THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
ND IIB

COURSE CODE: STP 212

COURSE TITLE: THERMODYNAMIS AND ELECTROMAGNECTIC
ASSIGNMENT
BY
OFFOR BLESSING
22/147807

QUESTION
Deduce and explain the following with respect to an R-L-C series a.c circuits: (i)
the voltage, current and impendence (ii) resonance phenomenon (iii) quality
factor

FEBRUARY, 2024
 voltage, current, and impedance in an RLC series circuit, along with diagrams
to aid understanding:

In R-L-C Series A.C. Circuits:

An RLC series circuit consists of a resistor (R), inductor (L), and capacitor (C)
connected in series with an alternating current (AC) voltage source.

This diagram shows the physical connections of the components in the circuit. It uses
standard symbols to represent the resistor (R), inductor (L), and capacitor (C), along
with the voltage source (V) and any other elements.

Voltage

 Voltage across the Resistor (VR): Always in phase with the current through the
circuit. This means its peak and zero crossings occur at the same time as the
current's.

voltage across a resistor in an RLC series circuit

 Voltage across the Inductor (VL): Leads the current by 90 degrees. This means
the voltage across the inductor reaches its peak one-quarter of a cycle before the
current.
 voltage across an inductor in an RLC series circuit

 Voltage across the Capacitor (VC): Lags the current by 90 degrees. In other
words, its peak occurs one-quarter of a cycle after the current’s peak.

voltage across a capacitor in an RLC series circuit

 Total Voltage (VS): The vector sum of the individual voltages (VR, VL, and VC).
Because these voltages are out of phase, the total voltage isn't a simple arithmetic
sum. We use phasor diagrams to represent the magnitude and phase of the total
voltage.
 Opens in a new window circuitglobe.com

phasor diagram for RLC series circuit voltages

Current

 The current (I) is the same throughout an RLC series circuit. This fundamental
principle means that the current flowing through the resistor, inductor, and
capacitor is always identical.

Impedance

 Impedance (Z) is the total opposition to the flow of current in an RLC AC

circuit. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction (phase
angle). Impedance is calculated using the following formula:

Z = √(R² + (XL - XC)²)

Where:

o R is the resistance
o XL is the inductive reactance
o XC is the capacitive reactance
 Magnitude of Impedance:| The magnitude of the impedance determines the
overall opposition to current flow. Larger impedance means less current for a given
voltage.
 Phase Angle of Impedance (θ): The phase angle of the impedance represents the
phase difference between the total voltage (VS) and the current (I) in the circuit.
o Positive phase angle: Inductive circuit (XL > XC)
o Negative phase angle: Capacitive circuit (XL < XC)
o Zero phase angle: Resistive circuit (XL = XC) or an RLC Circuit at resonance.
 Key Takeaways

 Voltage relationships in RLC series circuits are complex due to the phase shifts
introduced by inductors and capacitors.
 Current is consistent throughout the series circuit.
 Impedance is the vector combination of resistance, inductive reactance, and
capacitive reactance. It dictates the relationship between total voltage and current.

Resonance Phenomenon and Quality Factor in RLC Circuits

Resonance in an RLC circuit refers to the phenomenon where the circuit exhibits
maximum current and minimal impedance at a specific frequency, known as the
resonant frequency (fr). This occurs when the inductive reactance (XL) of the
inductor and the capacitive reactance (XC) of the capacitor cancel each other out,
leaving only the resistance (R) to oppose the current flow.

Here's a breakdown of resonance characteristics:

 Increased Current: At resonance, the opposition to current flow is minimized (Z

= R), resulting in a peak in the current amplitude. This means the circuit allows
the largest current to flow for a given applied voltage.
 Voltage Relationships: The voltage across the inductor (VL) and capacitor (VC)
are equal in magnitude at resonance, but they are 180° out of phase, effectively
canceling each other out. The total voltage across the RLC circuit is equal to the
applied voltage source (Vs).
 Resonant Frequency: The specific frequency at which resonance occurs depends
on the values of the inductor (L) and capacitor (C) in the circuit and is given by the
formula:
fr = 1 / (2π√(LC))

Quality Factor (Q) is another important concept related to resonance. It is a

dimensionless parameter that quantifies the sharpness of the resonance peak in
the frequency response of an RLC circuit. Here's its significance:

 Higher Q factor: Indicates a narrower bandwidth around the resonant

frequency. This means the current peak is sharper and the circuit is more selective,
responding strongly to a specific frequency range. It also implies lower energy
dissipation within the circuit.
 Lower Q factor: Represents a wider bandwidth. The current peak is broader, and
the circuit responds to a wider range of frequencies around the resonant frequency.
However, this translates to higher energy dissipation.

Relationship between Q and Resonance:

The quality factor (Q) can be calculated using the following formula:

Q = ωL / R = 2πf_r L / R

where:

 ω = angular frequency (2πf)

 f_r = resonant frequency
 L = inductance
 R = resistance

As evident from the formula, a higher Q factor is directly proportional to the

inductance and inversely proportional to the resistance. Therefore, a circuit
with a large inductor and low resistance will have a higher Q, leading to a sharper
resonance peak and greater selectivity.

Applications of Resonance:

Resonance plays a crucial role in various applications, including:

 Tuning circuits in radios and televisions to select specific frequencies.

 Filters to block unwanted frequencies and allow desired ones to pass through.
 Energy transfer between circuits, where high Q allows efficient energy
transmission at the resonant frequency.
Overall, understanding resonance and the quality factor is essential for analyzing
and designing AC circuits involving RLC components, enabling engineers to
achieve desired frequency responses and optimize circuit performance for specific
applications