Solving circuits directly with Laplace

The Laplace method seems to be useful for solving the differential

equations that arise with circuits that have capacitors and inductors and
sources that vary with time (steps and sinusoids.) The approach has
been to:
1. Analyze the circuit in the time domain using familiar circuit
analysis techniques to arrive at a differential equation for the time-
domain quantity of interest (voltage or current).
2. Perform a Laplace transform on differential equation to arrive a
frequency-domain form of the quantity of interest.
3. Solve the frequency-domain algebra expression.
4. Transform back to the time-domain.
Might it possible to change the order of the steps? Could we transform
the circuit into the frequency domain and then use circuit techniques to
find the desired voltage or current? Might this is approach be easier
than solving differential equations?
Not surprisingly, the answer to all three questions is “Yes!”
EE 230 Laplace – 1
 Frequency domain impedances
In order to transform a circuit, we need frequency-domain descriptions of the
all of the components in the circuit. We already know how to transform the
commonly used step and sinusoidal sources. We need to consider resistors,
inductors, and capacitors to see the form of the current-voltage relationships
in the frequency domain. Apply the Laplace transform to the i-v equations
directly.
iR(t) iC(t) iL(t)

+ vR(t) – + vL(t) –
+ vC(t) –
dvC (t) diL (t)
vR (t) = R ⋅ iR (t) iC (t) = C vL (t) = L
dt dt
VR (s) = R ⋅ IR (s) IC (s) = C ⋅ s ⋅ VC (s) VL (s) = L ⋅ s ⋅ IL (s)
VR VC 1 VL
=R = = sL
IR IC sC IL
IR(s) IC(s) IL(s)

+ VR(s) – + VL(s) –
EE 230 + VC(t) – Laplace – 2
 For the resistor, the frequency domain relationship is exactly the same
as the the time domain. (Ohm’s Law is not time-dependent, so this is
not a surprise.) For the inductor and capacitor, the frequency domain
relation is actually simpler. All three components can be treated with a
simple “Ohm’s-Law-like” current-voltage equation:

V (s) = Z ⋅ I (s)

where Z is known as the “impedance”, with units of ohms (Ω).

ZR = R 1 ZL = sL
ZC =
sC
ZC and ZL depend on frequency, but for a given frequency, they are
constants. They are complex constants (since s is complex), but the
frequency domain relationships are exactly like those of the resistor:
voltage is equal to a constant multiplied by the current. This means that
the circuit in the frequency domain can be solved using all of the
methods that we learned for circuits with sources and resistors at the
very beginning of EE 201.
EE 230 Laplace – 3
 All of the familiar techniques learned in 201 apply in the frequency
domain, as well:
• equivalent resistances (now equivalent impedances)
• voltage / current dividers *
• source transformations
• node voltages *
• mesh currents
• superposition
Of course this frequency-domain approach is very similar to the
complex analysis used for AC circuits in EE 201. In fact, AC analysis as
introduced 201 is simply a special case of the Laplace approach. In our
Laplace expressions, if we restrict the complex frequency to just
imaginary values, s = jω, the two approaches become identical.

EE 230 Laplace – 4
 Now, with the approach of transforming the circuit into the frequency
domain using impedances, the Laplace procedure becomes:
1. Transform the circuit. Use the Laplace transform version of the
sources and the other components become impedances.
2. Solve the circuit using any (or all) of the standard circuit analysis
techniques to arrive at the desired voltage or current, expressed in
terms of the frequency-domain sources and impedances.
3. Transform back to the time-domain. (If needed.)

The following examples illustrate the method.

EE 230 Laplace – 5
 Example
Find vc(t) for the circuit below. The
input is a step function, vi = Vf ·u(t) ZR = R
R
Vf ZR
+ +
v (t) + C vC(t) Vi(s) + ZC VC(s)
0 i – –
– –
Vf 1
V (s) = ZC =
Use a voltage divider: s sC
ZC
VC (s) = Vi (s)
ZC + ZR
1
sC
= 1
Vi (s)
sC
+R

1 Vf
= ⋅
s (s + RC )
1 RC

EE 230 Laplace – 6
 Example
The same circuit, but now with a sinusoidal source, vi = VA cos(ωt).
R
ZR
+ +
vi(t) + C vC(t) V (s) + Z VC(s)
– i – C
– –
vi (t) = VA ⋅ cos (ωt) s 1
Vi (s) = VA ⋅ 2 ZC =
s + ω2 sC
Use a voltage divider:
1 1
ZC sC RC
VC (s) = Vi (s) = Vi (s) = Vi (s)
ZC + ZR 1
+R s+ 1
sC RC

s VA This is identical to the

VC (s) = ⋅
(s + RC )
RC
( + ω 2)
1
s 2 Laplace transform of the
differential equation.

EE 230 Laplace – 7
 Example
Find iL(t) for the circuit below. The
input is a step function, ii(t) = If ·u(t)
ZR = R
If
iin(t) R L iL(t) Iin(s) ZR ZL IL(s)
0

If ZL = sL
Use a current divider: Iin (s) =
1 s
ZL
IL (s) = 1 1
Iin (s)
ZL
+ ZR

1
sL
If
= 1
+ 1 s
sL R

R
L
If
= Transform back, if needed.
s+
R s
L
EE 230 Laplace – 8
 Example
Find vc(t) for the RLC circuit below.
The input is a step function, vi(t) = Vf ·u(t). ZR = R
R
Vf ZR
+ +
vi(t) + C vC(t) Vi(s) +
– ZC VC(s)
0 –
L – –
Vf ZL 1
Vi (s) = ZC =
s ZL = sL sC
Once again, use a divider:
ZC
VC (s) = Vi (s)
ZC + ZR + ZL
1
sC
Vf
= 1
+ R + sL s
sC

1
LC
Vf
= So easy.
s2 + R
s + 1 s
L LC
EE 230 Laplace – 9
 Example
Find vo(t) for the op amp circuit below. The input is a step function, vi(t) = Vf ·u(t).
Using equivalent resistances was an important “short-cut” tool in 201. We can
extend to the idea of equivalent impedances. Often, we can make the analysis
for a circuit quite easy with the right impedance combinations. Also, op amp
rules carry over directly to the frequency domain.
R2 Z2 = R2
Vf
Vi (s) = Z2
R1 C s
vi(t) – Vi(s) Z1 –
vo(t) Vo(s)
+ +

In the frequency domain, we recognize Z1 is the series combination of

the amp in the inverting configuration. the impedances of R1 and C.
1
( Z1 )
Z2 Z1 = R1 +
Vo (s) = − Vi (s) sC
R2
R2 Vf −R Vf
Vo (s) = − = 1

R1 + 1 s s+ 1 s
sC R1C
EE 230 Laplace – 10
 Example
Find i1(t) for the circuit below. The input is a step function, vi(t) = Vf ·u(t).
R1 L
Z1
i1(t)
vi(t) + C R2 Vi(s) +
–
I1(s) Z2
–

Vf
Vi (s) Vi (s) = Z1 = R1 + sL
I1 (s) = s
Z1 + Z2
Z2 = ZR2∥ZC
Vf

(R2) ( sC )
1
s
= R2
R1 + sL + = 1
1 + sR2C R2 + sC

R2
( s 2 R2LC + sR1R2C + sL + R1 ) s
1 + sR2C Vf =
= 1 + sR2C

Exercise: Confirm that the quantity in parentheses has units of Ω–1.

EE 230 Laplace – 11