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The free response of a system is the response due to initial conditions. For simple systems, described by ordinary
differential equations, it is possible to derive expressions for the free response. For more complex systems this
is more difficult.
1. Consider the simple RC circuit shown below. For t ≤ 0, the switch is open; for t > 0, the switch is
closed. Using Kirchoff’s voltage law, derive an expression for the free response of the system, assuming
the voltage across the capacitor at time t = 0 is given by V (0) = α and the output is the voltage across
the capacitor.
R
2. Consider the circuit below. For For t ≤ 0, the switch is open; for t > 0, the switch is closed. Using
Kirchoff’s current law, derive an expression for the free response of the system, assuming the voltage
across the capacitor at time t = 0 is given by V (0) = β and the output is the voltage V (t).
R1
V(t) C R2
3. Consider the simple RLC circuit shown below. For t ≤ 0, the switch is open; for t > 0, the switch is
closed. Using Kirchoff’s voltage law, derive an expression for the free response of the system, assuming
the voltage across the capacitor at time t = 0 is 2 volts, the current through the inductor at time t = 0 is
zero. Also R = 5 Ω, C = 1/6 mF, and L = 1 mH. The output is the current I(t).
R
I(t) C
L
2
Solutions
VR + VC = 0
Ri + Vc = 0
(RCs + 1)Aest = 0
which implies that s = −1/RC, that is, the general form of the solution is
Vc = Ae−(1/RC)t
To find the particular form, note that the initial voltage across the capacitor is alpha, i.e.
Vc (0) = α
It follows that A = α and hence the free response of the system is given by
Vc = αe−(1/RC)t
iR1 = iC + Ir2 = 0
V dV V
+C + = 0
R1 dt R2
R1 R2
To make the algebra easy let R′ = R1 +R2 , then we have
dV 1
C + ′V = 0
dt R
Assume we have general form of solution as:
dV
V = Aest ⇒ = sAest
dt
3
So, similar to the preceeding question, we find that the particular solution is
R +R2
1
′ − CR t
V (t) = βe−(1/R C)t = βe 1 R2
Vc + VR + VL = 0
Z t
1 di
VC (0) + i(τ )dτ + iR + L = 0
C 0 dt
Differentiate this to get
1 di d2 i
i + R + 2L = 0 (2)
C dt dt
Assume solution in form i = Aest , which implies
di
= sAest
dt
d2 i
= s2 Aest
dt2
Using these expressions in equation (2) thus gives
1
( + sR + s2 L)Aest = 0
C
Using the numerical values we thus have
which implies
s = −3 × 10−3 , −2 × 103
i(0) = A1 e0 + A2 e0 = A1 + A2
and hence A1 + A2 = 0.
ii) VC (0) = 2. Thus from KVL we have
di
VC (0) + i(0) R + L (0) = 0
|{z} dt
=0
Thus we have two simultaneous equations which can be solved for A1 and A2 to get: A1 = 2, A2 = −2,
so the solution becomes:
3 3t
i(t) = 2e−3×10 t − 2e−2×10