Section 8.

3: The Response of a First Order Circuit to a Constant Input

P 8.3-1
Solution:
Here is the circuit before t = 0, when the switch is
open and the circuit is at steady state. The open
switch is modeled as an open circuit.

A capacitor in a steady-state dc circuit acts like an

open circuit, so an open circuit replaces the
capacitor. The voltage across that open circuit is the
initial capacitor voltage, v (0).

By voltage division
9
v  0  18  6 V
999

Next, consider the circuit after the switch closes. The

closed switch is modeled as a short circuit.

We need to find the Thevenin equivalent of the part

of the circuit connected to the capacitor. Here’s the
circuit used to calculate the open circuit voltage, Voc.

9
Voc  18  9 V
99

Here is the circuit that is used to determine Rt. A

short circuit has replaced the closed switch.
Independent sources are set to zero when calculating
Rt, so the voltage source has been replaced by a short
circuit.
Rt 
 9 9  4.5 
99
Then
  Rt C  4.5  0.25  1.125 s

Finally,
v  t   Voc   v  0  Voc  et /   9  3e0.8 t V for t > 0
P 8.3-2
Solution:

Here is the circuit before t = 0, when the switch is

closed and the circuit is at steady state. The closed
switch is modeled as a short circuit.

An inductor in a steady-state dc circuit acts like a

short circuit, so a short circuit replaces the inductor.
The current in that short circuit is the initial inductor
current, i(0).

24
i  0  3A
8

Next, consider the circuit after the switch opens. The

open switch is modeled as an open circuit.

We need to find the Norton equivalent of the part of

the circuit connected to the inductor. Here’s the
circuit used to calculate the short circuit current, Isc.

24
I sc   1.5 A
88

Here is the circuit that is used to determine Rt. An

open circuit has replaced the open switch.
Independent sources are set to zero when calculating
Rt, so the voltage source has been replaced by a short
circuit.
Rt  8 ||  8  8 
8  88  5.3 
8  8  8
Then
L 8
   1.5 s
Rt 5.3

Finally,
i  t   Isc   i  0  I sc  et /   1.5  1.5e0.66t A
P 8.3-3
Solution:
Before the switch closes:

After the switch closes:

6 6
Therefore Rt   3  so    2 s .
2 3
t
 10
Finally, i (t )  isc  (i (0)  isc ) e   2  e0.5t A for t  0
3
P 8.3-4
Solution:
Before the switch opens, v o  t   5 V  v o  0   5 V . After the switch opens the part of the circuit
connected to the capacitor can be replaced by it's Thevenin equivalent circuit to get:

 
Therefore   40  103 8  106  0.32 s 
t

Next, vC (t )  voc  (v(0)  voc )e 
 10  5e3.1t V for t  0

Finally, v0 (t )  vC (t )  10  5e3.1t V for t  0

P 8.3-5
Solution: At t = 0 (steady-state)

Since the input to this circuit is constant, the

inductor will act like a short circuit when the
circuit is at steady-state:

for t > 0

iL  t   iL  0  e ( R L ) t  6 e20t A
P 8.3-6
Solution:
Before the switch opens, the circuit will be at steady state. Because the only input to this circuit is the
constant voltage of the voltage source, all of the element currents and voltages, including the capacitor
voltage, will have constant values. Opening the switch disturbs the circuit. Eventually the disturbance
dies out and the circuit is again at steady state. All the element currents and voltages will again have
constant values, but probably different constant values than they had before the switch opened.
Here is the circuit before t = 0, when the
switch is closed and the circuit is at steady state.
The closed switch is modeled as a short circuit. The
combination of resistor and a short circuit
connected is equivalent to a short circuit.
Consequently, a short circuit replaces the switch
and the resistor R. A capacitor in a steady-state dc
circuit acts like an open circuit, so an open circuit
replaces the capacitor. The voltage across that open
circuit is the capacitor voltage, vo(t).
Because the circuit is at steady state, the value of the capacitor voltage will be constant. This
constant is the value of the capacitor voltage just before the switch opens. In the absence of unbounded
currents, the voltage of a capacitor must be continuous. The value of the capacitor voltage immediately
after the switch opens is equal to the value immediately before the switch opens. This value is called the
initial condition of the capacitor and has been labeled as vo(0). There is no current in the horizontal
resistor due to the open circuit. Consequently, vo(0) is equal to the voltage across the vertical resistor,
which is equal to the voltage source voltage. Therefore
vo  0   Vs
The value of vo(0) can also be obtained by setting t = 0 in the equation for vo(t). Doing so gives
vo  0   2  8 e0  10 V

Consequently, Vs  10 V

Next, consider the circuit after the switch opens.

