At power line frequencies, it is possible to find the inductance of a coil by first measur- ing the coil’s dc resistance, RL0, with an ohmmeter. The actual real part of the series impedance of the coil at the measurement frequency will generally be slightly higher than RL0 due to magnetic core losses and skin effect at radio frequencies. The effective, ac, series coil resistance is defined to be RL. A simple series circuit with the coil and a known resistor, R, is used (Figure 8.76A). The only instrument needed is a high input impedance ac voltmeter. The excitation voltage (VS), the voltage across the coil (VL) and the voltage across the resistor (VR) are measured. By Kirchoff’s voltage law, we know the vector sum of VL and VR must equal VS. Also, we know that the phase angle of the current in a series inductive circuit lags the phase of the voltage across the circuit. We can thus draw the voltage vector (phasor) diagram as shown in Figure 8.76B. The three known voltages form the three sides of a triangle. The angle of VR,