What is the voltage over a non-ideal inductor with a resistance of 50Ω?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating and graphing the voltage across an ideal and a non-ideal inductor, specifically focusing on the effects of internal resistance in the non-ideal case. Participants explore the implications of current behavior and voltage relationships in both scenarios, addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of inductor behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of voltage across an ideal inductor using the formula U_{L}=L*\frac{di}{dt} and confirm the correctness of the square wave form for the ideal case.
  • There is a consensus that the current through the non-ideal inductor remains the same as that through the ideal inductor, despite the presence of internal resistance.
  • One participant expresses confusion about how to approach the non-ideal inductor calculations and seeks clarification on the expected voltage behavior.
  • Another participant explains that the voltage across the non-ideal inductor can be modeled as the sum of the voltage across the ideal inductor and the voltage across the internal resistance.
  • Specific calculations are presented, showing that at t=3ms, the voltage across the non-ideal inductor aligns with a provided hint, reinforcing the relationship between the ideal and non-ideal cases.
  • Participants reflect on the implications of current changes over time and how these affect the voltage across the inductor, noting that the voltage behavior may not remain a simple square wave due to the influence of the resistor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

While there is agreement on the basic principles of how voltage and current interact in inductors, participants express varying levels of understanding and confidence regarding the calculations for the non-ideal inductor. The discussion remains somewhat unresolved as participants navigate through the complexities of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of considering instantaneous values versus averages in their calculations, indicating potential limitations in their understanding of the dynamic behavior of the circuit.

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Homework Statement


An inductor is subjected to the current in the graph:
RAbC0.jpg


L = 100mH = 0.1H

I) Calculate and graph the voltage over the ideal inductor.

II) Repeat for non ideal inductor with a resistance of:
RL = 50 Ω

Homework Equations



U_{L}=L*\frac{di}{dt}
U_{av}=L*\frac{Δi}{Δt}

The voltage over an inductor is equal to the rate of change of the current through the coil.

The Attempt at a Solution



I)
MkSOe.jpg


This is what I came up with. As an example, from 2 ms to 4 ms:

U_{av}=0.1H*\frac{-2A}{2*10^-3 s} = -100V

Ok, some question, I am pretty sure the answer is yes to these two, but I'd love to have them confirmed, so I know I am on the right track:

*Is my square wave form correct? Should it be square, like this?

*Am I doing this correctly? It seems to me U_{av} = U. So I could write just U =...

II)

This is when I become confused, and I have spent hours and hours trying to solve this... sadly heh. I don't know where to start!

The way I understand it:

*Regardless of the internal resistance, the current will still be the same, as the coil and the internal resistance will be in series.

*So for charging up during 0-1ms, the voltage over the coil will be the same.

*Am I still going to have a square wave form?

I've been given as a clue that U_{coil}(3ms) = -50 V

Please, just a nudge in the right direction, I'm totally stuck here..
 
Last edited:
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DrOnline said:
*Is my square wave form correct? Should it be square, like this?

Yes, all good assuming your algebra is right.

*Am I doing this correctly? It seems to me U_{av} = U. So I could write just U =...

Yes you are but I don't even look at the Uav equation. What is important is the slope of i(t) at any particular time and in your graphs the slope di/dt is constant over periods of time.

II)

This is when I become confused, and I have spent hours and hours trying to solve this... sadly heh. I don't know where to start!

The way I understand it:

*Regardless of the internal resistance, the current will still be the same, as the coil and the internal resistance will be in series.

That's right, you are shoving the same current through the non-ideal inductor as before. The outside current source will have to adjust its terminal voltage to accomplish this.

*So for charging up during 0-1ms, the voltage over the coil will be the same.

*Am I still going to have a square wave form?

I've been given as a clue that U_{coil}(3ms) = -50 V

Please, just a nudge in the right direction, I'm totally stuck here..

The non-ideal inductor is now modeled as a resistance in series with an ideal inductor. The voltage you measure across the non-ideal inductor is equal to the voltage across the ideal part plus ?
 
v_{real} = v_{ideal} + v_{R_{i}}

Matching the variables to my drawing's labels:
v_{non-ideal} = v_{ideal} + v_{R}

qTdIt.png


Alright, so the voltage from 2ms to 4ms is -100 over the ideal.

And the average current is 1 A. That makes the voltage over the resistor: R * I = 50 ohm * 1A = 50V.

v_{real} = v_{ideal} + v_{R_{i}} = -100V + 50V = -50V

Is this sound reasoning? I think it is. What troubled me was the linear drop in the current, and I was having problems understanding how that influenced the voltage of the resistor... I think I get it now.
 
Last edited:
DrOnline said:
]

Alright, so the voltage from 2ms to 4ms is -100 over the ideal.

And the average current is 1 A. That makes the voltage over the resistor: R * I = 50 ohm * 1A = 50V.

v_{real} = v_{ideal} + v_{R_{i}} = -100V + 50V = -50V

Yes :). But let's not look at the average, let's look at a specific instant of time.

Your hint was:

U_{coil}(3ms) = -50 V

At t=3ms, the voltage across the ideal inductor is -100. The current through the inductor is (from your graph) 1A. So the voltage measured across the nonideal inductor is: Videal + iR = -100 + 50 = -50V, in agreement with the hint.

I just wanted to make sure you were looking at the current at a particular instant of time t=3ms instead of some average over an interval.

You can see that the voltage measured across the non-ideal inductor will be a scaled version of your i(t) graph (iR) plus the square wave voltage you found for the ideal inductor. So your squares are going to disappear except where the current is constant.
 
Thank you so much.

I kinda knew that when I finally get this task solved, I would look back at it and wonder what took me so long.

The problem was I kept feeling the drop in current coming through the inductor would change the voltage over the conductor all the time, causing some weird differential equation task, where the voltage rose abruptly, but dropped exponentially. And then I was constantly wondering about whether I had built my work on faulty logic from the start, so it's a huge help just that you confirmed for me the first steps, that I had done it right.

Thanks again! ;)
 

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