RLC Series Circuit

Example 3.1.1. Find the amplitude, um, rms value, U, angular frequency, ω, frequency,
f, period, T and phase angle, φ of the sinusoidal voltage: 𝑢 (𝑡) = 15 𝑐𝑜𝑠(100𝑡 −
350 ) 𝑉.
Solution:
Analyzing the sinusoidal voltage function, we have: the amplitude um=15V; the rms
𝑢
value 𝑈 = 𝑚 = 10.60𝑉; the angular frequency is ω=100 rad/s; the frequency 𝑓 =
√2
𝜔 1 2𝜋
= 15.92 𝐻𝑧; the period 𝑇 = = = 0.0628 𝑠 = 62.8 𝑚𝑠; the phase angle 𝜑 =
2𝜋 𝑓 𝜔
−350 .

Example 3.1.2. Calculate the phase angle between 𝑢1 (𝑡) = −10 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 400 ) and
𝑢2 (𝑡) = 12 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 200 ).
Solution:
In order to compare u1 and u2, we have to express both functions in the same form, i.e.
in terms of sin functions. Using the identity − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝛼 − 900 ), we can write
𝑢1 (𝑡) = 10 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 + 400 − 900 ) = 10 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 − 500 ). Comparing now both
functions, the phase angle between the two functions is 𝜑12 = 𝜑1 − 𝜑2 = −500 −
(−200 ) = −300 . We say that the u1(t) lags the u2(t) by the angle of 300, or conversely,
the u2(t) leads the u1(t) by the angle of 300.
Example 3.1.3. A sinusoidal current at the moment t=0 has the value i(0)=5A and at
t1=2.5 ms reaches peak value. Knowing the period T=20 ms, calculate: a) the phase
angle, φ; the instantaneous form of the sinusoidal current, i(t).
Solution:
We will consider a sinusoidal current in form 𝑖 (𝑡) = 𝑖𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑). For t1=2.5 ms the
function reaches the peak, means that sin(𝜔𝑡1 + 𝜑) = 1, and as a consequence 𝜔𝑡1 +
𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 2𝜋
𝜑 = 2, and 𝜑 = 2 − 𝜔𝑡1 = 2 − 𝑇 𝑡1 = 0.787 (𝑟𝑎𝑑) ≅ 450 . For t=0 we have i(0)=5A,
which means 5 = 𝑖𝑚 sin 0.787, and 𝑖𝑚 = 7.071 ≅ 5 √2 (𝐴).Finally, the instantaneous
current is: 𝑖 (𝑡) = 7.071 sin(314𝑡 + 450 ) = 5 √2 sin(314𝑡 + 450 ) (𝐴).
Example 3.2.1. The sinusoidal current through a 5Ω’s resistance is: 𝑖 (𝑡) =
2 √2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(100𝑡 + 600 ) 𝐴.Calculate the rms value and instantaneous value of the
voltage on the resistor. Find the value of the current and voltage for t=0.01s.
Solution:
According to the relation between the current and voltage on a resistance, the rms value
of the voltage is 𝑈𝑅 = 𝐼 ∙ 𝑅 = 2 ∙ 5 = 10 (𝑉), and the instantaneous voltage 𝑢𝑅 (𝑡) =
𝑅 ∙ 𝑖 (𝑡) = 10√2 sin(100𝑡 + 600 ) (𝑉).The value of the current for t=0.01s is 𝑖 (0.01) =
𝜋 𝜋
2√2 sin(1 + 3 ) = 2.51 (𝐴), while the voltage value is 𝑢 (0.01) = 10√2 sin(1 + 3 ) =
12.57 (𝑉).