Eventually (certainly as t ) the circuit will again
be at steady state. Here is the circuit at t = , when
the switch is open and the circuit is at steady state.
The open switch is modeled as an open circuit. A
capacitor in a steady-state dc circuit acts like an
open circuit, so an open circuit replaces the
capacitor. The voltage across that open circuit is the
steady-state capacitor voltage, vo(). There is no
current in the horizontal resistor and vo() is equal
to the voltage across the vertical resistor. Using
voltage division,
10
vo     10 
R  10

The value of vo() can also be obtained by setting t =  in the equation for vo(t). Doing so gives
 vo     2  8 e  2 V
Consequently,
10
2 10  2 R  20  100  R  40 
R  10
t 
Finally, the exponential part of vo(t) is known to be of the form e where   R t C and Rt is
the Thevenin resistance of the part of the circuit connected to the capacitor.

Here is the circuit that is used to determine Rt. An

open circuit has replaced the open switch.
Independent sources are set to zero when
calculating Rt, so the voltage source has been
replaced by a short circuit.

R t  10 
 40 10   18 
40  10
so
  R t C  18 C

From the equation for vo(t)

t
0.5 t     2s

Consequently,

2  18 C  C  0.111  111 mF
P 8.3-7
Solution:
First, use source transformations to obtain the equivalent circuit

for t < 0: for t > 0:

1
L 1
So iL  0   2 A, I sc  0, Rt  3  9  12 ,    2 = s
Rt 12 24
and iL  t   2e 24t t 0
Finally v  t   9 iL  t   18 e 24t t 0
P 8.3-8
Solution:
As t   the circuit reaches steady state and the capacitor
acts like an open circuit. Also, from the given equation,
v  t   8 V , as labeled on the drawing to the right, then

5
8=𝑅 32 => 𝑅2 = 15𝛺
2 +5

After t  0

𝑣𝐶 𝑡 = 32 − 𝑣 𝑡 = 24 − 4𝑒 −2𝑡

Immediately after t = 0

𝑣𝐶 0 + = 24 − 4 = 20 V

The capacitor voltage cannot change instantaneously so

v (0–) = 20 V

The circuit is at steady state just before the switch closes so

the capacitor acts like an open circuit. Then

15
20 = 𝑅 = 32 => 𝑅1 = 4𝛺
1 +5+15

After t = 0 the Thevenin resistance seen by the capacitor is

60
𝑅1 = 15‖4 = 𝛺
19
so
1 19
2 = 60 => 𝐶 = 120 F
𝐶
19
P 8.3-9
Solution:
Before t = 0, with the switch closed and the circuit at steady state, the inductor acts like a short circuit so
we have

Using superposition
15
i  0    5  103  2 mA
5000
The inductor current is continuous so i  0    i  0    2 mA .

After t = 0, the switch is open. Determine the Norton equivalent circuit for the part of the circuit
connected to the inductor:

15
isc   3 mA
5000
Rt  5000 10000  3333 

L 5 1
The time constant is given by     0.0015 so  666.67
R t 3333 
The inductor current is given by

 
i L  t   i  0    i sc et   i sc   0.002  0.003 e666.67t  0.003  3  5e666.67t mA
P 8.3-10
Solution:
Before t = 0, with the switch closed and the circuit at the steady state, the capacitor acts like an open
circuit so we have

Using superposition

90 90 90 45
v  0   10  40  15 V
30   60 60 60   60 30

The capacitor voltage is continuous so v  0    v  0   15 V .

After t = 0 the switch is open. Determine the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the part of the circuit
connected to the capacitor:

90
v oc  94V
90  45

R t  45 90  30 k

  
The time constant is   R t C  30  103 5  106  0.15 s so

1
 6.6
1
s
.
The capacitor voltage is given by

v  t    v  0    voc  et   voc  15  4 e6.6t  4  4  11e6.6t V

P 8.3-11
Solution:
At steady-state, immediately before t = 0:

 10   12 
i  0       0.1 A
 10 40   16 40||10 

After t = 0, the Norton equivalent of the circuit connected to the inductor is found to be

L 20 1
so I sc  0.3 A, Rt  40 ,     s
Rt 40 2
Finally: i(t )  (0.1  0.3)e2t  0.3  0.3  0.2e2t A

P8.3-12
Solution:

a) At steady-state, immediately before the switch closes

Before the switch closes, the steady state capacitor voltage is,
V = 30 V

b) After the switch closes, we have:

 so Voc = 30 V, Rt = 150 

 
  Rt C  (150) 25 106  3.75ms

Finally: v(t )  (30  30) et / 0.00375  30  30 V

P 8.3-13
Solution:
At steady-state, immediately before t = 0

so i(0) = 0.5 A.

