2023 BFY4 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: |
W20: Miniature Tesla Coil Teaching Lab |
| Abstract: |
Participants will learn how to make a miniature Tesla coil, how the miniature Tesla coil functions, and use it to test the V~1/r scaling of the electric potential. The miniature Tesla coil is powered by a 9 V battery and utilizes a TIP31C resistor as the switch. Each coil costs about $10 and can be created from scratch by an undergraduate in under three hours. Demonstrating the functioning of the Tesla coil requires only a compact fluorescent lightbulb while measuring the electric potential requires an oscilloscope. After the lab activity students should be able to describe the functioning of a transistor, how the transistor combines with the law of induction to create an oscillating electric potential, and how this electric potential decreases in strength with distance from the Tesla coil. This lab activity is intended for an upper level electronics course, but can be used at the introductory level by invoking the hydraulic analogy for circuits. |
| Abstract Type: |
Workshop
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Author/Organizer Information |
| Primary Contact: |
Nathan Tompkins
Wabash College
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Workshop Documents |
| Workshop Doc 1: |
Download the Workshop Doc 1
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