Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering

Class Test Memorandum

Copyright reserved

Module EIR 211

15 April 2021

Assessment ID
2021EIR211C01

Test information
Full marks: 25 Maximum marks: 25
Duration of paper: 50 minutes Open/closed book: Open book
Total number of pages (including this page): 8

IMPORTANT
1. The departmental rules relevant to electronically graded assessments apply.
2. Answer all questions in the Excel template provided on AMS and upload the completed Excel
submission to AMS. The question numbering in ( ) corresponds to the Excel template number-
ing.
3. Unless the answer is an integer, round all answers to three significant figures, e.g., if the
absolute value for an answer is 531.94 Ω, the answer to 3 significant figures would be 532 Ω
or 0.532 kΩ, if the absolute value for an answer is 5.3194 Ω, the answer to 3 significant figures
would be 5.32 Ω.
4. Answers without units or with the incorrect units will be marked incorrect.
5. For multiple choice questions, write down the number corresponding to the correct answer on
your answer sheet.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The University of Pretoria commits itself to produce academic work of integrity. I affirm that I am
aware of and have read the Rules and Policies of the University, more specifically the Disciplinary
Procedure and the Tests and Examinations Rules, which prohibit any unethical, dishonest or im-
proper conduct during tests, assignments, examinations and/or any other forms of assessment.
I am aware that no student or any other person may assist or attempt to assist another student,
or obtain help, or attempt to obtain help from another student or any other person during tests,
assessments, assignments, examinations and/or any other forms of assessment.
Internal examiners: Dr. F. Palunčić

2021EIR211C01 Page 1 of 8 15 April 2021

Question 1 (8)
Refer to the circuit below. The objective is to determine the expression for the
capacitor voltage v (t) and current i(t) for t ≥ 0.
R1 , R2 and C are student-specific parameters whose values are to be found in the
Excel template a2021EIR211C01.xlsx.

10u(t) V

−
+
+ i
5u(−t) A R1 v C R2
−

(1) Determine v (0+ ). (1)

(2) Determine the Thevenin equivalent resistance as seen across the terminals
of the capacitor. (1)
(3) Determine the Thevenin equivalent voltage as seen across the terminals of
the capacitor. (1)
(4) Determine the time constant τ of the circuit. (1)
(5) Determine v (∞). (1)

Given that v (t) is of the form

v (t) = A1 + A2 e −t/τ

determine
(6) A1 (1)
(7) A2 (1)

Given that i(t) is of the form

i(t) = B1 e −t/τ

determine
(8) B1 (1)

Solution:

(1) t < 0:

5A R1 v R2
−

2021EIR211C01 Page 2 of 8 15 April 2021

 R2
v (0+ ) = v (0− ) = 5R1
R1 + R2
5R1 R2
= V
R1 + R2

t ≥ 0:
10 V
−
+

+ i
R1 v C R2
−

(2) RTh :

R1 R2

R1 R2
RTh = R1 ||R2 = Ω
R1 + R2

(3) VTh :
10 V
−
+

R1 VTh R2
−

10
VTh = R2
R1 + R2
10R2
= V
R1 + R2

Thus the equivalent circuit is

2021EIR211C01 Page 3 of 8 15 April 2021

 RTh

VTh + v C
−
−

(4)

τ = RTh C
R1 R2 C
= s
R1 + R2

(5)
10R2
v (∞) = VTh =
R1 + R2

(6) v (t) = v (∞) + [v (0) − v (∞)]e −t/τ and so

10R2
A1 = v (∞) =
R1 + R2

(7)
5R1 R2 − 10R2
A2 = v (0) − v (∞) =
R1 + R2
(8)

dv (t)
i(t) = C
dt
−C [v (0) − v (∞)] −t/τ
= e
τ
v (∞) − v (0) −t/τ
= e
RTh
10R2 − 5R1 R2 R1 + R2 −t/τ
= e
R1 + R2 R1 R2
10 − 5R1 −t/τ
= e A
R1

Therefore
10 − 5R1
B1 =
R1

Question 2 (17)
Refer to the circuit below. The objective is to find expressions for the capacitor
voltage v (t) and current i(t) for t ≥ 0. Question parts (9)–(17) list the parameters
needed in finding the expressions. Calculate and fill in the parameters where the

2021EIR211C01 Page 4 of 8 15 April 2021

 parameter number corresponds to the answer sheet numbering. The parameters
are not necessarily listed in the order in which you need to calculate them.
R1 , R2 , L and C are student-specific parameters whose values are to be found in
the Excel template a2021EIR211C01.xlsx.

