Experiment Circuits for Magnetism, Capacitors, Inductors, and Alternating Current

[sjgallagher2]

In the past 2 weeks I've learned everything my books can teach me on capacitors, inductors, magnetism, and alternating current down to the calculus and construction of the components and the measurement system of magnets. Now I have a million formulae rattling around in my brain and I fear I might forget most of them if I don't use any of this information in practice! The problem here is I don't have many ideas on these things, I suppose I'll start by trying to even use the components in a circuit, that's a start, but any better ideas for circuits? I want to understand the components and as many uses for them as possible so any ideas - big or small - are very welcome! ~Sam Gallagher

 

[BradtheRad]

* LC resonant tank circuits are fascinating. If the ohmic resistance is low then they can oscillate for many cycles.

* Make a simple AM radio based on a large coil and tunable capacitor. (Often called a crystal radio, although you can use a diode to detect the signal.)

* Make different types of filters, depending on where you tap for the output signal. High pass, low pass, bandpass, bandstop. Discover how ohmic resistance influences the rolloff curve.

* Observe capacitor leading, and inductor lagging.

* Make a power supply and try different smoothing capacitors. Observe the amounts of ripple voltage.
* Similarly with coils (used as a choke).

* Explore the time constant through a capacitor and resistor. See how long you can keep an LED lit from a charged capacitor (several thousand uF).

* Explore methods to determine Henry value of an unknown coil.

* Loop wire to make an air-coil coil, and see if you can construct the same Henry value from a smaller metal-core coil.

* Wave a magnet near a coil and observe the waveforms on an oscilloscope. Hook up an LED, and see what direction and speed of motion are required to light it. (Caution: reverse voltage may exceed LED threshold, maybe 5V or more).

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I have several Youtube videos of animated simulations. Many depict capacitor and coil, action and interaction.
My user name is 'patientbrad'.

Capacitor behavior (various waveforms):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIWEU4pObJw

Inductor behavior with AC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os3jF9UeMoE

Inductor behavior with DC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVNxrN4jgvs

Equal time constants, caps and coils:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2FRCUuE0d0

Cap leads, coil lags:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2kJQLSNqns

LC tank circuit animation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX1-CpzGUHc

 

[sjgallagher2]

This is so awesome! Thanks, I think this is just what I need