Experiment # 03:

To study the behavior of RLC series circuit and determine its

resonance frequency

Basic principle:
When a capacitor C, resistor R and inductor Lare connected in series combination in an
A.C. circuit, the circuit allows maximum current to flow at a certain frequency called resonance
frequency.

RELATED PHYSICS

Resistor:
Resistors in a circuit decrease the flow of current and increases voltage drop. It creates
resistance for current.

Capacitor:
Any two conductors separated by an insulator form a capacitor. It is used to store electric
energy. It has many types such as parallel plate capacitor, cylindrical capacitor and spherical
capacitor etc. DC current does not flow through it but store, AC current can conduct through
capacitor.

Inductor:
An inductor is a circuit element that stores energy in magnetic field surrounding its
current carrying wires. An inductor is characterized by its inductance, which depends on its
geometrical properties.

Series Combination:
If elements of a circuit are a connected series , then it is called series combination. In this
case, impedance of circuit increases.

Parallel Combination:
If elements of a circuit are a connected parallel then it is called parallel combination. In
this case, impedance of circuit decreases.
Impedance:
Impedance (Z) is a measure of the total opposition to the flow of an alternating current
(AC) in a circuit. It is a complex quantity that takes into account both the resistance (R) and the
reactance (X) of the circuit.
Impedance is measured in ohms (Ω).
The mathematical expression for impedance in an RLC series circuit is:

Z=√ R 2+ ¿ ¿

Resonance frequency:
Resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some
frequency than others. This is known as resonance frequency of that system.
 In series combination, resonance frequency occurs when input impedance is minimum at
a certain frequency.
1
f r=
2 π √ LC

Tasks:
1. Obtaining I vs f response.
2. Determine resonance frequency from I vs f response and also form an equation
3. Variation of maximum current with value of resistance R.
4. The quality factor Q

Theoretical Background:
For resistor VR and I are in phase, for inductor V L and I are out of phase and V L leads I by 90°
and for capacitor VC and I are out of phase VC lags behind I by 90° as shown below

Figure 1: Current voltage phase difference for resistor, inductor and

capacitor

Since above combination is series therefore current is same on each component i.e.,
 I =I R + I L + I C

If V is total voltage then vectors of voltage can be written as

V =V R +V L +V C

Consider VL¿VC Then phasors of voltage are related as shown in Fig-2

Figure 2: Phasor diagram of voltages across three component s showing phase angle

From Fig-2
V =V R +V L −V c

V =IZ =IR+ I X L−I X C

Z=R+ X L −X C

Its magnitude is

Z=√ R 2+ ¿ ¿

Where Z is impedance of circuit and X Land X C are impedance of inductor and capacitor
respectively and are

X L =ωL=2 πfL

1 1
XC= =
ωC 2 πfC

Z=√ R + ¿ ¿
2

For certain frequency

 1
ωL− →0
ωC

1
ω=
√ LC
1
2 πf =
√ LC
1
f r=
2 π √ LC

The quality factor Q can be determined as

fr fr
Q= =
f 2−f 1 ∆ f

Circuit Diagram:

Figure 3: Circuit diagram of RLC series circuit

Experimental setup:

Figure 4: Experimental setup of RLC series circuit

Apparatus
  Function generator
 Resistor (47Ω, 500Ω , 1k Ω)
 Capacitor (10nF)
 Inductor (2mH)
 Multi-meter
 Connecting wires
 Connecting box

Procedure:
1. Select suitable values for R, L and C.
2. Connect the circuit according to circuit diagram.
3. Fix the voltage at suitable values and do not change it during whole experiment.
4. Start experiment form low value of frequency and increases it by suitable steps.
5. Note the current and frequency at each point.
6. Draw the graph of frequency and current and calculate resonance frequency of it.
7. Compare the value of resonance frequency taken from graph with value calculated from
formula.)
8. Calculate quality factor Q.

Calculations and Observation:

C¿ 10 nF=10 ×10−9 F

L = 2 mH =2 ×10−3 H
1
fr¿
2 π √ LC

f r= 1/2 π √ (2×10−3 )(10× 10−9 ) = 35588 Hz

Table 1: Values of current I at different resistance by changing the value of frequency

Sr. Frequency ( f ¿ I (μA) I (μA) I (μA)

No. (Hz) at R1 (47 Ω) at R2 (500 Ω) at R3 (1 k Ω)
1. 384 1.25 1.25 1.25
2. 707 2.5 2.5 2.5
3. 1002 4 4.75 4.75
4. 2067 8 6 6.25
5. 3258 11.25 10.25 10
6. 4426 13.75 12.5 12
7. 6010 16.75 14 12.5
 8. 10310 20.25 15 13.75
9. 19500 22.75 17.5 14
10. 32170 21.75 17.5 13.75
11. 35460 21.25 17.75 14
12. 44370 21 17 13
13. 62200 20 16.25 12.75
14. 65900 19.75 15.75 12.5
15. 75500 18.75 15.25 12.5
16. 79100 18.75 15 12.5
17. 83500 17.75 15 12.5
18. 89000 17.6 14.75 12
19. 91100 17.5 14 12
20. 95300 17 13.75 12

 Graph:

24

21

18

15
Current (micro Ampere)

R1 (47 ohm)
12
R2(500 ohm)

9 R3(1k ohm)

0
100 1000 10000 100000

Frequency (Hz)