Section 4 Lab Report: Mystery Box 1: BMW

ENGR 202 Yong Onn Lim
Section 4 Lab Report 5/14/2015
Section 4 Lab Report

Overview
In this lab we were given two mystery boxes. The 1st mystery box contains only one reactive
component while the second mystery box contains one resistor in series with one reactive
component. A circuit is built with the mystery box in series with a 4.7k resistor connected to
the voltage source. Using different AC voltage frequencies and different voltage sources, we
managed to figure out what was in the box. After that calculations were made to identify the
inductance or capacitance of the component.
Procedure
1. A DC voltage source is connected to the circuit and measurements were taken.
2. An AC voltage source is connected to the circuit and 5 different frequencies ranging
from 100 Hz to 100 kHz were used.
3. Calculations were made from the data collected to obtain the value of the component
in the mystery box.
4. Steps 1-3 were repeated for mystery box 2.
5. Simulations were ran on LT Spice to compare the values obtained.
Results
Calculations:
∆/T x 360 = ϴ
I = V2 / R
Z = (V2 – V1) / I
L = Z / jw
C = 1 / jwZ
Mystery Box 1: BMW
V1 = 5∟0 V
R = 4.635 k Ω
DC source:
V1 = 0.6 V
V2 = 0.6 V
Since there is no voltage drop, the component is an inductor because it acts like a wire in DC.
AC source:
# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA) Z (Ω) L (mH)

1 2083 6.1 15 1.32 962.4 + j980.4 74.9
2 4120 5.8 30 1.25 1175 .9 + j2000 77.3
3 6180 5.1 45 1.10 1422.2 + j3214.1 82.8
4 8340 4.4 60 0.95 2000 + j4558.0 87.0
5 10380 3.9 75 0.84 3102.2 + j5749.6 88.2
Average inductance =
82.04 mH
LT Spice Simulation:
V1 V2
# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA)
1 2083 4.82 12.6 1.04
2 4120 4.43 27.8 0.96
3 6180 3.97 44.1 0.85
4 8340 3.47 57.1 0.75
5 10380 3.08 71.0 0.66

Mystery Box 2: Marvin Gaye
V1 = 5∟0 V
R = 4.635 k Ω
DC source:
When the box is connected to an ohmmeter, a high impedance state was recorded. A high
impedance state would mean that the circuit is an open circuit which would be a capacitor.
After measuring it with an ohmmeter, we measured it with a voltmeter. Since the ohmmeter
provided some current into the box, the capacitor was charged. A voltage was measured
which then slowly decreased with time. These characteristics matches a capacitor.
AC source:
# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA) Z (Ω) C (nF)
1 100 1.32 -68.4 0.29 -1795.3 - j16030.6 90.3
2 200 2.36 -54.7 0.51 -1037.8 - j8001.3 99.5
3 300 3.00 -43.2 0.65 -992.1 - j5265.7 100.7
4 400 3.40 -36.0 0.73 -883.7 - j4025.9 98.8
5 500 3.65 -32.4 0.79 -723.6 - j3391.3 93.9
6 600 3.80 -23.8 0.82 -944.9 - j2460.6 107.8
Average capacitance =
98.5 nF
Average resistance=
1062.9 Ω
LT Spice Simulation:
V1 V2
# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA)
1 100 1.35 -77.4 0.29
2 200 2.34 -58.3 0.51
3 300 2.95 -44.6 0.64
4 400 3.31 -34.6 0.71
5 500 3.52 -30.4 0.76
6 600 3.64 -23.5 0.79
Analysis
When a direct current is applied through an inductor, the inductor will behave like a wire.
However, when a direct current is applied through a capacitor, it will act like an open circuit.
In mystery box 1 which has an inductor, the current will lag the voltage. Therefore ϴ will be
positive. While in mystery box 2 which has a capacitor, the current will lead the voltage and ϴ will be
negative.
In mystery box 1, when the circuit is inductive, the reactive impedance will be positive. While in
mystery box 2, with a capacitive circuit, the reactive impedance will be negative.
Problems and Modifications

While calculating the impedance of mystery box 1, there was a value for the real part. Since
the component is an inductor which is purely reactive, only the reactive part was used to
calculate the inductance. There was a real part for the impedance because the inductor is a
non-ideal inductor and will have resistance.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this lab helped us understand the concepts and behaviours of inductors and
capacitance. This lab also showed us how to figure out the inductance and capacitance by just
calculating the voltage, current and the impedance.
Lab 4 Study Questions
Yong Onn Lim
2. The most efficient method to find out what the components are is to first test it out with a
DC source because the inductors and capacitors behave differently in direct current. Inductors
will act like a wire while capacitors will act like an open circuit when connected to a DC
source.
3. The comparisons were made so that the calculated value of the inductance or capacitance
can be verified. There were slight differences in the data for mystery box 1 and this may be
due to the inductor having some resistance. However, for mystery box 2, the calculations
match the simulations with small deviations.

Section 4 Lab Report: Mystery Box 1: BMW

Uploaded by

Section 4 Lab Report: Mystery Box 1: BMW

Uploaded by

ENGR 202 Yong Onn Lim

Section 4 Lab Report 5/14/2015

Section 4 Lab Report

# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA) Z (Ω) L (mH)

# Frequency (Hz) V2 (v) ϴ I (mA)

1 2083 4.82 12.6 1.04

2 4120 4.43 27.8 0.96

3 6180 3.97 44.1 0.85

4 8340 3.47 57.1 0.75

5 10380 3.08 71.0 0.66

Problems and Modifications

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