Chapter 21: RLC Circuits

PHY2054: Chapter 21

Voltage and Current in RLC Circuits

AC

emf source: driving frequency f

= m sin t

If

circuit contains only R + emf source, current is simple

i=

If

= I m sin (t )

Im =

m
R

( current amplitude )

L and/or C present, current is not in phase with emf

i = I m sin (t )
Z,

= 2 f

Im =

m
Z

shown later
PHY2054: Chapter 21

AC Source and Resistor Only

Driving

voltage is = m sin t

i
Relation

of current and voltage

i = /R
i = I m sin t
Current

Im =

is in phase with voltage ( = 0)

PHY2054: Chapter 21

AC Source and Capacitor Only

q
= m sin t
Voltage is vC =
C
Differentiate to find current
q = C m sin t

i = dq / dt = CVC cos t
Rewrite

using phase (check this!)

i = CVC sin (t + 90 )

Relation

of current and voltage

i = I m sin (t + 90 ) I m =
Capacitive
Current

m
XC

( X C = 1/ C )

reactance: X C = 1/ C

leads voltage by 90
PHY2054: Chapter 21

AC Source and Inductor Only

Voltage

is vL = Ldi / dt = m sin t

Integrate

di/dt to find current:

di / dt = ( m / L ) sin t
i = ( m / L ) cos t
Rewrite

using phase (check this!)

i = ( m / L ) sin (t 90 )

Relation

of current and voltage

i = I m sin (t 90 ) I m =
Inductive
Current

m
XL

( X L = L)

reactance: X L = L

lags voltage by 90

PHY2054: Chapter 21

General Solution for RLC Circuit

We

assume steady state solution of form i = I m sin (t )

Im

is current amplitude
is phase by which current lags the driving EMF
Must determine Im and

in solution: differentiate & integrate sin(t-)

i = I m sin (t )

Plug

di
= I m cos (t )
dt
Im
q = cos (t )

Substitute

di
q
+ Ri + = m sin t
dt
C

I m L cos (t ) + I m R sin (t )

Im
cos (t ) = m sin t
C

PHY2054: Chapter 21

General Solution for RLC Circuit (2)

I m L cos (t ) + I m R sin (t )
Expand

Im
cos (t ) = m sin t
C

sin & cos expressions

sin (t ) = sin t cos cos t sin

cos (t ) = cos t cos + sin t sin
Collect

sint & cost terms separately

( L 1/ C ) cos R sin = 0
I m ( L 1/ C ) sin + I m R cos = m
These

High school trig!

cost terms
sint terms

equations can be solved for Im and (next slide)

PHY2054: Chapter 21

General Solution for RLC Circuit (3)

Solve

for and Im

tan =
R,

L 1/ C
R

X L XC

Im =

m
Z

XL, XC and Z have dimensions of resistance

X L = L

Inductive reactance

X C = 1/ C

Capacitive reactance

Z = R2 + ( X L X C )
This

Total impedance

is where , XL, XC and Z come from!

PHY2054: Chapter 21

Im =

AC Source and RLC Circuits

Maximum current

X L XC
tan =
R
X L = L

Phase angle

( = 2 f )

X C = 1/ C
Z = R2 + ( X L X C )

Inductive reactance
Capacitive reactance

Total impedance

= angle that current lags applied voltage

PHY2054: Chapter 21

What is Reactance?
Think of it as a frequency-dependent resistance

1
XC =
C

Shrinks with increasing

X L = L

Grows with increasing

( "XR " = R )

Independent of
PHY2054: Chapter 21

10

Pictorial Understanding of Reactance

Z = R2 + ( X L X C )

X L XC
tan =
R
R
cos =
Z

PHY2054: Chapter 21

11

Summary of Circuit Elements, Impedance, Phase Angles

Z = R2 + ( X L X C )

PHY2054: Chapter 21

X L XC
tan =
R

12

Quiz
Three

identical EMF sources are hooked to a single circuit

element, a resistor, a capacitor, or an inductor. The
current amplitude is then measured as a function of
frequency. Which one of the following curves corresponds
to an inductive circuit?
(1)

a
(2) b
(3) c
(4) Cant tell without more info

Imax

b
c

X L = L

( = 2 f )

I max = max / X L

f
For inductor, higher frequency gives higher
reactance, therefore lower current
PHY2054: Chapter 21

13

RLC Example 1
Below

are shown the driving emf and current vs time of

an RLC circuit. We can conclude the following
Current

leads the driving emf (<0)

Circuit is capacitive (XC > XL)

PHY2054: Chapter 21

14

RLC Example 2
R

= 200, C = 15F, L = 230mH, max = 36v, f = 60 Hz

X L = 2 60 0.23 = 86.7

X C = 1/ 2 60 15 106 = 177

Z = 2002 + ( 86.7 177 ) = 219

I max = max / Z = 36 / 219 = 0.164 A

XC > XL
Capacitive circuit

1 86.7 177

= tan

200

= 24.3

Current leads emf

(as expected)

i = 0.164sin (t + 24.3 )
PHY2054: Chapter 21

15

Resonance
Consider

impedance vs frequency

Z = R + ( X L X C ) = R + ( L 1/ C )
2

is minimum when L = 1/ C = 0 = 1/ LC

This

At

is resonance!

