Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No.

6
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EXPERIMENT NO. 6

1.0 Title :

To build and test RC differentiator circuit and RC integrator circuit for sine wave, square wave and
triangular wave as an input.

2.0 Prior Concepts :

• Wave shaping : It is a process of changing the waveform of sinusoidal input by use of linear or
non – linear network.

Wave Shaping

Linear (passive component like Non – linear ( active component like

R, L, C) Diode and Transistor)

• Linear wave shaping Circuit : It is the circuit which makes use of only linear circuit elements like
inductor, capacitor and resistors such circuit is used to perform functions of differentiation and
integration.
• Non – linear wave shaping circuit: It is the circuit which make use of non – linear circuit elements
such as diode and transistors, these circuits are used to perform functions of amplitude limiting,
clipping and clamping.
• RC network is used for linear wave shaping of non – sinusoidal input like square wave to get
waveforms like triangular waveform and saw tooth waveform etc.
Output

Input Circuit Triangular

Waveform
Non - Sinusoidal
RC
Network

Saw tooth
Waveform

• The time constant (t) of the RC network and the time period of the input signal (T) determines the
shape of the output waveform.
• If t < < T then circuit behaves as a differentiator.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

If
t<<T

RC Network
Work as a differentiator

• If τ >> T then circuit behave as a integrator.

If
τ>>T

RC Network
Work as an integrator

3.0 New Concepts :

Proposition 1 : Differentiating Circuit.
A circuit in which output voltage directly proportional to the derivative of input.
Concept Structure 1:

Output Directly d [ Input]

is proportional to dt

Proposition 2 : Differentiator output.

The differentiator circuit is suitably designed so that output is proportional to the derivative of input.
e.g. If a dc or constant input is given to this circuit the output will zero.
Concept Structure 2:
Input Circuit Output

Constant Differentiator
or Circuit Zero
DC

Proposition 3 : Conditions for good differentiator.

In order to achieve good differentiation following conditions should be satisfied.
• The time constant RC of the circuit should be much smaller than the time period of input wave.
• The value of Xc should be 10 times or more larger than R at operating frequency.
Proposition 4 : Differentiator as a high pass filter.
The reactance of capacitor decreases with increase in frequency as a result at high frequency the
capacitor act as a short circuit and virtually all input will appear at output, i.e differentiator blocks
lower frequency and allows high frequency, hence the differentiator circuit known as a high pass
filter.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Proposition 5 : Integrator circuit.

The circuit in which output voltage is directly proportional to the integral of the input.
Concept Structure 5:

Output Directly
is proportional to ∫ input

Proposition 6 : Conditions for good integrator.

In order to achieve good integration the following conditions should be fulfilled.
• Time constant RC of the circuit should be very large as compared to the time period of the input
wave.
• The value of Resistor R should be 10 times or more larger than Xc.
Proposition 7 : Integrator as a Low pass filter.
The reactance of the capacitor decreases with increase in frequency at very high frequency the
capacitor act as a short circuit, therefore output drops to zero hence integrator circuit is also known
as a low pass filter.

4.0 Learning Objectives :

Intellectual skills :
• To choose proper values of R and C in the circuit.
• To prepare input and output waveform reports.
• To predict the output waveforms for sine wave and square wave input for different time periods
of input waveforms.
Motor Skills :
• Ability to draw the circuit diagram and connect the components on breadboard as per circuit
diagram.
• Ability to connect input to the circuit and observe output at CRO.

5.0 Apparatus :
Breadboard, Components, CRO with probes, function generator.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

6.0 Diagram :
6.1 Circuit diagram for differentiator.

C=0.1µf

I/P (sine/square waveform R=1Ω O/P (on CRO)

ckt .a

6.2 Circuit diagram for integrator.

• •
R=1kΩ

I/P (sine/square waveform) C=0.1µf O/P (on CRO)

• •
ckt .b

7.0 Stepwise Procedure :

• Set up the experiment as per the circuit diagram A & B.
• Note down the value of R and C to find out RC time constant.
• Connect the function generator at input terminals.
• Connect the CRO probes at output terminals.
• Give the square wave input of frequency such that the time period of the input is much smaller
than the RC time constant.
• Observe the waveform at the output terminals on CRO in dc mode.
• Repeat the same procedure for sin wave.
• Repeat the same above procedure for integrator circuit.
• Plot the graph of output waveforms of differentiator and integrator.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

8.0 Observations :
• For differentiator
1) R = ………………

2) C = ………………

3) RC time constant = ………………

(student shall write the relevant unit in practice)

Give sine wave and square wave as a input to differentiator with Vp = 2 volts (V peak to peak) for
given frequencies.
Observation Table For differentiator.

Input Observation from output waveforms Comments

waveforms Frequency Amplitude Phase shift

Sine wave 500 Hz

5 KHz
10 KHz

Square wave 500 Hz

5 KHz
10 KHz

For differentiator and integrater.

Sr. No. Input Output Comments

Wave forms Waveforms

1 Sine wave

2 Square wave

3 Triangular wave

For integrator :

R = ………………

C =………………

RC time constant = ……………..

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Give the sine wave and square wave as input to integrator with V p= 2 volts (V peak to peak) for
given frequencies.

Observation Table For integrator.

Input Frequency Observation from output waveforms Comments

waveforms Amplitude Phase shift

500 Hz

Sine wave 5 KHz

10 KHz

500 Hz

Square wave 5 KHz

10 KHz

9.0 Conclusion :

10.0 Questions :

Write answer to Q…Q…Q… (Question numbers to be allotted by the teacher).

a) What is the effect of RC product on the output waveform in a differentiating circuit?

b) Differentiating circuit is essentially a RC circuit. Why the output from RC coupling is not a
differentiated wave?
c) What is the necessary criteria for good differentiating circuit? (two points)
d) What is the necessary criteria for good integrating circuit? (two points)
e) What will be the input wave of differentiator, if the output is single pulse.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

f) • •
C
D
Input
R Output

• •
ckt .A
Observe the given circuit and draw the output waveform.
g) Draw R-L circuit as a integrator and differentiator.
h) Why integrators are preferred over differentiators in industrial circuits?
i) What will be the output of the integrator circuit if step function is applied?
j) What are the drawbacks of RL circuits as compared to RC circuits as a differentiator or
integrator?

(Space for Answers)

(Space for Answers)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Teacher

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Draw input and output waveforms for integrator observed on CRO

(SPACE FOR GRAPH PAPER)

Signature of Teacher

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Applied Electronics (9064) Experiment No. 6
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Draw input and output waveforms for differentiator observed on CRO

(SPACE FOR GRAPH PAPER)

Signature of Teacher

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION