Chapter 21: RLC Circuits

PHY2054: Chapter 21 1
 Voltage and Current in RLC Circuits
ÎAC emf source: “driving frequency” f
ε = ε m sin ωt ω = 2π f

ÎIf circuit contains only R + emf source, current is simple

ε εm
i= = I m sin (ωt ) Im = ( current amplitude )
R R
ÎIf L and/or C present, current is not in phase with emf
εm
i = I m sin (ωt − φ ) Im =
Z
ÎZ, φ shown later
PHY2054: Chapter 21 2
 AC Source and Resistor Only
ÎDriving voltage is ε = ε m sin ωt
i
ÎRelation of current and voltage
i =ε /R ε ~ R
εm
i = I m sin ωt Im =
R

‹ Current is in phase with voltage (φ = 0)

PHY2054: Chapter 21 3
 AC Source and Capacitor Only
q
ÎVoltage is vC = = ε m sin ωt
C
ÎDifferentiate to find current
q = Cε m sin ωt
i
i = dq / dt = ωCVC cos ωt
ε ~ C
ÎRewrite using phase (check this!)
i = ωCVC sin (ωt + 90° )
ÎRelation of current and voltage
εm
i = I m sin (ωt + 90° ) I m = ( X C = 1/ ωC )
XC
ΓCapacitive reactance”: X C = 1/ ωC
‹ Current “leads” voltage by 90°
PHY2054: Chapter 21 4
 AC Source and Inductor Only
ÎVoltage is vL = Ldi / dt = ε m sin ωt
ÎIntegrate di/dt to find current:
di / dt = ( ε m / L ) sin ωt
i
i = − ( ε m / ω L ) cos ωt
ε ~ L
ÎRewrite using phase (check this!)
i = ( ε m / ω L ) sin (ωt − 90° )
ÎRelation of current and voltage
εm
i = I m sin (ωt − 90° ) I m = ( X L = ωL)
XL
ΓInductive reactance”: X L = ω L
‹ Current “lags” voltage by 90°
PHY2054: Chapter 21 5
 General Solution for RLC Circuit
ÎWe assume steady state solution of form i = I m sin (ωt − φ )
‹ Im is current amplitude
‹ φ is phase by which current “lags” the driving EMF
‹ Must determine Im and φ

ÎPlug in solution: differentiate & integrate sin(ωt-φ)

i = I m sin (ωt − φ )
di Substitute
= ω I m cos (ωt − φ )
di q
L + Ri + = ε m sin ω t
dt dt C
Im
q = − cos (ωt − φ )
ω
Im
I mω L cos (ωt − φ ) + I m R sin (ωt − φ ) − cos (ωt − φ ) = ε m sin ωt
ωC
PHY2054: Chapter 21 6
 General Solution for RLC Circuit (2)
Im
I mω L cos (ωt − φ ) + I m R sin (ωt − φ ) − cos (ωt − φ ) = ε m sin ωt
ωC
ÎExpand sin & cos expressions

sin (ωt − φ ) = sin ωt cos φ − cos ωt sin φ

High school trig!
cos (ωt − φ ) = cos ωt cos φ + sin ωt sin φ

ÎCollect sinωt & cosωt terms separately

(ω L − 1/ ωC ) cos φ − R sin φ = 0 cosωt terms

I m (ω L − 1/ ωC ) sin φ + I m R cos φ = ε m sinωt terms

ÎThese equations can be solved for Im and φ (next slide)

PHY2054: Chapter 21 7
 General Solution for RLC Circuit (3)
ÎSolve for φ and Im

ω L − 1/ ωC X L − XC εm
tan φ = ≡ Im =
R R Z

ÎR, XL, XC and Z have dimensions of resistance

X L = ωL Inductive “reactance”

X C = 1/ ωC Capacitive “reactance”

Z = R2 + ( X L − X C )
2
Total “impedance”

ÎThis is where φ, XL, XC and Z come from!

PHY2054: Chapter 21 8
 AC Source and RLC Circuits
εm
Im = Maximum current
Z
X L − XC
tan φ = Phase angle
R

X L = ωL (ω = 2π f ) Inductive reactance

X C = 1/ ωC Capacitive reactance

Z = R2 + ( X L − X C )
2 Total impedance

φ= angle that current “lags” applied voltage

PHY2054: Chapter 21 9
 What is Reactance?
Think of it as a frequency-dependent resistance

1
XC = Shrinks with increasing ω
ωC

X L = ωL Grows with increasing ω

( "XR " = R ) Independent of ω

PHY2054: Chapter 21 10
Pictorial Understanding of Reactance

Z = R2 + ( X L − X C )
2

X L − XC
tan φ =
R

R
cos φ =
Z

PHY2054: Chapter 21 11
Summary of Circuit Elements, Impedance, Phase Angles
X L − XC
tan φ =
Z = R2 + ( X L − X C )
2
R

PHY2054: Chapter 21 12
 Quiz
ÎThree 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 a
‹ (3) c b
‹ (4) Can’t tell without more info Imax
c

f
X L = ωL (ω = 2π f ) For inductor, higher frequency gives higher
I max = ε max / X L reactance, therefore lower current
PHY2054: Chapter 21 13
 RLC Example 1
ÎBelow are shown the driving emf and current vs time of
an RLC circuit. We can conclude the following
‹ Current “leads” the driving emf (φ<0)
‹ Circuit is capacitive (XC > XL)

I ε
t

PHY2054: Chapter 21 14
 RLC Example 2
ÎR = 200Ω, C = 15μF, L = 230mH, εmax = 36v, f = 60 Hz

‹ X L = 2π × 60 × 0.23 = 86.7Ω XC > XL

Capacitive circuit
‹ (
X C = 1/ 2π × 60 × 15 × 10−6 = 177Ω )
Z = 2002 + ( 86.7 − 177 ) = 219Ω
2
‹

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

−1 ⎛ 86.7 − 177 ⎞ Current leads emf
‹ φ = tan ⎜ ⎟ = −24.3° (as expected)
⎝ 200 ⎠

i = 0.164sin (ωt + 24.3° )

PHY2054: Chapter 21 15
 Resonance
ÎConsider impedance vs frequency

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

ÎZ is minimum when ω L = 1/ ωC ω = ω0 = 1/ LC
‹ This is resonance!

