Complete Response of RL Series Circuit to a Forcing function

Find the current and the voltage across the inductor after the switch is closed at t = 0

v L +v R =V S

di
L +Ri=V S
dt

di R V S
+ i=
dt L L first order linear eq.
R R
∫ dt t
φ=e L =e L

iφ=∫ Qφ dt+k where k is an arbitrary constant

R R R
L
t VS L
t VS L
t V S L RL t V S RL t
ie =∫ e dt+ k= ∫e dt +k = ⋅ e + k= e +k
L L L R R
R R
L
t VS L
t
ie = e +k
R
R
t
VS L
i= + ke−
R or
 R
t
−L VS
i=ke +
R eq. 1

i=i n +i f this is the complete response of the RL circuit where,

R
− t
L
i n=ke (natural/transient/source-free) response

VS
if =
R (forced/steady-state) response, i.e. when the inductor becomes fully energized
replacing it with a short circuit

Suppose at the instant the switch is closed at t = 0, i=i ( 0 )=0 , meaning there is no initial
current

Substitute the initial condition in eq. 1

VS VS
0=k + k =−
R and R
R
t
V L V
i=− S e− + S
R R

R
VS
i= ( 1−e )
− t
L
R t > 0
 VS
t=∞ , i=
t=0, i=0 and R the steady current

The voltage across the inductor,

R
d VS −L t VS
di
v =v L=L =L − e +
dt dt R R ( )
R
VS
(
v L=L −
R
− t
eL
x−
R
L )
R
− t
L
v L=V S e t > 0
Example

The switch in the figure has been open for a long time and the circuit has reached steady
state before the switch closes at t = 0. Find the inductor current for t ≥ 0.

The figure shows the appropriate equivalent circuit while the switch is open. The 100-Ω and
200-Ω resistors are in series and have been replaced by an equivalent 300- resistor. The input to
the circuit is a constant (12 volts), and the circuit is at steady state; therefore, the inductor acts
like a short circuit. The current in this short circuit is the inductor current. Because we are
interested in the initial condition, the initial inductor current has been labeled as i(0).
 12
i ( 0 )= =0 .04 A
300

Closing the switch at t = 0 shorts out the 100-Ω resistor, removing it from the circuit. At t > 0,
we have a series circuit consisting of a 12-V source, a 200-Ω resistor, and a 5 mH inductor.

i=i n +i f
R 200
− t − t
L 0 .005 t
i n=ke =ke =ke−40000 natural or source free response

V S 12
if = = =0 .06 A
R 200 forced response or steady state response
−40000 t
i=ke +0.06 A t = 0, i(0) = 0.04 A

0 . 04=ke 0 +0 . 06
k =−0 . 02

Therefore,

i=−0.02e−40000 t +0.06 A t≥0