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, , is also the angle of the current in the circuit, I.
The angle of VS is assumed to be zero.
By Ohm’s law, the magnitude of the current is: