Two Equivalent Representations

S 1 R

S closes +
at t = 0+
10 V C vC
2 _

1 R

+
vs(t) +- C vC
2 _

−
vs vs (0 ) = 0
vs (0+) = 10
10

0
t
 S 1 R=5K

S closes +
at t = 0+
10 V C vC
2 = 2 µF
_
Step 1 Find vC(0+) : Replace C by battery with
voltage = vC(0−), then calculate vC(0+).
1 R=5K

+
10 V vC(0−) = 5 vC (0+) = vC (0−)
=5
2 _
Step 2 Find vC(t∞) : Replace C by open circuit,
then calculate vC= vC(t∞).
1 R=5K

+
10 V vC = vC(t∞)
2 = 10 V
_
Step 3 Calculate the time constant

τ=RC
 Fundamental Behavior
of 1st-order Circuits

The voltage vjk(t) between any pair of nodes j

and k , and the current io(t) at any terminal

of any linear resistive circuit is always an

exponential waveform, except for the trivial

circuit consisting of a current source (resp.,

voltage source ) connected across a capacitor

(resp., inductor), whose solution is a linear

“ramp” function.
 Problem : Calculate iR(t) under the same setting.

S 1 5K iR(t)
S closes iC(t) +
at t = 0+
10 V C vC
2 = 2 µF
_
Step 1 Calculate iR(0+) : Replace C by a 5 V battery :
+
1 5 K iR(0 )
+
10 V vC(0−) = 5 vC (0+) = vC(0−)
=5V
2 _
Calculate : 5 −10
iR (0+ ) = = − 1 mA
5K
Step 2 Calculate iR(t∞) : Replace C by open circuit :
1 5K iR(t∞)
iC(t∞) = 0
10 V
2
Calculate :
iR(t∞) = 0
Step 3 Calculate time constant

τ = R C = (5 × 103) (2 × 10−6) = 10 ms
iR
τ = 10 ms
10 20 30 40 50 60
0 t, ms
-0.5 −t
-1
0.63
iR (t ) = − e 10 ms , t ≥ 0+
Verification of solution

iC (t ) = iC −t
− iR (t ) 1 iC (t ) = e 10 ms , t ≥ 0+
0.5 0.63

0 t, ms
10 20 30 40 50 60
−t
dt
− 1 t 10×10−3
vC (t ) = vC (0 ) + ∫ + e
C 0
−t
dt
1 t 10 ×10−3
−3 ∫ 0+
=5+ e
2 × 10
 −t 
−
= 5 +  −5 e10×10 + 5
3
 
 
−t
−3
=10 − 5e10×10 , t ≥ 0+
Step 3 Calculate time constant

τ = R C = (5 × 103) (2 × 10−6) = 10 ms
iR
τ = 10 ms
10 20 30 40 50 60
0 t, ms
-0.5
0.63 −t
-1
iR (t ) = − 1i e 10 ms , t ≥ 0+

Verification
Let us calculate :
−t

iC (t ) = − iR (t ) = e 10 ms

1 t
vC (t ) = vC (0− ) + ∫ + iC (τ ) dτ
C 0
−t
dt
1 t 10 ×10−3
−3 ∫ 0+
=5+ e
2 × 10
 −t 
−
= 5 +  −5 e10×10 + 5
3
 
 
t
−
=10 − 5e τ , t ≥ 0+
 Finding Solutions by Inspection
S 1 R

S closes +
at t = 0+
10 V C vC
2 _
Problem
Assume vC(0−) = 5 V, where t = 0− denotes the time just before
switch S made contact with resistor R.
Sketch vC(t) for t ≥ 0+, where t = 0+ denotes the instant
switch S made contact with resistor R.
Solution vC(0+) = vC(0−) = 5 V, vC(t∞) = 10 V
τ = R C = 5(103) [2(10-6)] = 10 ms
vC
τ = 10 ms
10
−t
5 vC (t ) =10 − 5e10

0 t, ms
10 20 30 40 50 60
−t
Calculate : vC (t ) =10 − 5e10 , t ≥ 0+
 How to Find vC(t∞) ? How to Find iL(t∞) ?

1 1 iC = 0 1 1
+ + +
vC
_ N vC = vC(t∞)
_ N iL N vL = 0
_ N
2 2 2 2
iL = iL(t∞)
Step 1 : Step 1 :
Open capacitor Short capacitor
Step 2 : Step 2 :
Calculate : vC|Open capacitor Calculate : iL| Short inductor

Then Then

vC ( t∞ ) = vC | Open capacitor i L ( t∞ ) = i L | Short inductor

 How to Find vc (to+ ) ? How to Find iL (to+) ?

1 1
+ circuit condition + circuit condition
vo changed _ vo changed _
_ _
at t = to at t = to
2 2

Step 1 : Step 1 :
_ _
Calculate : vC (to ) Calculate : iL (to )
Step 2 : Step 2 :

_ _
+ +
vC ( t o ) = vC ( t o ) i L ( to ) = i L ( to )
 How to Find τ = R C ? L
How to Find τ = G L = R ?
1 Req 1 Req

C N voc
L N voc

2 2
Thevenin Thevenin
Step 1 : equivalent circuit Step 1 : equivalent circuit

Find Thevenin equivalent Find Thevenin (or Norton)

circuit of N. equivalent circuit of N.
Step 2 : Step 2 :

L
τ = Req C τ= R
eq
 Substitution Theorem
Let N be a circuit made of a nonlinear resistive one-port NR terminated
in an arbitrary one-port NL , as shown in Fig. (a).
1. If N has a unique solution v = vˆ(t ) for all t, then NL may be substituted
by a voltage source vˆ(t ) without affecting the branch voltage and branch
current solution inside NR, provided the substituted circuit Nv in Fig. (b) has
a unique solution for all t.
2. If N has a unique solution i = iˆ(t ) for all t, then NL may be substituted
by a current source iˆ(t ) without affecting the branch voltage and branch
current solution inside NR, provided the substituted circuit Ni in Fig. (c) has
a unique solution for all t.

Circuit N