Example 3.2.2. The sinusoidal current through a 250 mH’s inductance is 𝑖 (𝑡) =
4 √2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(100𝑡 − 300 ) 𝐴. Calculate the rms value and the instantaneous value of the
voltage on the inductance.
Solution:
The inductive reactance is 𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔𝐿 = 25 Ω. As a remark, the inductive reactance
depends on the inductance but also on the angular frequency of the supplying current.
The rms value of the voltage is 𝑈𝐿 = 𝑋𝐿 ∙ 𝐼 = 100 (𝑉), and the instantaneous voltage is
𝑑𝑖
𝑢𝐿 (𝑡) = 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 = 100 √2 cos(100𝑡 − 300 ) = 100 √2 sin(100𝑡 + 600 ) (𝑉).

Example 3.2.3. The sinusoidal voltage across a 10 µF’s capacitance is 𝑢𝐶 (𝑡) =

150 √2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(20𝑡 + 150 ) 𝑉. Calculate the rms value and the instantaneous value of the
current through the capacitance.
Solution:
1
The capacitive reactance is 𝑋𝐶 = 𝜔𝐶 = 50 Ω. As a remark, the same as for the
inductance, the capacitive reactance depends on the capacitance but also on the angular
𝑈
frequency of the supplying current. The rms value of the current is 𝐼 = 𝑋𝐶 = 3 (𝐴), and
𝐶
𝑑𝑢𝐶 0)
the instantaneous voltage is 𝑖 (𝑡) = 𝐶 𝑑𝑡
= 3 √2 cos(20𝑡 + 15 = 3 √2 sin(20𝑡 +
1050 ) (𝐴).
Example 3.3.1. The circuit parameters for the RC series circuit below are R=100Ω,
C=31.8 µF. We know the current amplitude im=1.41 A and the phase angle φi=0.
Determine: a) the instantaneous voltage on the capacitance, uC(t); b) the
instantaneous voltage on the resistance, uR(t).
R i(t) UR I


4
C
u(t) U UC
uc(t)
Example 3.3.1.
Solution:
The form of the sinusoidal current is: 𝑖 (𝑡) = 𝑖𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡. We can calculate the circuit
1 2
impedance, 𝑍 = √𝑅2 + (− ) = 141.4 (Ω), and the supplying voltage amplitude,
𝜔𝐶
−𝑋 1
𝑢𝑚 = 𝑍 ∙ 𝑖𝑚 = 200 (𝑉). From tan 𝜑 = 𝐶 = − ≅ −1, the voltage phase angle is
𝑅 𝜔𝑅𝐶
0
𝜑 = −45 . The instantaneous value of the supplying voltage is 𝑢 (𝑡) =
𝜋 1
200 sin (100𝜋𝑡 − 4 ) (𝑉). The peak of the capacitance-voltage is 𝑢𝐶𝑚 = 𝑖𝑚 𝜔𝐶 =
141.13 (𝑉) and the instantaneous voltage on capacitance is 𝑢𝐶 (𝑡) =
𝜋
141.13 sin (100𝜋𝑡 − ) (𝑉). The pick of the resistance voltage is 𝑢𝑅𝑚 = 𝑖𝑚 𝑅 =
2
141 (𝑉) and the instantaneous voltage on the resistance is 𝑢𝑅 (𝑡) =
141 sin(100𝜋𝑡) (𝑉). We take into account that the voltage on capacitance lags the
current by an angle of 900, while the voltage on the resistance is in phase with the
current. The phasor diagram was drawn in the figure above.
Example 3.3.2. The circuit parameters for the RL series circuit below are R=10Ω, L=100
mH, and the instantaneous voltage on the inductance 𝑢𝐿 (𝑡) = 100 𝑠𝑖𝑛(314𝑡 +
300 )𝑉. Determine: a) the instantaneous value of the current in the circuit, i(t); b) the
instantaneous value of the supplying voltage, u(t).
R i(t)

u(t) L
uL(t)

Example 3.3.2.
Solution:
𝑢𝐿𝑚
At first, from 𝑢𝐿𝑚 = 𝑖𝑚 ∙ 𝑋𝐿 we calculate 𝑖𝑚 = 𝑋𝐿
= 3.183 𝐴. The current lags the
voltage on the inductor by an angle of 90 , 𝑖 (𝑡) = 3.183 sin(314𝑡 + 300 − 900 ) =
0

