COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

LABORATORY 7: RC and RL Circuit Response

MEMBERS: Javier, Christian P. GROUP: ____________

Yazon, Jude Anthony A.

Objectives:

● Familiarize with the use of transient analysis.

● Compare the theoretical result to actual result.
● Analyze the output response.

Components:

● Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor, Source Voltage

● Voltage controlled SPDT

RC CIRCUIT

1. Charging RC
For the circuit in Figure 1, the capacitor is initially uncharged (v(0 -) = 0V). When the switch is
position to A at time = 0s,

Figure 1.

a. Compute the time constant τA.

τ A =RC =5000 ( 10∗10−6 )=0.05 s
b. What is 5τA?
5 τ A =5 ( 0.05 )=0.25 s
c. What is the steady state voltage of the capacitor (t ≥ 5τ A)?
−0.25
0.05
V ( 5 τ A )=40−40 e =39.73 V
d. What is v(t) for t > 0s?
−t
V ( t ) =40−40 e 0.05
e. What is v(τA)?
−0.05
0.05
V ( τ A )=40−40 e =25.28 V
f. Is v(τA) ≈ 63.2% (charging) of the steady state voltage?
25.28
V ( τ A )= ∗100=63.64 % (YES)
39.73
2. Discharging RC
When the switch is position from A to B at t = 6τ A (6τA is chosen to ensure the capacitor is fully
charge. 6τA will be the reference time (t = 0s) for discharging RC circuit when the switch is in B),
determine the following:
a. Initial voltage of the capacitor v(6τA).
−0.3
V ( 6 τ A )=40−40 e 0.05 =39.9 V
b. Time constant τB.
τ B=RC =( 2000 ) ( 10∗10 )=0.02 s
−6

c. v(t) for t > 6τA.

−t
0.02
V ( t ) =39.9 e
d. What is the steady state voltage of the capacitor for discharging phase?
−0.1
0.02
V ( 5 τ B )=39.9 e =0.2688
e. What is v(τB). (Note τB is at t = τB + 6τA)
−0.02
0.02
V c ( τ B )=39.9 e =14.68 V
f. Is v(τB) ≈ 36.8% (discharging) of the initial voltage?
14.68
V ( τ B )= ∗100=36.79 %( YES)
0.2688

3. Simulation
Simulate the circuit of Figure 1 using the schematic shown in figure 2 in NI Multisim.

Figure 2.

a. Show the transient response from time 0 to 6τ B + 6τA

 b. Determine the time constant τA. τA is measured when the voltage of the capacitor is at
63.2% (charging) of the steady state voltage.

c. Also determine the time constant τB. τB is measured when the voltage of the capacitor is
at 36.8% (discharging) of the initial voltage.

RL CIRCUIT

1. Energizing RL Circuit
For the given circuit in Figure 3, the inductor is initially unenergized (i(0 -) = 0A). When the
system is turned on at t = 0,

Figure 3.

a. Compute the time constant τA.

L 4
τ A = = =0.8 s
R 5
b. What is 5τA?
5 τ A =5 ( 0.8 )=4 s
 c. What is the steady state current of the inductor (t ≥ 5τ A)?
−4
i ( 5 τ A ) =5−5 e 0.8 =4.97 A
d. What is i(t) for t > 0s?
−t
0.8
i (t )=5−5 e
e. What is i(τA)?
−0.8
0.8
i (t )=5−5 e =3.16 A
f. Is i(τA) ≈ 63.2% of the steady state current?
3.16
i ( τ A)= ∗100=63.64 % (YES)
4.97

2. De-energizing RL Circuit
When the switch is move at t = 6τ A (6τA is chosen to ensure the inductor is fully energized. 6τ A
would be the reference time (t = 0s) for de-energizing RL circuit when the switch is close),
determine the following:
a. Initial current of the inductor i(6τ A).
−6 (0.8)
0.8
i ( 6 τ A )=5−5 e =4.99 A

b. Time constant τB.

L 4
τ B= = =2 s
R 2
c. i(t) for t > 6τA.
−t
2
i (t )=4.99 e
d. What is the steady state current of the inductor in the de-energizing phase?
−5 ( 2 )
i ( 5 τ B ) =4.99 e 2
=0.0336 A
e. What is i(τB). (Note τB is at t = τB + 6τA)
−2
i ( τ B )=4.99 e 2 =1.84 A
f. Is i(τB) ≈ 36.8% (de-energizing) of the initial current?
3.06
i ( τ B )= ∗100=36.78 %(YES)
8.31

3. Simulation
Simulate the circuit of Figure 3.

a. Create the schematic of Figure 3 in NI Multisim to simulate the circuit.

b. Show the output response.

 c. Determine the time constant τA. τA is measured when the current is at 63.2% (energized)
of the steady state voltage.

d. Also determine the time constant τB. τB is measured when the current of the inductor is
at 36.8% (de-energized) of the initial current.

INDIVIDUAL CONCLUSION:

(Christian) The capacitor, stores charges. There is a time constant that defines the capacitor. This time
constant is dependent on the resistance of the circuit since it is the one limiting the flow of current. A
capacitor becomes fully charge after 5Tau, it also becomes discharged after 5Taub. These tau’s changes
with respect to the position of the switches.

When the capacitor reaches 5Tau it is in steady state voltage wherein the voltage has less than
1% difference from the supply voltage. It is similar to discharging wherein after 5Taub the capacitor
depleted its charge 99%.

The RL circuit which uses an inductor works the same. It charges at to steady state at 5 Tau and
discharge at 5 Taub. The only difference is that its parameter is current unlike the capacitor which is
voltage. In addition to these is that the inductor is just a coil of conducting wires, that produces a certain
inductance due to the closeness and number of its loops.