Electrical Resonance

And its key influencing factors

This study delves into the phenomenon of electrical
resonance, a critical aspect of electrical and electronic
systems where circuits can amplify signals at specific
frequencies. By comprehensively analyzing various types
of resonant circuits, including series and parallel
configurations, we aim to elucidate the underlying
principles governing resonance.

Sumiaya Nur
12-F
 Index
S.no Topic Page number
1 Aim 1
2 Theory 2
3 Procedure 7
4 Observation 8
5 Result 10
6 Factors affecting resonance 11
7 Bibliography 12
 Aim

Investigation of Electrical Resonance Phenomenon

and Its Influencing Factors.

1
 Theory
The magnetic field in the inductor is built by the current, which is provided
by the discharging capacitor. Similarly, the capacitor is charged by the
current produced by collapsing magnetic field of inductor and this process
continues on and on, causing electrical energy to oscillate between the
magnetic field and the electric field.
In some cases, at certain frequency called resonant frequency, the
inductive reactance of the circuit becomes equal to capacitive reactance
which causes the electrical energy to oscillate between the electric field of
the capacitor and magnetic field of the inductor. This forms a harmonic
oscillator for current. In RLC circuit, the presence of resistor causes these
oscillation to die out over period of time and is called damping effect of
resistor.

1. Exploring Inductive Reactance:

• Formula: XL=2πfL
• Relationship: Inductive Reactance (XL) ∝ Frequency (f).
2. Behavior of Inductive Reactance:
• Zero frequency (DC)
o XL = 0 • Circuit acts as short circuit.
3. Increasing Frequency:
• XL increases.
• Approaches infinity at very high frequencies.
• Circuit behaves as an open circuit.
4. Graph of XL vs. Frequency:
• Straight line through the origin.
• Illustrates the linear relationship:
Variation of Inductive Reactance Vs Frequency

2
5. Understanding Capacitive Reactance:
1
• Formula: 𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
1
• Relationship: Capacitive Reactance (𝑋𝐶 ) is to Frequency (f).
𝛼
6. Behavior of Capacitive Reactance:
• Zero Frequency (DC):
o 𝑋𝐶 = ∞
o Circuit acts as open circuit
• Increasing Frequency:
o 𝑋𝐶 decreases
o Approaches zero at high frequency
o Circuit behaves as short circuit
7. Graph of 𝑿𝑪 VS frequency
• Hyperbolic curve.
• Illustrates the inverse relationship

Variation of Capacitive Reactance Vs Frequency

8. Conclusion: Resonant Frequency

From the discussion, we conclude:
• Inductive Reactance (XL) is directly proportional to frequency (f).
• Capacitive Reactance (XC) is inversely proportional to frequency (f)
9. At low frequencies:
• XL is low • XC is high
10.There exists a frequency where:
• XL=XC
• This is called the resonant frequency (fr).

3
11. Graphical Intersection: A graph of XL vs. frequency and XC vs. frequency
will intersect at the resonant frequency.
Inductive Reactance and Capacitive Reactance Vs Frequency

At resonant frequency,
XL = XL
1
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝐹𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
1
2𝜋𝑓𝐿 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
At resonance f = fr and on solving above equation we get,
1
𝑓𝑟 = 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
At resonance in Resonant Current,

4
In a series RLC circuit, the total voltage is the phasor sum of the voltages
across the resistor, inductor, and capacitor. At resonance, the inductive
and capacitive reactances cancel each other, and since the current through
all elements in a series circuit is the same, the voltages across the inductor
and capacitor are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, thereby
canceling each other. Thus, at resonance, the voltage across the resistor
equals the supply voltage, (V=Vr).

In a series RLC circuit, the current (I) is given by (I =V/Z), but at resonance, (I
=V/R). Therefore, the current at the resonant frequency is maximum
because the impedance of the circuit is only the resistance, making it
minimal.

Initially, as the frequency increases, the capacitive reactance decreases,

causing the circuit current to increase. When the frequency reaches the
resonant frequency, the inductive reactance equals the capacitive
reactance, reducing the circuit impedance to the resistance only. At this
point, the circuit current reaches its maximum \( I = \frac{V}{R} \). Beyond
the resonant frequency, the inductive reactance increases, causing the
circuit current to decrease until it eventually drops to zero as the
frequency approaches infinity.