After t > 0: Replace the circuit connected to the inductor by its Norton equivalent to get

I sc = 93.75 mA, Rt  640 ,

L .1 1
    s
Rt 640 6400

i (t )  406.25 e6400t 93.75 mA

Finally:

d
v(t )  400 i(t )  0.1 i(t )  400 (.40625e 6400t .09375) 0.1(
 6400)(0.40625e 6400t )
dt
 37.5  97.5e6400t V
P 8.3-14
Solution:
Before the switch closes v(t) = 0 so v  0    v  0    0 V .
For t > 0, we find the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the part of the circuit connected to the capacitor,
i.e. the part of the circuit to the left of the terminals a – b.
Find Rt:

20 16  3.3
Rt   9.8 
20  16  3.3

Write mesh equations to find voc:

Mesh equations:
20 i1  16 i1  10  i2  i1   0
10  i2  i1   5 i 2  30  0

46 i1  10 i 2
15 i 2  10 i1  30
59 i1  30  i1  0.51 A
23  30 
i2    =2.34 A
5  59 
Using KVL, voc  5 i 2  16 i1  5  2.34   16  0.51  19.86 V

Then
 1  1 1 1
  R t C  10   s  4
 40  4  s
and
v  t    v  0    v oc  et   v oc   0  19.86  e4t  19.86  19.86 1  e4t  V for t  0
P 8.3-15
Solution:
Before the switch closes the circuit is at steady state so the inductor acts like a short circuit.
We have

1 30 
i t     0.67 A
2  10   25 25 
so
i  0    i  0   0.67 A

After the switch closes, find the Thevenin equivalent circuit for the part of the circuit connected to the
inductor.

Using voltage division twice

 25 1 
voc     30  6.4 V
 35 2 

Rt  10 25   25 25  19.64 

v 6.4
isc  oc   0.33 A
Rt 19.64

Then
L 3.5 1 1
   0.18   5.6
Rt 19.64  s
and
i  t    i  0    isc  et   isc   0.67  0.33 e5t  0.33  0.34e5.6t  0.33 A
P8.3-16
Solution:
The figure below shows the given RC network:

At t  0 with the switch is open, and the capacitor in steady state, no current flows through the 15 
resistor. Therefore, no drops appear across the resistor and the voltage across the capacitor is 23 V .

Therefore, the initial voltage across the capacitor is:

V  0   23 V

When the switch closes at t  0 , the drop across the capacitor does not changes instantaneously, and one
can write the voltage drop across the capacitor just after the switch has been closed as V  0   23 V .

The Thevenin’s equivalent of the circuit is shown below:

The Thevenin’s voltage is:

 60  
Voc     23 V 
 15   60  
 18.4 V

The Thevenin’s resistance is:

 Rt 
 60  15  
60   15 
 12 

The time constant is:

  Rt C
 103 F 
 12   30 mF   
 1 mF 
 0.36 s

The voltage across the capacitor represented by the Thevenin’s equivalent circuit is:

 
v  t   Voc  V  0   Voc et / Rt C

Substitute the values,

v  t   18.4 V   23 V  18.4 V  et /0.36 s

 18.4 V  4.6 Vet /0.36 s

Therefore, the voltage at the capacitor is v  t   18.4 V  4.6 Vet /0.36 s .

P 8.3-17
Solution:
Before t = 0, with the switch open and the circuit at steady state, the inductor acts like a short circuit so
we have

i 0    i 0   6 A

After t = 0, we can replace the part of the circuit connected to the inductor by its Norton equivalent
circuit.
Using superposition, the short circuit current is
given by

 12   5  12 
i sc    3    6  5.52 A
 12   8  5    5  12   8 

R t  12  5  8  25 
so
3 1 1
  0.12 s   8.3
25  s

The inductor current is given by

i L  t    i  0    i sc  et   i sc   6  5.52  e8.3t  5.52  5.52  0.48 e8.3t A for t  0

P8.3-18
Solution: From the plot

D = i(t) for t < 0 =120 mA = 0.12 A,

E + F = i(0+) = 120 mA = 0.12 A

and
E  lim i  t   200 mA  0.2 A .
t 

The point labeled on the plot indicates that i(t)

= 160 mA when t = 27.725 ms = 0.027725 s.
Consequently
 160  200 
ln  
 a    25 1
 a  0.027725 80
160  200  80 e
0.027725 s

Then

120 mA for t  0
i t    25t
 200  80 e mA for t  0

When t < 0, the circuit is at steady state so the inductor

acts like a short circuit.
24
R1   200 
0.12

As t  , the circuit is again at steady state so the

inductor acts like a short circuit.

