Experiment # 1

Exponential function
RNEW 320
 Experiment#1
Abstraction:

In this lab we will design the Exponential function Circuit and verify the circuit using the
equations and the Multisim simulation. This experiment allows us to understand how to Design a
Exponential function Circuit. Multisim environment is used to monitor the overall behavior of
the circuit and results are plotted using oscilloscope. We can also make the Exponential function
circuits using the RC and RL circuits.

Objective:

The objective of this experiment is to begin to become familiar with the properties and uses of the
exponential function in circuits and engineering in general.

Equipment’s Required:

 Resistors
 Connecting wires
 Bread board
 Exponential Voltage Source
 Oscilloscope

Software Required:

1. Multisim

Introduction:

The exponential function is a step function whose amplitude Vk gradually decreases to 0.

Exponential functions are important to circuit analysis because they’re solutions to many
problems in which a circuit contains resistors, capacitors, and inductors.

The exponential waveform is described by the following equation:

The time constant TC provides a measure of how fast the function will decay or grow. Using
the step function means that the function starts at t = 0.

We have three types of circuits to understand the exponential function of the circuit.
  RC Circuit
 RL Circuit
 Using Exponential Source

The Exponential Function in Circuits

RC Circuit:
Charging
If the capacitor is initially uncharged and we want to charge it with a voltage source Vs in the RC
circuit:

Current flows into the capacitor and accumulates a charge there. As the charge increases, the
voltage rises, and eventually the voltage of the capacitor equals the voltage of the source, and
current stops flowing. The voltage across the capacitor is given by:

where V0 = VS, the final voltage across the capacitor.

Discharging
Consider the following circuit:

In the circuit, the capacitor is initially charged and has voltage V0 across it, and the switch is
initially open. At time t = 0, we close the circuit and allow the capacitor to discharge through the
resistor. The voltage across a capacitor discharging through a resistor as a function of time is
given as:

where V0 is the initial voltage across the capacitor.

The term RC is the resistance of the resistor multiplied by the capacitance of the capacitor, and
known as the time constant, which is a unit of time. The function completes 63% of the
transition between the initial and final states at t = 1RC, and completes over 99.99% of the
transition at t = 5RC.

The voltage and current of the capacitor in the circuits above are shown in the graphs below,
from t=0 to t=5RC. Note the polarity—the voltage is the voltage measured at the "+" terminal of
the capacitor relative to the ground (0V). A positive current flow into the capacitor from this
terminal; a negative current flow out of this terminal.
Remember that for capacitors, i(t) = C * dv / dt. Note that the current through the capacitor can
change instantly at t=0, but the voltage changes slowly.

RL Circuit:
Charging
If the inductor is initially uncharged and we want to charge it by inserting a voltage source Vs in
the RL circuit:

The inductor initially has a very high resistance, as energy is going into building up a magnetic
field. Once the magnetic field is up and no longer changing, the inductor acts like a short circuit.
The current at steady state is equal to I0 = Vs / R. Since the inductor is acting like a short circuit at
steady state, the voltage across the inductor then is 0. The current through the inductor is given
by:
Discharging
In the following circuit, the inductor initially has current I0 = Vs / R flowing through it; we
replace the voltage source with a short circuit at t = 0.

After we cut out the voltage source, the voltage across the inductor is I0 * R, but the higher
voltage is now at the negative terminal of the inductor. Thus, I0 = − V / R. The current flowing
through the inductor at time t is given by:

where I0 = − Vs / R.

The time constant for the RL circuit is equal to L / R.

The voltage and current of the inductor for the circuits above are given by the graphs below,
from t=0 to t=5L/R. The voltage is measured at the "+" terminal of the inductor, relative to the
ground. A positive current flow into the inductor from this terminal; a negative current flow out
of this terminal:
Remember that for an inductor, v(t) = L * di / dt. Note that the voltage across the inductor can
change instantly at t=0, but the current changes slowly.

Procedure:

Using Exponential Source:

 Build a circuit as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure: RC charging/discharging circuit

 Run Select “National Instruments” – “Circuit Design Suite” - Multisim
 Select “place” – “components”
 Apply a exponential voltage source with the voltage equal to 1V.
 Add a resistor as load to test the behavior of the exponential voltage source.
  Select the transient analysis from the simulate and analysis button to check the transient
response of the circuit.
 Analyze the exponential curve at the output

Schematic

Figure: Exponential Function circuit

Results:

Figure: Exponential Curve

The above figure shows the exponential behavior of the circuit.

Conclusion:

To conclude it is stated that Exponential functions are important to circuit analysis because
they're solutions to many problems in which a circuit contains resistors, capacitors, and
inductors. The time constant TC provides a measure of how fast the function will decay or grow.
Using the step function means that the function starts at t = 0. Exponential circuits can build
using the exponential source as designed in this lab and can also be designed using the RC and
RL circuits by adjusting the values of the components as required.

References:

1. https://www.dummies.com/education/science/science-electronics/apply-the-exponential-function-
to-circuit-analysis/
2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286421676_Exponential_Circuits
3. http://www.math.utep.edu/Faculty/duval/class/1411/144/Exponential.pdf
4. http://hades.mech.northwestern.edu/index.php/RC_and_RL_Exponential_Responses