EEG200: Circuit Theory II

Experiment No.1: First Order Circuits

Objectives:
1. Finding the time varying waveform of the voltages across and the current through a capacitor
when the latter is subjected to charge and discharge conditions.
2. Finding the time-varying waveform of voltage across and current through an inductor when
subjected to energizing and de-energizing conditions.
3. Determining the time constant during the charge and discharge conditions for RC circuit as well
as for RL circuits.
4. Investigating the effect of the parameters (R, C and L) values in the time constant in RC circuits
as well as RL circuits.

Background:
First-order circuits are characterized by first-order differential equations .Such circuits can be either
RC circuits or RL circuits. Referring to your class notes or chapter 7 of your course textbook (i.e
Fundamentals of Electric circuits"
by C.K . Alexander and M.N.O, International Edition, McGraw Hill Company, 2004) , the voltage across
the capacitor in function of time (t) in an RC circuit that is working freely or subjected to a step DC
voltage source is:

The capacitor requires a time nearly equal to 5 times the time

constant T to charge or discharge. The voltage across the capacitor should always continuous that is, it
can’t change abruptly or instantly between charge and discharge actions.

In the contrary, the current through the capacitor can change instantly. The current through the
capacitor can be calculated as:

Similarly in RL circuit, the current through the conductor in function of time t is:

The inductor requires a time nearly equal 5 times the time constant T to energize or dienergize.
The current through the inductor should be always continuous. That is, it cannot change abruptly or
instantly between any energizing and dienergize actions.

In the contrary, the voltage across the incuctor terminals can change instantly. The voltage across the
inductor can be calculated as from the following expression:

Equipment Needed:
The following material is needed to conduct the experiment:
1- One dual trace scope 2- One function generator 3- One mulitimeter
4- Capacitor 0.1 uf 5- Inductor 100 mH 6- Resistors: 1 kΩ and 2 kΩ.

Procedure:
a) RC circuits:

1. We use the multimeter, to measure the value of the resistance and capacitors. Then we Record
the values in the following table (Table 1)
 Table 1: Components Values
Resistances Capacitor
R1= 1kΩ R2= 2kΩ C1 = 0.1 µF

2. Then we connect the circuit shown in figure a-1:

3. We Set the function generator to give us TTL pulses (0v ; 5v) with a frequency value of 500 Hz.
When the generator's output is 5V, the capacitor is will be charging. And when it switched to 0
V, the capacitor is discharging. Connect the scope across ab terminals and across the input
voltage. Record both plots: V ab supply voltage.

4. From the above plots, the value of the time required for the capacitor to be full voltage charging.
• Charging time = 5 x 10-4 second.

5. The value of the time required for the capacitor to reach nearly zero voltage in the discharging
conditions.
• Discharging time = 5 x 10-4 second.

6. We connect the circuit shown in Figure a-2

 7. We Connect the scope across ab and across the input voltage, Then we record the plot of Vab.
Note on the plot of the parts corresponding to the charging of the capacitor and those to the
discharging of the capacitor.

8. Now we Change the value of the resistance to 2 kΩ and reconnect the figure as in figure a-1.
Record the plots of the voltage across the capacitor and the supply voltage.

9. The value of the time required for the capacitor to reach full voltage during the charging
conditions.
• Charging time = 5 x 10-4 x 2
= 1 msec.

b) RL Circuits:
1. We connect the circuits shown in Figure b-1.

2. We will set the function generator to provide TTL pluses like what we do in RC part and then
we plot Vab.
3. According to the previous plots, the value of the time required for the inductor to reach steady
state in the energizing period.
• Energizing time= 5 x 10-4 sec.

4. We will set the function generator to provide TTL pluses (0V ; 5V) with frequency of the 500
Hz. Connect the scope across ab and across the input voltage and put Vab.
 5. We will change the value of resistance of figure b-1 to 2 kΩ and perform step (b-2) again.

6. According to the previous plot, the value of the time required for the inductor to reach steady
state during the energizing conditions.
• Energizing time= 4 x 10-4 sec.

Results and Discussion

a) RC circuit:

a-1 Based on the plot figure step a-3 of the procedure, what is the voltage across the capacitor
when it is fully charged? Vab = 5 Volts
How does it compare the supply (5v) ?
It is the same voltge.
What is the voltage across the capacitor when it is fully discharged? Vab= 0 volts
Is what you expect ?
YES
a-2 Based on the value of R and C in figure 1-1 calculated the expected time constant for RC
circuit. Calculated =1000(.1e-6) Second

a-3 From the measurement of step a-4 of the procedure, deduce the value of the time constant of
the RC circuit and compare it with one valued in step a-2. Measured = 0.03 second

a-4 What you can conclude about the behavior of the capacitor current when transiting from
charging to discharging condition (at time =0 ) it is continues or discontinues . ( Discontinues)

a-5 Based on the of the plot step a-6 of the procedure, calculate the if the capacitor current when
charged begins and when discharged begins.
Ic (0) charging = 5 mA & Ic discharging = -5mA
What is the capacitor current when the capacitor fully charged ? Ic (∞ )=0 mA
What is the capacitor current when the capacitor fully discharged? Ic (∞)=5 mA
 a-6 Calculate the new time of the time constant when the resistor of figure a-1 has been
charged 2 kohm. Calculated = 2000(.1e-6) second

a-7 From the measurement of step a-9 of the capacitor, deduce of value of the time constant of
the RC circuit and compare it with one valued in step a-6 measured = 0.06 second.

b) RL circuit:
b-1Based of the value of R of figure 1 and the curve plot in step b-2 of the produced ,
calculate the final study-state inductor current during energizing and de- energizing
condition. Il energizing (∞ )=5 mA & Il de- energizing (∞ )= -5 mA
b-2 Calculate the final steady-state inductor current during the condition.
Il energizing (∞ )= 2.5 mA & Il de- energizing (∞ )= -2.5 mA
Compare the result of step b-1 and b-2
The value in b-2 = half the value of b-1
b-2 Based on b-3 of the procedure section calculate the value of RL circuit time constant.
measured =0.0325 sec.
b-3 Calculate the values of the RL circuit time constant of figure b-2.
measured = 0.0325 sec.
Compare the result of step b-3 and b-4 .
The two values are the same.
b-4 The maximum inductor voltage when the inductor start energizing ?
Vl(0) energizing = 0 v
The minimum inductor voltage when the inductor start de-energizing ?
Vl(0) de-energizing = 5 v
b-5 Calculate the new value of time constant when the resistor of figure b-1 has been
charged to 2 kohm. Calculated =1.2 x 50e-3= 0.06 second.
b-6 Form the measurement of step a-6 of procedure deduce the value of time constant of the
RL.
Measured= 0.65e-3 second
What effect charging the value of R have on the time constant?
The time will increase.

Conclusion:
First order circuits are circuits that contain only one energy storage element capacitor or inductor
And the two possible types of first-order circuits are:

RC: resistor and capacitor

RL: resistor and inductor

RL and RC circuits is a term used to describe a circuit that has either a resistors and inductors
(RL), or resistors and capacitors (RC).

In this lab experiment, we learnt how to connect first order circuits by inductors or capacitors.
Also, we saw the waves generated by these first order circuits and calculated charging &
discharging time using them.