24
R1 || R 2   120 
0.2

120  200 || R 2  R 2  300 

Next, the inductance can be determined using the time constant:

1 R1 || R 2 120 120
25  a     L  4.8 H
 L L 25
P8.3-19
Solution:
From the plot D = v(t) for t < 0 =20 V, E + F = v(0+) = 100 V and E  lim v  t   20 V . The point
t 
labeled on the plot indicates that v(t) = 60 V when t = 0.14 s. Consequently

 60  20 
ln  
60  20  80 e
 a  0.14 
 a  80 
5
1
0.14 s
Then
20 V for t  0
v t    5t
 20  80 e V for t  0

At t = 0+,
100
i 0    2.5 A
40

When t < 0, the circuit is at steady state so the inductor

acts like a short circuit.

20
40 || R 2   8   R 2  10 
2.5

Next, the inductance can be determined using the time

constant:
1 40 40
5a   L 8 H
 L 5
P8.3-20
Solution:

Replace the series inductors with an equivalent inductor and label the current in the inductor:

We will determine the inductor current, i(t) ,first and then use it to determine vo(t) . Determine the initial
condition, i(o), by considering the circuit when t < 0 and the circuit is at steady state. Since an inductor
in a dc circuit acts like a short circuit , we have

Using current division, we have

 18 
i  0    2.4  1.2 mA
 18  18 
Next, consider the circuit when t > 0 and the circuit is not at steady state:

To find the Norton equivalent of the part of the circuit connected to the inductor we determine both the
Thevenin resistance and the short circuit current:
and

L 1.5 1
The time constant is:     0.0556 second
R t 27 18
The inductor current is given by
i  t    i  0   i sc  e t /  i sc  1.2  0.8 e 18t  0.8 mA for t  0

v o t 
Using KCL  1.2  0.8 e 18t  0.8 103  2.4 103
9
Finally v o  t   14.4  3.6 e 18t mV for t  0
P8.3-21
Solution:

The steady state current before the switch closes is

equal to i  0  0.9  0.3e    0.6 A .
5 0

The inductor will act like a short circuit when this

circuit is at steady state so

15
0.6  i  0   R1  R2  25 
R1  R2

After the switch has been open for a long time, the
circuit will again be at steady state. The steady state
inductor current will be i    0.9  0.3e    0.9 A
5 

The inductor will act like a short circuit when this

circuit is at steady state so

15
0.9  i     R1  16.6 
R1
Then R 2 = 8.4 .

After the switch is closed, the Thevenin resistance of the part of the circuit connected to the inductor is
R t  R1 . Then
1 Rt R1 16.6
5     L  3.3 H
 L L L

P8.3-22
Solution:
Rt
The inductor current is given by i  t   i sc   i  0   i sc  e at
1
for t  0 where a   .
 L
R1
a. Comparing this to the given equation gives 21.6  i sc   36   R1  6  and
R1  4

 
Rt
4  R t  8  . Next 8  R t  R1  4 || R3  10 || R3  R3  40  .
2
1 10 16
b. R t  16  4  || 20  10  so a    5 s . also i sc   36   28.8 mA . Then
 2 16  4
i  t   i sc   i  0   i sc  e at  28.8  10  28.8 e5t  28.2  18.8 e5t .
P8.3-23
Solution:
a.) When the switch is open we have

After replacing series and parallel resistors by equivalent resistors, the part of the circuit connected to
the capacitor is a Thevenin equivalent circuit with R t  33.33  . The time constant is
  R t C  33.33  0.090  3 s .

Since the input is constant, the capacitor acts like an open circuit when the circuit is at steady state.
Consequently, there is zero current in the 33.33  resistor and KVL gives v() = 24 V.

b.) When the switch is closed we have

This circuit can be redrawn as

Now we find the Thevenin equivalent of the part of the circuit connected to the capacitor:
So R t  25  and
  R t C  25  0.090  2.25 s

Since the input is constant, the capacitor acts like an open circuit when the circuit is at steady state.
Consequently, there is zero current in the 25  resistor and KVL gives v() = 12 V.