Chapter 8

Basic RL and
RC Circuits

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Applying KVL:
di R
 i 0
dt L

We

can solve for the natural response
if we know the initial condition i(0)=I0:

i(t)=I0e-Rt/L for t>0

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Show that the voltage v(t) will
be -12.99 volts at t=200 ms.

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 t /
The time constant
τ=L/R i(t)  I0e
determines the rate of
decay.


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Applying KCL:

dv 1
 v 0
dt RC
We can solve for the natural response
if we know the initial condition v(0)=V0

v(t)=V0e-t/RC for t>0

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 The time constant is
τ=RC

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Show that the voltage v(t)
is 321 mV at t=200 μs.

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The time constant of a single-inductor circuit
will be τ=L/Req where Req is the resistance seen
by the inductor.

Example: Req=R3+R4+R1R2 / (R1+R2)

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The time constant of a single-capacitor circuit
will be τ=ReqC where Req is the resistance seen
by the capacitor.

Example: Req=R2+R1R3 / (R1+R3)

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 The voltage on a capacitor or the current
through a inductor is the same prior to and
after a switch at t=0.
 Resistor voltage (or current) prior to the
switch v(0-) can be different from the voltage
after the switch v(0+).
 All voltages and currents in an RC or RL
circuit follow the same natural response e-t/τ.

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Find i1(t) and iL(t) for t>0.

Answer: τ=20 μs; i1=-0.24e-t/τ,iL=0.36e-t/τ for t>0

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The unit-step function u(t) is a convenient
notation to respresent change:

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 The unit step models a double-throw switch.

A single-throw switch is open circuit for t<0,

not short circuit.
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 Rectangular
pulse

Pulsed
sinewave:

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 The two circuits shown
both have i(t)=0 for t<0
and are also the same for
t>0.

 We now have to find both

the natural response and
and the forced response
due to the source V0
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The total response is the
combination of the
transient/natural response and
the forced response:

V0
i(t)  1  e Rt / L
u(t)
R
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 V0
i(t)  1  e Rt / L
u(t)
R

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Show that
i(t)=25+25(1-e-t/2)u(t) A

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vC=20 + 80e-t/1.2 V and i=0.1 + 0.4e−t/1.2 A

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 vC=20 + 80e-t/1.2 V

i=0.1 + 0.4e−t/1.2 A

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