From above fig (a) shows variation of current I with respect to time (t) i.e.

current
increases exponentially with respect to time. The rising current produces rising flux, which induces
emf in coil. According to Lens’s law, the self induced emf opposes the flow of current. Because of
this induced emf and its opposition, the current in the coil don’t reach its max value.
The point p shown on graph indicates that current in circuit rises to 0.632 time’s maximum value
of current in steady state.
“the time required for the current to rise to the 0.632 of its final value is known as time constant
of given RL circuit. The time constant is denoted by z”. Thus for series RL circuit, time constant is

R
sec
L
The initial rate of rise of current is large up to first time constant. At later stage, the rate of
rise of current reduces.

Theoretically I reach maximum value after infinite time.

Voltage across inductor L is given by
di
VL L
dt

R
d V L
t
VL L 1 e
dt R
R
d V d V L
t
VL L e
dt R dt R
R
V R L
t
VL L 0 e
R L
R
t
L
VL Ve volts
 a. A series RC circuit with initial current I0 in the inductor is connected to a dc voltage V
at t = 0.
Derive the expression for instantaneous current through the inductor for t>0.

Or
Explain in brief about the step response of series RC circuits.

Consider series RC circuit as shown in fig. The switch k is in open state initially. There is no charge
on condenser and A0 voltage across it. At instant t = 0, switch k is closed.

Immediately after closing a switch, the capacitor acts as a short circuit, so current at the time of
switching is high. A voltage across capacitor is zero at t = 0+. As capacitor acts as a short circuit, the
current is maximum and is given by
V
i amp
R
The current is maximum at t=0 + which is charging current. As the capacitor starts
charging, the voltage across capacitor VC starts increasing and charging current starts decreasing.
After some time, when the capacitor charges to V volts, it achieves steady state. In steady state, it acts
as a open circuit so current will be zero finally.
After switching instant applying Kirchoff’s voltage law.

V V R VC
Where VR is voltage across resistor and VC is voltage across capacitor.

V iR VC
But i can be written as
dV
i C C
dt
Substituting value of i in equation of voltage V
dV
V RC C VC
dt
This is the first order linear differential equation.
Rearranging the terms in above equation,
dV
V VC RC C
dt
Separating the variables,
dt dVC
RC V VC
Integrating both sides of above equation, we have
t
ln V VC k '
RC
Where k’ is constant of integration
At t = 0, there is no voltage across capacitor

VC=0
Substituting in above eqn. We have

0ln V k '
k ' ln V
General solution becomes,
t
ln V VC ln V
RC
t V
ln
RC V VC
f
V RC
e
V VC
t
RC
V VC V e
t
RC
VC V _V e
t
RC
VC V _V e
Solution for voltage across capacitor
V- Steady state value of voltage across capacitor
e-t/RC – transient portion of voltage across capacitor.

When the steady state is achieved, total charge on the capacitor is Q coulombs.

Q
V
C
q
VC
c Where q is instant charge
t
q Q RC
1 e
c C
t
RC
q Q1 e
Therefore
Thus the charge on the capacitor also behaves similar to voltage across capacitor.
Now current can be expressed as
iR V VC
Above equation can be written using KVL
t
RC
iR V V 1 e

t
V RC
i e
R
V
So at t = 0, i = R is maximum current and in steady state it becomes zero.
The variation of voltage across capacitor and charging with respect to time is shown in fig.

The term RC in equation of VC is called time constant and denoted by measured in seconds
When
t R C Then
VC V 1 e 1
VC 0.632 V
So time constant of series RC circuit is defined as time required by capacitor voltage to rise from
zero to 0.632 of its final steady state value during charging.
Thus, time constant of RC circuit can be defined as time in seconds, during which the voltage
across capacitor would reach its final steady state value of its rate of change was maintained constant
at its initial value throughout charging period.

1. Explain the analysis of undriven series RL circuits.

Or
Explain the analysis of source free series RL circuits.[AU-JUN-12]

Current decay in source free series RL circuit: -

At t = 0- , switch k is kept at position ‘a’ for very long time. Thus, the network is in
steady state. Initial current through inductor is given as,

V
iL 0 I0 iL 0
R ------------------------- 1
Because current through inductor can not change instantaneously
Assume that at t = 0 switch k is moved to position ‘b’,