RC Circuit Response

Introduction & Theory:

RC circuit is a voltage source connected with a series combination of resistor and
capacitor. RC circuit can be used as a high pass and low pass filter. This depends upon the output
terminal of circuit. Generally RC series circuit behaves as low pass filter when output is across
capacitor, and behaves as high pass filter when output is across resistor. This behavior is due to
the reason that capacitor block lower frequencies while pass higher frequencies.

RC circuits are analysis in this lab includes the step response and ultimately a response to
square wave. The step response of a circuit is its behavior when the excitation is the step
function, which may be a voltage or a current source. The step response is the response of the
circuit due to a sudden application of a dc voltage or current source. Complete response can be
divided as, the first is to break it into a “natural response and a forced response’’ and the second
is to break it into a “transient response and a steady-state response.’’ Starting with the natural
response and forced response, we write the total or complete response as

Complete response = Natural response + Forced response

Or

Complete response = Transient response + Steady-state response

The transient response is temporary, it is the portion of the complete response that decays
to zero as time approaches infinity. So,

The transient response is the circuit’s temporary response that will die out with time.

Steady-state response is the portion of the complete response that remains after the transient
response has died out. Thus,

The steady-state response is the behavior of the circuit a long time after an external
excitation is applied.

The first decomposition of the complete response is in terms of the source of the responses, while
the second decomposition is in terms of the permanency of the responses. Under certain
conditions, the natural response and transient response are the same. The same can be said about
the forced response and steady-state response.

Above was the step response now when we apply square wave, the output is such that capacitor
keeps on charging and discharging this is expected result during experiment.
Objective:
 To investigate the behavior of RC circuit and its response.
 To compare the experimental results with the theoretical and numerical results.

Equipment :
 Function generator
 Two-channel digital oscilloscope
 Digital multi-meter (DMM)
 Resistor Matrix [1Ω - 11.111MΩ)]
 Capacitor Matrix [100p - 11.111μF]

Experimental procedure :
 Connected the RC circuit to the function generator and oscilloscope. First, Connected
the oscilloscope across the capacitor.
 Adjusted the function generator to produce a 100 Hz square wave, with amplitude of
5V.
 Adjusted the variable resistor to0.2, 0.5 and 2 kΩ gradually. The capacitance is 1μF.
 Took a snap shot of the voltage across the capacitor using USB from the oscilloscope.
 Repeated above procedure connecting the oscilloscope across the resistor.

Snapshots when output across 1uf capacitor:

When R = 0.2KOhm R = 0.5KOhm R = 2KOhm

Snapshots when output across resistor:

When R = 0.2KOhm When R = 0.5KOhm When R = 2KOhm

Assignment and Discussions:

Part 1:

a). By KCL in figure 6 RC Circuit

C*(dVc(t)/dt) + (Vc(t) – Vou(t) )/R = 0

dVc(t)/dt + Vc(t) /RC = Vou(t) )/RC

dVc(t)/dt = - (Vc(t) /RC - Vou(t) )/RC)

u(t) means that value exists only for t>0, So,

dVc(t)/dt = - (Vc(t) – Vs )/RC)

b).

dVc(t)/ (Vc(t) – Vs ) = dt/ RC

Integrating on both sides we get

Ln((Vc(t) – Vs)/ 0 – Vs) = - t/RC

Vc(t) = Vs(1 – exp(-t/T)) for t>0 where T = RC = 1ms

Or

Vc(t) = Vs(1 – exp(-t/T)) u(t)

c).

Since Vr(t) = Vs – Vc(t)

Vr(t) = exp(-t/T) for t>0

Vr(t) = exp(-t/T)u(t)

Part 2:

a).
Initial voltage at steady state = Vo. As source is removed now so the circuit is
same as above no source is connected. There is a short circuit assumed at
terminals of source.

By KCL in RC Circuit

C*(dVc(t)/dt) + Vc(t)/R = 0

(dVc(t)/dt) + Vc(t)/RC = 0

(dVc(t)/dt) = -Vc(t)/RC

dVc(t)/ Vc(t) = -dt/RC

By integration we get

Vc(t) = Vo*exp(-t/RC)

b).

Vr(t) = -Vc(t)

Vr(t) = -(Vo*exp(-t/RC))

Part 3:

a). and b).

Time constant = 1ms

Vo = 5V

All values are calculated at 1 time

constant of the circuit for better
comparison. There are very minute
errors observed in values that are experimental, they can be eliminated by using high precision
resistor and capacitor. The errors are due to tolerance of components.

c).

Second plot is square wave response of RC circuit ploted in MATLAB Simulink.

Conclusion:
In this lab we learnt that RC circuit behave as a low pass filter when output is across
capacitor, and it behaves as high pass filter when output is across resistor. Their responses
against different inputs i.e step and square input were observed. The step response during forced
condition is totally opposite to natural response. We then plotted the response in MATLAB for
better understanding of results.

Creativity:
Spikes of voltage across resistor get sharper and sharper when we decrease the
series resistance due to the reason that at small resistor the inrush current to the circuit will be
immediate and voltage built up or voltage drop across resistor is fast, So curve is sharp.

Voltage build up and discharge of capacitor is fast when smaller resistance in the
circuit.

References:

Floyd, T. L. Principles of Electric Circuits. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall,
2002.

Franco, S. Electric Circuits Fundamentals. Fort Worth, FL: Saunders College Publishing,
1995.