resonance

Impedance

= Z is minimum
Current amplitude = Im is maximum

PHY2054: Chapter 21

16

Imax vs Frequency and Resonance

Circuit

parameters: C = 2.5F, L = 4mH, max = 10v

f0

= 1 / 2(LC)1/2 = 1590 Hz
Plot Imax vs f

I max = 10 / R + ( L 1/ C )
2

R = 5
R = 10

Imax

R = 20
Resonance

f = f0

f / f0
PHY2054: Chapter 21

17

Power in AC Circuits
Instantaneous

power emitted by circuit: P = i2R

P = I m2 R sin 2 (d t )
More

Instantaneous power oscillates

useful to calculate power averaged over a cycle

Use

<> to indicate average over a cycle

P = I m2 R sin 2 ( d t ) = 12 I m2 R
Define

RMS quantities to avoid factors in AC circuits

I rms =
House
Vrms

Im
2

rms =

m
2

2
Pave = I rms
R

current
= 110V Vpeak = 156V
PHY2054: Chapter 21

18

Power in AC Circuits
Power

formula

Rewrite

2
Pave = I rms
R I rms = I max / 2

using I rms =

rms

Pave = rms I rms cos

Pave =

rms

R
cos =
Z

I rms R = rms I rms cos

Z

X L XC

R
cos

is the power factor

maximize power delivered to circuit make close to zero

Max power delivered to load happens at resonance
E.g., too much inductive reactance (XL) can be cancelled by
increasing XC (e.g., circuits with large motors)
To

PHY2054: Chapter 21

19

Power Example 1
R

= 200, XC = 150, XL = 80, rms = 120v, f = 60 Hz

Z = 200 + ( 80 150 ) = 211.9

I rms = rms / Z = 120 / 211.9 = 0.566 A

1 80 150

= tan

= 19.3

Current leads emf

Capacitive circuit

200
cos = 0.944

Pave = rms I rms cos = 120 0.566 0.944 = 64.1W

Same

2
Pave = I rms
R = 0.5662 200 = 64.1W
PHY2054: Chapter 21

20

Power Example 1 (cont)

R

= 200, XC = 150, XL = 80, rms = 120v, f = 60 Hz

How

much capacitance must be added to maximize the

power in the circuit (and thus bring it into resonance)?
Want

XC = XL to minimize Z, so must decrease XC

X C = 150 = 1/ 2 fC

C = 17.7F

X C new = X L = 80

Cnew = 33.2F

So we must add 15.5F capacitance to maximize power

PHY2054: Chapter 21

21

Power vs Frequency and Resonance

Circuit

parameters: C = 2.5F, L = 4mH, max = 10v

f0

= 1 / 2(LC)1/2 = 1590 Hz
Plot Pave vs f for different R values

R = 2
R = 5

Pave

R = 10

Resonance

R = 20

f = f0

f / f0
PHY2054: Chapter 21

22

Resonance Tuner is Based on Resonance

Vary C to set resonance frequency to 103.7 (ugh!)
Other radio stations.
RLC response is less

Circuit response Q = 500

Tune for f = 103.7 MHz

PHY2054: Chapter 21

23

Quiz
A

generator produces current at a frequency of 60 Hz with

peak voltage and current amplitudes of 100V and 10A,
respectively. What is the average power produced if they
are in phase?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

1000 W
707 W
1414 W
500 W
250 W

Pave = 12 peak I peak = rms I rms

PHY2054: Chapter 21

24

Quiz
The

figure shows the current and emf of a series RLC

circuit. To increase the rate at which power is delivered to
the resistive load, which option should be taken?
(1)

Increase R
(2) Decrease L
(3) Increase L
(4) Increase C

X L XC
tan =
R
Current lags applied emf ( > 0), thus circuit is inductive. Either
(1) Reduce XL by decreasing L or
(2) Cancel XL by increasing XC (decrease C).
PHY2054: Chapter 21

25

Example: LR Circuit
frequency EMF source with m=6V connected to a
resistor and inductor. R=80 and L=40mH.

Variable
At

what frequency f does VR = VL?

X L = L = R = 2000
At

f = 2000 / 2 = 318Hz

that frequency, what is phase angle ?

tan = X L / R = 1 = 45
What

is the current amplitude and RMS value?

I max = max / 802 + 802 = 6 /113 = 0.053A

I rms = I max / 2 = 0.037 A

i = 0.053sin (t 45 )
PHY2054: Chapter 21

26

Transformers
Purpose:

change alternating (AC) voltage to a bigger (or

smaller) value

Input AC voltage
in the primary
turns produces a flux

Vp = N p

Changing flux in
secondary turns
induces an emf

Vs = N s

B
t

Ns
Vs = V p
Np
PHY2054: Chapter 21

27

Transformers
Nothing

comes for free, however!

Increase

in voltage comes at the cost of current.

Output power cannot exceed input power!
power in = power out
(Losses usually account for 10-20%)

i pVp = isVs

is V p N p
=
=
i p Vs N s
PHY2054: Chapter 21

28

Transformers: Sample Problem

A

transformer has 330 primary turns and 1240 secondary

turns. The input voltage is 120 V and the output current
is 15.0 A. What is the output voltage and input current?

Ns
1240
Vs = V p
= 120
= 451V
Np
330

i pV p = isVs

Step-up
transformer

Vs
451
i p = is
= 15
= 56.4 A
Vp
120

PHY2054: Chapter 21

29

Transformers

This is how first experiment by

Faraday was done
He only got a deflection of the
galvanometer when the switch
is opened or closed
Steady current does not make
induced emf.
PHY2054: Chapter 21

30

Applications
Microphone

Tape recorder

PHY2054: Chapter 21

31

ConcepTest: Power lines

At

large distances, the resistance of power lines becomes

significant. To transmit maximum power, is it better to
transmit (high V, low i) or (high i, low V)?
(1)

high V, low i
(2) low V, high i
(3) makes no difference

Power loss is i2R

PHY2054: Chapter 21

32

Electric Power Transmission

i2R: 20x smaller current 400x smaller power loss

PHY2054: Chapter 21

33