Chapter 8

Basic RL and RC Circuits

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8.1 • THE SOURCE-FREE RL CIRCUIT
• The analysis of circuits containing inductors and/or
capacitors is dependent upon the formulation and solution
of the integrodifferential equations that characterize the
circuits.
• The solution of the differential equation represents a
response of the circuit called:
• natural response, transient response, or complementary
function.
• When we consider independent sources acting on a circuit,
part of the response will resemble the nature of the
particular source used; this part of the response called:
• particular solution, steady-state response, or forced
response.
• The complete response is the sum of the natural response
and the forced response.
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 The Source-Free RL Circuit

Applying KVL:

di R
+ i=0
dt L
We can solve for the natural response
if we know the initial condition i(to)=Io:

IR+Ldi/dt=0

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General Solution Approach
General Solution Approach

• Let us assume a solution in exponential form,

• After substituting
di R
+ i=0
dt L

But how can we find A?

The remaining constant must be evaluated by
applying the initial condition

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EXAMPLE 8.1

i(2)=2=Ae-4000*2

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 EXAMPLE 8.2: RL with a Switch

Show that the voltage v(t) will be -12.99 volts at t=200 ms.

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 R=?, L=? Io=?
V=-96e-10t
• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (for t>to) and simplify to RL
• R=50 Ω L=5 H. but how can we find Io?
• 2- Draw the circuit before switching (for t<to) & place a short circuit
in place of the inductor and find the current Io.
we may view an inductor as a short circuit to dc.
An inductor current must not be allowed to jump
instantaneously from one value to another.

i(to-)=i(to+)=Io = 2.4 A 8
t=200 ms.
 t≥0

= 2.4 A t≤0

VL=Ldi/dt

VL=Ldi/dt t>0
=-24*5e-10t
0 t<0

V=-96e-10t t>0

VR=24 t<0

V=-96e-2
Accounting for the Energy

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 The Exponential Response

− t /
The time constant
τ=L/R i (t ) = I 0e
determines the rate of
decay.

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 The Source-Free RC Circuit
Applying KCL:

dv 1
+ v =0
dt RC
We can solve for the natural response
if we know the initial condition v(0)=V0

v(t)=V0e
-t/RC for t>0
V/R+CdV/dt=0

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RC Natural Response

The time constant is

τ=RC

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 The Source Free RC Circuit

EXAMPLE 8.3 Show that the voltage v(t) is 321 mV at t=200 μs.

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 R=?, C=? Vo=?
v(t)=V0e-t/RC

• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (for t>to)

• R=6 Ω C=10 μF. but how can we find Vo?
• 2- Draw the circuit before switching (for t<to) & place an open circuit
in place of the capacitor.
a capacitor is thus an “open circuit to dc.”
we will prohibit the voltage across a capacitor to
change in zero time. V(to-)=V(to+)=Vo =9 V
General RL Circuits

The time constant of a single-inductor circuit will be τ=Leq/Req where

Req is the resistance seen by the inductor.

Example: Req=R3+R4+R1R2 / (R1+R2)

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General RC Circuits

The time constant of a single-capacitor circuit will be τ=ReqCeq where

Req is the resistance seen by the capacitor.

Example: Req=R2+R1R3 / (R1+R3)

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1st Order Response Observations

• The voltage on a capacitor or the current through an inductor is the

same prior to and after a switch at t=0.
• Resistor voltage (or current) prior to the switch v(0-) can be different
from the voltage after the switch v(0+).
• All voltages and currents in an RC or RL circuit follow the same
natural response e-t/τ.

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Example: L and R Current

Find i1(t) and iL(t) for t>0.

Answer: τ=20 μs; i1=-0.24e-t/τ,iL=0.36e-t/τ for t>0

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General steps to solve Source-Free RL Circuit

• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (or for t> to)➔

Find Req & Leq ➔ Find τ.
• 2- Draw the circuit before switching (or for t< to) &
place a short circuit in place of the inductor ➔ Find
Io
• 3- Substitute in iL(t)=Io e-t/τ .
• 4- Find any other unknown in the circuit.

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General steps to solve Source-Free RC Circuit

• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (or for t> to)➔

Find Req & Ceq ➔ Find τ.
• 2- Draw the circuit before switching (or for t< to) &
place an open circuit in place of the capacitor ➔
Find Vo
• 3- Substitute in vC(t)=Voe-t/τ .
• 4- Find any other unknown in the circuit.

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• Step 1:

+
• Step 2 V
Io = 18/50 =360 mA -
• Step 3

• Step 4

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 EXAMPLE 8.6 v(t)=2e-t/(-60μ)

• We can`t find Req ➔ We find Rth as seen

by the capacitor. 1.5i+1-i=0
0.5i=-1➔-2

Vx=-60

unstable: it grows exponentially with time.

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The Unit Step Function

The unit-step function u(t) is a convenient

notation to respresent change:

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 Switches and Steps

• The unit step models a double-throw switch.

