Performance-Based Assessments for DC Circuit Competencies

In case students don’t have access to a pair of inductors on a common core, they may either make their own by winding wire around a long ferromagnetic core, or use a center-tapped inductor (or transformer winding). The latter solution is probably the easiest:

Inexpensive audio output transformers (with center-tapped 1000 Ω primary windings) work very well for this. Your students’ parts kits should contain at least one of these transformers anyway if they are to do audio coupling experiments later.

You will need an inductance meter in your lab to do this exercise. If you don’t have one, you should get one right away!

Many modern digital multimeters come equipped with capacitance measurement built-in. If your students do not have these meters, you will either need to provide one for them to use, or provide an LCR meter. If you don’t have either one of these instruments, you should get one right away!

Many modern digital multimeters come equipped with capacitance measurement built-in. If your students do not have these meters, you will either need to provide one for them to use, or provide an LCR meter. If you don’t have either one of these instruments, you should get one right away!