3.183 sin(314𝑡 − 600 ) (𝐴). The circuit impedance is 𝑍 = √𝑅2 + (𝜔𝐿)2 = 33 (Ω),
𝑋
and the peak of the supplying voltage 𝑢𝑚 = 𝑍 ∙ 𝑖𝑚 = 105 (𝑉). From tan 𝜑 = 𝑅𝐿 ≅
3.14, the phase angle between the supplying voltage and current is 𝜑 = arctan 3.14 ≅
720 . The voltage leads the current by the angle of 720 and, as a consequence, the
instantaneous supplying voltage is 𝑢 (𝑡) = 105 sin(314𝑡 + 120 ) 𝑉.
Example 3.3.3. The circuit parameters for the RLC series circuit below are R=40Ω, 𝐿 =
6 1
10𝜋
𝐻, 𝐶 = 𝜇𝐹, and the supplying voltage: 𝑢 (𝑡) = 100 √2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(100𝜋𝑡 − 600 ) 𝑉.
3𝜋
Calculate: a) inductive and capacitive reactance and the impedance of the circuit, X L,
XC, Z; b) rms and instantaneous value of the current, I, i(t); c) rms and instantaneous
value of the voltage on the resistance, UR, uR(t); d) rms and instantaneous value of the
voltage on inductance, UL, uL(t); rms and instantaneous value of the voltage on the
capacitance, UC, uC(t).
uR(t) uL(t) uC(t)
i(t)

R L C
u(t)

Example 3.3.3.
Solution:
1
The inductive reactance is 𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔𝐿 = 60 Ω, the capacitive reactance 𝑋𝐶 = 𝜔𝐶 = 30 Ω,
1 2
and the circuit impedance 𝑍 = √𝑅2 + (𝜔𝐿 − 𝜔𝐶 ) = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2 = 50 Ω. The
𝑈 𝑋𝐿 −𝑋𝐶 3
rms value of the current is 𝐼 = 𝑍
= 2 𝐴, and from tan 𝜑 = 𝑅
= 4, the phase angle
3 0
between supplying voltage and current is 𝜑 = atan 4 ≅ 37 . Because 𝑋𝐿 > 𝑋𝐶 , the
circuit behaves inductively, i.e. the current lags the voltage by the angle 𝜑 = 370 . The
instantaneous value of the current is 𝑖 (𝑡) = 2 √2 sin(100𝜋𝑡 − 600 − 370 ) =
2 √2 sin(100𝜋𝑡 − 970 ) (𝐴). The rms value of the resistance voltage is 𝑈𝑅 = 𝐼 ∙ 𝑅 =
80 𝑉, and the instantaneous value 𝑢𝑅 (𝑡) = 80 √2 sin(100𝜋𝑡 − 970 ) 𝑉. The rms value
of the inductance voltage is 𝑈𝐿 = 𝑋𝐿 ∙ 𝐼 = 120 𝑉, and the instantaneous value 𝑢𝐿 (𝑡) =
120 √2 sin(100𝜋𝑡 − 70 ) 𝑉 (the voltage on the inductance lags the current by an angle
of 900). The rms value of the capacitance-voltage is 𝑈𝐶 = 𝑋𝐶 ∙ 𝐼 = 60 𝑉, and the
instantaneous value 𝑢𝐶 (𝑡) = 60 √2 sin(100𝜋𝑡 − 1870 ) 𝑉 (the voltage on the
capacitance leads the current by an angle of 900).
 1730
Im

UC
60
Re

2 -70 UL
-600
-970 120

-1870 80

100
UR U

Phasor Diagram

Im

Re

2 -600

-970
370
U
80 100
UR
UC
60
120
UL

Phasor Diagram