ÎAt resonance
‹ Impedance = Z is minimum
‹ Current amplitude = Im is maximum

PHY2054: Chapter 21 16
 Imax vs Frequency and Resonance
ÎCircuit parameters: C = 2.5μF, L = 4mH, εmax = 10v
‹ f0= 1 / 2π(LC)1/2 = 1590 Hz
‹ Plot Imax vs f
I max = 10 / R + (ω L − 1/ ωC )
2 2

R = 5Ω
R = 10Ω
R = 20Ω
Imax
Resonance
f = f0

f / f0
PHY2054: Chapter 21 17
 Power in AC Circuits
ÎInstantaneous power emitted by circuit: P = i2R
P = I m2 R sin 2 (ωd t − φ ) Instantaneous power oscillates

ÎMore useful to calculate power averaged over a cycle

‹ Use <…> to indicate average over a cycle

P = I m2 R sin 2 (ω d t − φ ) = 12 I m2 R

ÎDefine RMS quantities to avoid ½ factors in AC circuits

Im εm 2
I rms = ε rms = Pave = I rms R
2 2
ÎHouse current
‹ Vrms = 110V ⇒ Vpeak = 156V

PHY2054: Chapter 21 18
 Power in AC Circuits
ÎPower formula 2
Pave = I rms R I rms = I max / 2

ε rms ε rms
ÎRewrite using I rms = Pave = I rms R = ε rms I rms cos φ
Z Z

R Z
Pave = ε rms I rms cos φ cos φ = X L − XC
Z φ
R

Îcosφ is the “power factor”

‹ To maximize power delivered to circuit ⇒ make φ 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)

PHY2054: Chapter 21 19
 Power Example 1
ÎR = 200Ω, XC = 150Ω, XL = 80Ω, εrms = 120v, f = 60 Hz

Z = 200 + ( 80 − 150 ) = 211.9Ω

2 2
‹

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

−1 ⎛ 80 − 150 ⎞ Current leads emf
‹ φ = tan ⎜ ⎟ = −19.3° Capacitive circuit
⎝ 200 ⎠
‹ cos φ = 0.944

‹ Pave = ε rms I rms cos φ = 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)
ÎR = 200Ω, XC = 150Ω, XL = 80Ω, εrms = 120v, f = 60 Hz
ÎHow 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 = 150Ω = 1/ 2π fC C = 17.7μF

‹ X C new = X L = 80Ω Cnew = 33.2μF

‹ So we must add 15.5μF capacitance to maximize power

PHY2054: Chapter 21 21
 Power vs Frequency and Resonance
ÎCircuit parameters: C = 2.5μF, L = 4mH, εmax = 10v
‹ f0= 1 / 2π(LC)1/2 = 1590 Hz
‹ Plot Pave vs f for different R values

R = 2Ω
R = 5Ω
R = 10Ω
Pave Resonance
R = 20Ω
f = f0

f / f0
PHY2054: Chapter 21 22
Resonance Tuner is Based on Resonance
Vary C to set resonance frequency to 103.7 (ugh!)
Circuit response Q = 500
Other radio stations. Tune for f = 103.7 MHz
RLC response is less

PHY2054: Chapter 21 23
 Quiz
ÎA 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) 1000 W
‹ (2) 707 W
‹ (3) 1414 W Pave = 12 ε peak I peak = ε rms I rms
‹ (4) 500 W
‹ (5) 250 W

PHY2054: Chapter 21 24
 Quiz
ÎThe 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 φ =
R

Current lags applied emf (φ > 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
ÎVariable frequency EMF source with εm=6V connected to a
resistor and inductor. R=80Ω and L=40mH.
‹ At what frequency f does VR = VL?

X L = ω L = R ⇒ ω = 2000 f = 2000 / 2π = 318Hz

‹ At that frequency, what is phase angle φ?

tan φ = X L / R = 1 ⇒ φ = 45°
‹ What is the current amplitude and RMS value?

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

I rms = I max / 2 = 0.037 A

i = 0.053sin (ωt − 45° )

PHY2054: Chapter 21 26
 Transformers
ÎPurpose: change alternating (AC) voltage to a bigger (or
smaller) value

Input AC voltage Changing flux in

in the “primary” “secondary” turns
turns produces a flux induces an emf

ΔΦ B ΔΦ B
Vp = N p Vs = N s
Δt Δt

Ns
Vs = V p
Np

PHY2054: Chapter 21 27
 Transformers
ÎNothing 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
ÎA 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 ⎞ “Step-up”
Vs = V p = 120 ⎜ ⎟ = 451V transformer
Np ⎝ 330 ⎠

Vs ⎛ 451 ⎞
i pV p = isVs i p = is = 15 ⎜ ⎟ = 56.4 A
Vp ⎝ 120 ⎠

PHY2054: Chapter 21 29
 Transformers

¾ This is how first experiment by

Faraday was done
¾ He only got a deflection of the
galvanometer when the switch
is opened or closed
¾ Steady current does not make
induced emf.

PHY2054: Chapter 21 30
 Applications

Microphone

Tape recorder

PHY2054: Chapter 21 31
 ConcepTest: Power lines
ÎAt 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