R2 i L

2u(−t) A R1 v C
−

(9) A1 (no units required) (2)

(10) A2 (no units required) (2)
(11) B1 (no units required) (1)
(12) B2 (no units required) (1)
(13) s1 (no units required) (2)
(14) s2 (no units required) (2)
+
(15) i(0 ) (1)
(16) dv (0+ )/dt (1)
(17) v (0+ ) (1)

(18) What is the mathematical form of the capacitor voltage response v (t) for t ≥
0?
1. v (t) = A1 + A2 e −t/τ
2. v (t) = (A1 + A2 )e −t/τ
3. v (t) = A1 e s1 t + A2 e s2 t
4. v (t) = (A1 + A2 t)e −αt
5. v (t) = e −αt (A1 cos ωd t + A2 sin ωd t)
(1)
(19) What is the mathematical form of the current i(t) for t ≥ 0?
1. i(t) = B1 + B2 e −t/τ
2. i(t) = (B1 + B2 )e −t/τ
3. i(t) = B1 e s1 t + B2 e s2 t
4. i(t) = (B1 + B2 t)e −αt
5. i(t) = e −αt (B1 cos ωd t + B2 sin ωd t)
(1)
(20) What is the energy dissipated in the Thevenin equivalent resistor from t = 0
to t → ∞? (2)

2021EIR211C01 Page 5 of 8 15 April 2021

 Solution:
t < 0: The circuit is assumed to be in steady state.
R2 i

2A R1 v
−

(17) v (0+ ) = v (0− ) = 2R1 V.

(15) i(0+ ) = i(0− ) = 0 A.

(16) t ≥ 0:
R2 i L

R1 v C
−

dv (0+ ) i(0+ )
= = 0 V/s
dt C
(13)
R1 + R2
α=
2L
1
ω0 = √
LC
p
s1 = −α + α2 − ω02
p
(14) s2 = −α − α2 − ω02

(18) α > ω0 for all student-specific parameters and so the response is over-
damped. Hence, form 3.

(10)
v (t) = A1 e s1 t + A2 e s2 t

v (0) = 2R1 = A1 + A2
A1 = 2R1 − A2

2021EIR211C01 Page 6 of 8 15 April 2021

 dv (t)
= s1 A1 e s1 t + s2 A2 e s2 t
dt

dv (0)
= 0 = s1 A1 + s2 A2
dt
0 = s1 (2R1 − A2 ) + s2 A2
−2s1 R1 = A2 (s2 − s1 )
2s1 R1
A2 =
s1 − s2

(9)

A1 = 2R1 − A2
2s1 R1
= 2R1 −
s1 − s2
2R1 (s1 − s2 ) − 2s1 R1
=
s1 − s 2
2s2 R1
=
s 2 − s1

(19)

dv (t)
i(t) = C
dt
= Cs1 A1 e s1 t + Cs2 A2 e s2 t

Therefore, form 3.

(11) B1 = Cs1 A1

(12) B2 = Cs2 A2

(20) Since the circuit is a source-free RLC circuit for t ≥ 0, the energy dissi-
pated in R1 + R2 is equal to the energy present in the capacitor and inductor
at t = 0

1 1
ER1 +R2 = Cv 2 (0) + Li 2 (0)
2 2
1
= C (2R1 )2 + 0
2
= 2CR12

2021EIR211C01 Page 7 of 8 15 April 2021

 The same result could be obtained by the much longer method
Z ∞
ER1 +R2 = vR1 +R2 (t)iR1 +R2 (t) dt
Z0 ∞
= (R1 + R2 )i 2 (t) dt
0
Z ∞
= (R1 + R2 ) C 2 s12 A21 e 2s1 t + C 2 s22 A22 e 2s2 t + 2C 2 s1 s2 A1 A2 e (s1 +s2 )t dt
0
 C 2 s A2 C 2 s A2 2C 2 s s A A 
1 1 2 2 1 2 1 2
= (R1 + R2 ) − − −
2 2 s 1 + s2
(R1 + R2 )[−C 2 A21 s1 (s2 + s1 ) − C 2 A22 s2 (s2 + s1 ) − 4C 2 s1 s2 A1 A2 ]
=
2(s1 + s2 )
−C (R1 + R2 )[A1 s1 + A1 s1 s2 + A22 s22 + A22 s1 s2 + 4s1 s2 A1 A2 ]
2 2 2 2
=
2(s1 + s2 )
−C (R1 + R2 )[(A1 s1 + A2 s2 )2 + s1 s2 (A1 + A2 )2 ]
2
=
2(s1 + s2 )
2
= 2CR1

where the last step follows as

sR1 s1 s2 2R1 s1 s2
A1 s1 + A2 s2 = +
s2 − s1 s 1 − s2
=0

and
2R1 s2 2R1 s1
A1 + A2 = +
s 2 − s1 s 1 − s2
2R1 s2 2R1 s1
= −
s 2 − s1 s 2 − s1
= 2R1

and
q q
s1 s2 = (−α + α2 − ω02 )(−α − α2 − ω02 )
= α2 − (α2 − ω02 )
= ω02
1
=
LC
and

s1 + s2 = −2α
2(R1 + R2 )
=−
2L
R1 + R2
=−
L

2021EIR211C01 Page 8 of 8 15 April 2021