• A single-throw switch is open circuit for t<0.2, not short circuit.

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Modeling Pulses using u(t)

Rectangular
pulse

v(t)=Vo ( u(t-to) - u(t-t1) )

 Driven RL Circuits

• The two circuits shown both have i(t)=0 for

t<0 and are also the same for t>0.

• We now have to find both the natural

response and and the forced response due
to the source V0

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EXAMPLE 8.7

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8.7 • NATURAL AND FORCED RESPONSE
P is a constant
• let us consider a general equation Q is a forcing function

We multiply each side of the equation by this integrating factor and obtain

But

general
For our case Q will be a constant for all values of time.

P=R/L Q=Vo/L
A is found from the
initial condition 31
Driven RL Circuits

V0
i(t) = (1 − e −Rt / L
)u(t)
R

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 Example 8.8: RL Circuit with Step
i(t)=If+(Io-If)e-t/tao
i(t)=50-25e-t/2
Tao=3/(3/2)
If=A
Io=A+B➔B=Io-If

Show that
i(t)=50-25e-t/2u(t) A

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General steps to solve RL Circuit

• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (or for t> to)➔

Find Rth (as seen by Leq) & Leq ➔ Find τ=Leq / Rth.
• 2- From the circuit after switching, place a short
circuit in place of the inductor ➔ find i(∞)
• 3- Draw the circuit before switching (or for t< to) &
place a short circuit in place of the inductor ➔ Find
i(to)
• 4- Substitute in iL(t)=i(∞)+[ i(to) - i(∞) ] e-t/τ .

• 5- Find any other unknown in the circuit.

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 Tao=2
Io=25
If=50

t>0
t<0

Rth
=6||2
=1.5
i(0)=50/2=25 t>0

i(∞)=100/2=50
General steps to solve RL Circuit
V=Ldi/dt
• 1- Find τ=Leq / Rth = 3/1.5 = 2s
• 2- i(∞) =50 A
• 3- i(0) = 25 A
• 4- iL(t)=i(∞)+[ i(to) – i(∞) ] e-t/τ
iL(t)=50+[25 – 50 ] e-0.5t t>0 25 t<0

i(t)=50-25e-t/2 A

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 Ionewe-(t-to)/τ t> to Io=0
If=Vo/R
Example 8.9 Voltage Pulse Tao=L/R
Ionew=Vo/R-(Vo/R)e-(to)/τ t> to

to>
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 The plan to solve the problem

1-Assume

2-Solve normally

Ionew e-(t)R/L
3-Find i(to) =Ionew
i(to) =
V0
R
( )
1 − e−Rto / L u (t )
4-the decay= Ionew e-(t-to)R/L
=Ionew
Ionew e-(t-to)R/L
8.8 • DRIVEN RC CIRCUITS Example 8.10

Tao=24*50
m=1.2

Vf=20
Vo=100

0.192 A
vC=20 + 80e-t/1.2 V and i=0.1 + 0.4e−t/1.2 A
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General steps to solve RC Circuit

• 1- Draw the circuit after switching (or for t> to)➔

Find Rth as seen by Ceq, & Ceq ➔ Find τ=Ceq Rth.
• 2- From the circuit after switching, place an open
circuit in place of the capacitor ➔ find V(∞)
• 3- Draw the circuit before switching (or for t< to) &
place an open circuit in place of the capacitor ➔
Find V(to)
• 4- Substitute in VC(t)=V(∞)+[ V(to) - V(∞) ] e-t/τ .

• 5- Find any other unknown in the circuit.

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Rth
General steps to solve RC Circuit

• 1- τ=Ceq Rth = 50 m x 25 = 1.2 s

• 2- V(∞)= 20 V
• 3- V(0)=100 V
• 4- t≥0 Vc=100 V t≤0
• 5-
/200

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 vC=20 + 80e-t/1.2 V

i=0.1 + 0.4e−t/1.2 A

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EXAMPLE 8.11

• Determine an expression for v(t) in the circuit of Fig. 8.45 valid

• for t > 0.
general
8.9 • PREDICTING THE RESPONSE OF
SEQUENTIALLY SWITCHED CIRCUITS
1 kΩ

RC=1 ms 1 μF

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 Tw=10 ms Tw=10 ms
9V T=20 ms T=10.1 ms

Tw=0.1 ms Tw=0.1 ms
T=10.1 ms T=0.2 ms
0.8 V
V(t)=Vf+(Vo-Vf)e-1000(t-to)

Charging Vf=9
Discharging Vf=0
Vo=V(to) from the
previous curve
 9-9e-1000tw=0.85
0.85e-1000(t-0.1m)

Ae-1000(t-(tw+T))
9-9e-1000t

9-9e-1000(t-T)
10.1
 EXAMPLE 11.1

Vc=V(∞)+(V(0)-V(∞))e-t/RC
=100-60 e-1000t

Vs=100
At t=1.2 ms, i=90.36 mA i=90.36m
P=Vsi=9.036W
Pab=7.403+1.633
=9.036