Power Factor at Resonance

At resonance, the inductive reactance is equal to capacitive reactance and

hence the voltage across inductor and capacitor cancel each other. The
total impedance of circuit is resistance only. So, the circuit behaves like a
pure resistive circuit and we know that in pure resistive circuit, voltage and
the circuit current are in same phase i.e Vr, V and I are in same phase
direction. Therefore, the phase angle between voltage and current is zero
and the power factor is unity.
5
Individual Voltage Vectors

This means that we cannot simply add (VR), (VL), and (VC) to find the supply
voltage (VS) across all three components because the voltage vectors for
the resistor, inductor, and capacitor point in different directions relative to
the current vector. Therefore, we must find the supply voltage (VS) as the
phasor sum of the three component voltages combined vectorially.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) for both loop and nodal circuits states that
the sum of voltage drops around any closed loop equals the sum of the
electromotive forces (EMFs). Applying this law to the three voltages will
give us the amplitude of the source voltage (VS). For Resonance to Occur

• For resonance to occur in any circuit, it must have at least one

inductor and one capacitor.
• Resonance is the result of oscillations in a circuit as stored energy is
passed between the inductor and the capacitor.
• Resonance occurs when (XL = XC) and the imaginary part of the
transfer function is zero.
• At resonance, the impedance of the circuit is equal to the resistance
value as (Z = R).
• At low frequencies, the series circuit is capacitive as (XC > XL), giving
the circuit a leading power factor.
• At high frequencies, the series circuit is inductive as (XL > XC), giving
the circuit a lagging power factor.
• The high current at resonance produces very high voltages across the
inductor and capacitor.

6
 Procedure
1. Select the components from the right side of the simulator and connect
them as in figure .1.
2. Black color appears at the end of the wires when the connection is
complete.
3. Choose values for resistor, capacitor, inductor and Battery.
4. Find out the resonance frequency using the equation.
5. Vary the frequency of A.C Power source below and above resonant
frequency of the circuit and measure the current at each frequency using a
non-contact ammeter
6. Plot graph by taking frequency along X-axis and current along Y-axis.

[NOTE: This experiment has been performed via an online simulator. The
procedure of carrying out the experiment online has been illustrated
below.]

Fig 1: Online simulator screen Fig 2: setting up of the circuit online

Fig 3: setting up of values for R,L,C for

the evaluation of resonating frequency

7
 Observations
As we can see from above in fig 3, value of Inductance, L=0.7693H and
Capacitance, C=0.001F
So, putting this in the formula of resonating frequency, the resonating
frequency of the above circuit is:
1
𝑓𝑟 = 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
1
=
2 × 3.14 × √0.7693 × 0.001
= ~5.74 Hz
Tabular observations made by altering values in online circuit:
SERIAL NO FREQUENCY (Hz) Current(amp)
1. 100 0.05
2. 200 0.01
3. 300 0.16
4. 400 0.22
5. 500 0.29
6. 600 0.36
7. 700 0.44
8. 800 0.54
9. 900 0.63
10. 1000 0.74
11. 1500 0.93
12. 2000 0.81
13. 2500 0.66

8
Graph for The Above Values:

Frequency VS Current
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
Current (amp)

0.6
0.5
0.4 Current(amp)
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
FREQUENCY

9
 Result
The experiment was conducted to investigate the phenomenon of electrical
resonance and its influencing factors using an online simulator. The circuit
components used included a resistor, capacitor, and inductor with the
following values:

• Inductance, L=0.7693HL = 0.7693

• Capacitance, C=0.001FC = 0.001

Using the formula for resonant frequency:

1
𝑓𝑟 = 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
We calculated the resonant frequency of the circuit to be approximately
5.74 Hz.

10
 Key Influencing Factors of
Electrical Resonance

1. Inductance (L): The amount of inductance in the circuit affects

the frequency at which resonance occurs. Higher inductance
increases the resonant frequency.
2. Capacitance (C): The capacitance value also determines the
resonant frequency. Higher capacitance lowers the resonant
frequency.
3. Frequency of the Applied Voltage: Resonance occurs at the
frequency where the inductive and capacitive reactances are
equal in magnitude but opposite in phase. Thus, the frequency of
the applied AC voltage source is crucial.
4. Quality Factor (Q): This factor indicates the sharpness of
resonance. Higher Q indicates a narrower bandwidth around the
resonant frequency.
5. Resistance (R): The resistance in the circuit affects the damping
of the resonance. Higher resistance results in lower Q and
broader resonance.

11
 Bibliography
1. ModifiedNodalAnalysis.
[ http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/echeeve1/Ref/mna/MNA1.html ]
2. Matrix operations. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LU_decomposition ]
3. Graph theory. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_theory ]
4. For more information on DC circuits one may read books, visit labs or
check for other web contents.

12