8.

VERIFICATION OF TRANSIENT RESPONSE IN RC AND RL CIRCUITS

AIM: To verify the transient response in RC and RL circuits

APPARATUS: Function Generator

Resistors - 1KΩ

Capacitor - 0.1µF

Inductor - 10mH

CRO

Bread board

Connecting wires

THEORY:

Electrical devices are controlled by switches which are closed to connect supply to the device, or
opened in order to disconnect the supply to the device. The switching operation will change the
current and voltage in the device. The purely resistive devices will allow instantaneous change in
current and voltage. An inductive device will not allow sudden change in current and capacitance
device will not allow sudden change in voltage. Hence when switching operation is performed in
inductive and capacitive devices, the current & voltage in device will take a certain time to
change from pre switching value to steady state value after switching. This phenomenon is known
as transient.

The study of switching condition in the circuit is called transient analysis. The state of the circuit
from instant of switching to attainment of steady state is called transient state. The time duration
from the instant of switching till the steady state is called transient period. The current & voltage
of circuit elements during transient period is called transient response.

Time Constant (τ): A measure of time required for certain changes in voltages and currents in
RC and RL circuits. Generally, when the elapsed time exceeds five time constants (5τ) after
switching has occurred, the currents and voltages have reached their final value, which is also
called steady-state response.

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1. RC circuit:

The time constant of an RC circuit is the product of equivalent capacitance and the Thevenin
resistance as viewed from the terminals of the equivalent capacitor.

τ = RC

A Pulse is a voltage or current that changes from one level to the other and back again. If a
waveform’s height time equals its low time, as in figure, it is called a square wave. The length of
each cycle of a pulse train is termed its period (T).

The pulse width (t p) of an ideal square wave is equal to half the time period. The relation between
pulse width and frequency is then given by,

1
𝑓=
2𝑡𝑝

From Kirchhoff laws, it can be shown that the charging voltage VC (t) across the capacitor is
given by: VC (t) =V (1- e-t/RC) for t ≥ 0

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Where, V is the applied source voltage to the circuit for t ≥ 0. RC = τ is the time constant. The
response curve is increasing and is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Capacitor charging for Series RC circuit to a step input with time axis normalized by 𝜏

The discharge voltage for the capacitor is given by: VC (t) = Vo e-t/RC for t ≥ 0

Where Vo is the initial voltage stored in capacitor at t = 0, and RC = τ is time constant. The
response curve is a decaying exponentials as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Capacitor discharging for Series RC circuit to a step input with time axis normalized by 𝜏

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2. RL circuit:

The time constant of an RL circuit is the equivalent inductance divided by the Thevenin resistance
as viewed from the terminals of the equivalent inductor.

𝐿
τ=𝑅

A Pulse is a voltage or current that changes from one level to the other and back again. If a
waveform’s height time equals its low time, as in figure, it is called a square wave. The length of
each cycle of a pulse train is termed its period (T). The pulse width (t p) of an ideal square wave is
equal to half the time period.

In an R-L circuit, voltage across the inductor decreases with time while in the RC circuit the
voltage across the capacitor increased with time. Thus, current in an RL circuit has the same form
as voltage in an RC circuit. They both rise to their final value exponentially according to

1 – e-t/τ.

The expression for the current build-up across the Inductor is given by

𝑉
iL(t) = 𝑅 ( 1 – e-(R/L)t ) for t ≥ 0

Where, V is the applied source voltage to the circuit for t ≥ 0. The response curve is increasing
and is shown in figure 5.

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The expression for the current decay across the Inductor is given by:

iL(t) = i0 e-(R/L)t t≥0

Where, i0 is the initial current stored in the inductor at t = 0

L/R = τ is the time constant.

The response curve is a decaying exponential. Since it is not possible to directly analyze the
current through Inductor on a Scope, we will measure the output voltage across the Resistor. The
resistor waveform should be similar to inductor current as VR=ILR. From the resistor voltage on
the scope, we should be able to measure the time constant τ which should be equal to

τ = L / Rtotal.

Here, Rtotal is the total resistance and can be calculated from Rtotal = Rinductance+ R. Rinductance is the
measured value of inductor resistance and can be measured by connecting inductance to an ohm-
meter prior to running the experiment.

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS:

RC Circuit: Model Graph:

VR

RL Circuit: Model Graph:

PROCEDURE:

1. Connect the circuits as shown in fig above.

2. Apply a 10Vp-p square wave as input voltage to the circuit.
3. Observe the response of the circuit for tp >> 5τ, and record the results.
tp >> 5τ : Set the frequency of the input waveform, such that the capacitor has enough
time to fully charge and discharge during each cycle of the square wave. So Let t = 15τ
p
and determine the time constant from the waveforms obtained on the Oscilloscope panel.
4. Plot the graph

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OBSERVATIONS:

Type of Time Constant Frequency Output Voltage at time

circuit (s) (Hz) (V)
𝟏 𝟏
τ=RC f = 𝝉 = 𝑹𝑪 τ 2τ 3τ 4τ 5τ
Theoretical
Charging
RC Practical
Theoretical
Discharging
Practical
𝐿 𝟏 𝑹
τ=𝑅 f=𝝉=𝑳
Theoretical
RL Charging
Practical
Theoretical
Discharging
Practical

RESULT:

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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 S.No. Parameter Max. Marks Marks Obtained
Observations and analysis including
1 learning Outcomes 5

Completion of experiment,
2 Discipline and Cleanliness 5

Signature of Faculty Total marks obtained

REVIEW QUESTIONS:
5. Define steady state response.
6. Define transient response.
7. Define natural response.
8. Define forced response.
9. What is transient?
10. Why transient occurs in electric circuits?
11. Define time constant of RL circuit.
12. Define time constant of RC circuit.
13. Voltage across capacitor cannot change instantaneously. Justify.
14. Current through an inductor cannot change instantaneously. Justify.
15. What is the initial condition of the elements capacitor and inductor that have no initial
energy storage?
16. What is the final condition of the elements inductor and capacitor?
17. What is damping ratio?

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