5L20.20 Series AC Resonance

PURPOSE: To demonstrate RLC Circuits with AC

DESCRIPTION: An oil capacitor, a 500-watt light bulb, and a large coil with a removable core are wired in series and powered with 115-volt household AC. The core is slowly withdrawn from the coil, tuning it to resonance, and the bulb lights brightly. Fully withdrawing the core de-tunes the circuit again, and the bulb dims.

SETUP TIME: Medium-to-high

COMPONENT LIST:

    


  1.  Oil capacitor	Capacitor Storage Area


  2.  500 W Bulb		Bulb Storage Area


  3.  Coil w/ core		EM Shelves

SUGGESTIONS: Q = woL/R and the Q of this circuit, though low (7 or 8) is enough to jack up the effective voltage at resonance to about 1000. So keep in mind that 1000 volts in a highly reactive form may be present on the terminals of all the components in this demonstration.

REFERENCES: 2122 9.42 ; PIRA 5L20.20

OTHER NOTES: