Iloilo Science and Technology University

College of Engineering and Architecture

EE Department

EE 16 – CIRCUITS 2 LABORATORY

Name: Caballero, Castano, Dacula, Ga, Lopez Date Performed: 12/04/2022

Course and Year: BSEE 2 – A2 Date Submitted: 14/04/2022
Signature: Instructor’s Signature:

Experiment 2
AC RC Circuit

Objectives

1. To understand the characteristics of an RC series network in ac circuit.

2. To understand the capacitive reactance, impedance, and phase angle.

Part I.

Discussion

When an ac voltage is applied across a pure resistance, the resultant current is in phase with the
applied voltage. Resistance therefore has no phase angle associated with it and is simply written
as R angle 00. When an ac voltage is applied across a pure capacitor, the resultant current leads
the voltage by 900. Capacitance therefore has a phase angle associated with it. The opposition
that a capacitor offers to the flow of alternating current is called capacitive reactance and is
written as Xc angle -900, or –jXc. The magnitude of Xc is Xc = 1/2πfC = a/ώC.

An RC series circuit with an ac supply voltage is shown Fig. 2-1. The impedance of this circuit
can be expressed as

ZT = R - jXc

The current in the circuit is

I = E/ZT (current leads the voltage)

The voltage across R is

ER = IR

The voltage across C is

 EC = IXC

By Kirchhoff’s voltage law, then

Summation V = E – VR – VC = 0
E = VR + VC

Fig. 2-1

1. According to Figs. 2-1, complete the experiment circuit in electronic workbench. Apply the
AC power 9V to EA and plot the waveform of the supply voltage at Fig. 2.1.
Using sine function as reference, write the voltage equation in the form ℮a =Emsinώt
Where: Em = Max voltage
= √2 Vrms
℮a = 12.73sin(376.99t) V

2. Record the given data from the figure 2-1 and calculate for the values required. Express in
polar form if applicable.
R6 = 2 k ohms C2 = 0.2 micro-Farad
Reactance of C2 XC = 13,262.91 -90o Ω
Total impedance ZT = 13,412.86 -81.42o Ω
Current in circuit I = 0.671 81.42o mA(rms)
Voltage across R8 ER = 1.342 81.42o V(rms)
Voltage across C2 EC = 8.9 -8.58o V(rms)
o
Power dissipated PT = 6.039 -81.42 mW
 Fig. 2-2

3. Using ℮a in step 2 and value of ZT in step 3, compute the sinusoidal value of current
flowing in the circuit.
i = 9.49x10-4 cos(376.99t+81.42o)
What is the phase difference between the voltage and current?
ӨD = 171.42o
With reference to the voltage, plot the current waveform in Fig. 2-2 using different color
reflecting the correct phase difference between the two wave forms.

4. Measure and record the values of ℮R and ℮C by using the oscilloscope.

Plot the waveform of each voltage R8 and C2 using different colors in Fig. 2-3

℮R Waveform
℮C Waveform

Fig. 2-3
Using the plotted values of ℮R and ℮C, write the sinusoidal voltage equations as a function
of time.
℮R = 12.74 cos(376.99t + 8.97o)
℮C = 12.47 cos(376.99t)

From the value of ℮R and ℮C. Compute the rms value of ER and EC.
ER = 9 8.97o V
EC = 8.82 0o V
Are the computed values equal to the calculated values in step 3?
□Yes □No

5. Measure and record the values of ER and EC by using the voltmeter.

ER = 1.354 Vrms
EC = 8.878 Vrms
Are the measured values equal to the computed values in step 3?
□Yes □No

6. Using the measured values of ER and EC in step 6 calculate and record the current
I = 0.6703832172 mA
 Does this current value equal the calculated current I of step 3?
□Yes □No
Why?
It is because that the calculated value of current in step 3 is 0.671 81.420 mA and the calculated value
in number 6 is 0.6703832172 mA. Basing only in the current, we can see that their values were almost equal with
each other. Therefore, we can say that the calculated current in the measured values of ER and EC is almost the
same or equal to the calculated current of step 3.

7. Using the values of R, XC and ZT, plot a vector diagram is space below.

Imaginary axis

13,262.91∠81.42o
XC ZT
13,262.91∠90o

Ø
Real axis
R
2000∠0o

Conclusion

As we plotted the vector diagram using the values of R, XC, and ZT, we have
observed that the ZT is directly proportional to the values of the R and XC. As the
values of the R and XC increases, the value of Z also increases. We have also observed
that the impedance is the combination of resistance and capacitive reactance (also with
the inductive reactance). The impedance also contains both real and imaginary parts
wherein the real part is the resistance while the imaginary part is the capacitive and/or
inductive reactance. Also, impedance has both magnitude and phase.