I (t) at a large value of t. Mathematically, that
corresponds to evaluating the exponential function at infinity. When you do that, you will get e−∞ , which is equal to zero.

ANSWER:

Ic = 8.00×10−2 A

Correct
As you can see, you don't need to wait a long time for the current to get close to the constant value Ic . After one time constant the current has
already reached more than 60% of Ic , and after a time equal to three time constants it has reached more than 90%.

Part F

If the time constant characteristic of this circuit is 4.00×10−4 s , what is L, the inductance of the inductor?
Express your answer in millihenries.

Hint 1. The time constant

The time constant for an RL circuit is defined as

L
τ = ,
R
where L is the inductance of the inductor and R is the resistance of the resistor.

ANSWER:

L = 60.0 mH

Correct

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Secondary Voltage and Current in a Transformer Ranking Task

Six transformers have the rms primary voltages (Vp ), number of primary turns (Np ), and number of secondary turns (Ns ) listed below.

Part A
Which of the transformers are step-up transformers? Which of the transformers are step-down transformers?
Place the appropriate transformers into the two categories listed below.

Hint 1. Step-up and step-down transformers

A transformer is referred to as step-up if the secondary voltage is larger than the primary voltage. Similarly, a transformer is referred to as step-down
if the secondary voltage is smaller than the primary voltage.

Hint 2. Turns ratio

The turns ratio, Ns /Np , is the factor that determines the characteristics of a transformer. If the ratio is greater than one, the transformer "steps up"
the voltage by this factor. If it is less than one, it "steps down" the voltage.

ANSWER:

Reset Help

step-up transformers step-down transformers

Vp = 240 V Vp = 120 V Vp = 240 V Vp = 480 V Vp = 480 V

Np = 1000 turns Np = 500 turns Np = 1000 turns Np = 2000 turns Np = 4000 turns

Ns = 2000 turns Ns = 2000 turns Ns = 500 turns Ns = 1000 turns Ns = 2000 turns

Correct

Part B
Rank the transformers on the basis of their rms secondary voltage.

Rank from largest to smallest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Hint 1. Voltage and number of turns

The proportionality constant between voltage and number of turns is the same on both sides of the transformer.

Hint 2. Secondary voltage

Since the proportionality constant between voltage and number of turns is the same on both sides of the transformer, we can set the ratios V /N on
both sides equal to each other:

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Vp Vs
= ,
Np Ns

or

Ns
Vs = ( )Vp .
Np

Therefore, the secondary voltage is just the product of the primary voltage and the turns ratio.

ANSWER:

Reset Help

largest smallest

Vp = 240 V Vp = 480 V

Np = 1000 turns Np = 2000 turns

Ns = 2000 turns Ns = 1000 turns

Vp = 240 V

Np = 1000 turns

Vp = 120 V Vp = 480 V Ns = 500 turns

Np = 500 turns Np = 4000 turns

Ns = 2000 turns Ns = 2000 turns

The correct ranking cannot be determined.

Correct

Part C
100 A of rms current is incident on the primary side of each transformer. Rank the transformers on the basis of their rms secondary current.

Rank from largest to smallest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Hint 1. Energy conservation

Since energy flow (power) in a circuit is given by

P = IV ,

energy conservation requires that any increase in voltage be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in current, and vice versa. Thus, a step-up
transformer will step down current.

Hint 2. Stepping down current in a step-up transformer

Since voltage is stepped up by the turns ratio,

Ns
Vs = ( )Vp ,
Np

conservation of energy ensures that current is stepped down by the same ratio. This can be written as

Np
Is = ( )Ip .
Ns

ANSWER:

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Reset Help

largest smallest
Vp = 240 V

Np = 1000 turns

Ns = 500 turns

Vp = 480 V Vp = 240 V Vp = 120 V

Np = 2000 turns Np = 1000 turns Np = 500 turns

Ns = 1000 turns Ns = 2000 turns Ns = 2000 turns

Vp = 480 V

Np = 4000 turns

Ns = 2000 turns

The correct ranking cannot be determined.

Correct

Problem 21.51

A 5.15 μF capacitor is initially charged to a potential of 15.6 V . It is then connected in series with a 3.85 mH inductor.

Part A
What is the total energy stored in this circuit?
Express your answer in joules to three significant figures.

ANSWER:

U = 6.27×10−4 J

Correct

Part B
What is the maximum current in the inductor?
Express your answer in amperes to three significant figures.
ANSWER:

imax = 0.571 A

Correct

Part C
What is the charge on the capacitor plates at the instant the current in the inductor is maximal?

Express your answer in microcoulombs to the nearest integer.

ANSWER:

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q = 0 μC

Correct

Score Summary:
Your score on this assignment is 97.8%.
You received 30.33 out of a possible total of 31 points.

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