Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 1 – Short Answers (25 points)

Provide your short answers to these questions. Use proper units if needed.
A phasor voltage V is a function of time. True or false? [1 point]

Solution: False.

1) Name a component or device that turns a steady current into a steady voltage. [1 point]

Solution: resistor (DC), inductor (AC).

2) Name two components or devices that can increase the amplitude of an AC voltage. [2 points]

Solution: Op Amp, transformer.

3) Name two components or devices that can block a DC signal, but pass an AC signal. [2 points]

Solution: capacitor, transformer.

4) For the circuit shown below

Figure 1
Where 𝑉𝑖𝑛 (𝑡) = cos(𝜔𝑡) , L = 2 × 10−4 H and R = 200Ω.

a) What is |𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡)| for 𝜔 = 0? [1 point]

Solution: 0 (capacitor open)

b) What is |𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡)| for 𝜔 ⟶ ∞? [1 point]

Solution: 1 (capacitor shorted)

Note that you should represent 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡) as its phasor. Here |∙| means that amplitude of a

phasor.

c) What is |𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡)| for 𝜔 = 106 ? [4 points]

Solution: √2

5) You measure an AC voltage across a 1kΩ resistor. The digital voltmeter that you use measures in
RMS (like all voltmeters), and report that the voltage is 1V.
a) What is the peak-to-peak voltage? [2 points]

Solution: 2.83 or 2√2V

b) What is the max power dissipated in the resistor? [1 point]

Solution: 2mW

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

c) What is the average power dissipated in the resistor? [1 point]

Solution: 1mW

6) Find the value of Z in the circuit below, if 𝑉𝑔 = 100 − 𝑗50𝑉, 𝐼𝑔 = 30 + 𝑗20 𝐴, and 𝑉1 = 140 + 𝑗30𝑉.
[4 points]

Figure 2

Solution: 2 + j2.

𝑽𝑏 = 𝑽1 = 140 + 𝑗30 V

KCL at node a:
𝑽𝑎 − 𝑽𝑔 𝑽𝑎 𝑽 𝑎 − 𝑽𝑏
+ + =0
20 Ω 𝑗5 Ω 12 + 𝑗16 Ω

KCL at node b:
𝑽𝑏 𝑽𝑎 − 𝑽𝑏
𝑰𝑧 + 𝑰𝑔 − + =0
−𝑗10 Ω 12 + 𝑗16 Ω

𝑰 𝑧 𝑍 = 𝑽𝑎 − 𝑽𝑏
Solving equations above, we get

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

7) Figure 3 shows two Switched Capacitor (SC) Converter circuits which convert input DC voltage 𝑉𝐵𝐴𝑇
𝑉𝐵𝐴𝑇
to output voltage 𝑉𝐿 . The conversion ratio is defined as n = 𝑉𝐿
. All the switches in these circuits are

controlled by a periodic square wave with 50% duty cycle: During high voltage phase, the 𝜙1 switches
are turned on, meanwhile the 𝜙2 switches are turned off; during low voltage phase, the 𝜙2 switches
are turned on, but the 𝜙1 switches are turned off. Assuming that the capacitors can be fully charged
in a half cycle. Find the conversion ratios 𝒏𝟏 and 𝒏𝟐 for the two SC converters shown in Figure
3. [5 points]

(a) Solution: 𝒏𝟏 = 𝟑/𝟐 (b) Solution: 𝒏𝟐 = 𝟐/𝟏

Figure 3

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 2 (12 points)

You must show your work to get full credit.

The neon bulb in the circuit shown in Figure 4 has the following behavior: The bulb remains off and acts as an
open circuit until the bulb voltage v reaches a threshold voltage VT = 65 V. Once v reaches VT, a discharge occurs
and the bulb acts like a simple resistor of value RN = 1 kΩ; the discharge is maintained as long as the bulb current
i remains above the value IS = 10 mA needed to sustain the discharge (even if the voltage v drops below VT). As
soon as i drops below 10 mA, the bulb again becomes an open circuit.
a) Find the waveform of v(t) and sketch it, showing only the first and second charging intervals. Assuming
that at t = 0, the capacitor voltage is 0V.
b) Estimate the flashing rate.

Figure 4

Solution:
a) In first circle:

Charging (0< v < 65 V):

𝜏𝑐 = 𝑅𝐶 = 1𝑀Ω ∙ 10𝜇𝐹 = 10𝑠
𝑣𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 90(1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏𝑐 )
Note in first charging circle when charging v approaches 65 V, charging time
(90−65)
𝑡𝑐1 = −𝜏𝑐 ln 90
≈ 17.92𝑠

Discharging (i > 10mA):

1𝑀Ω∙1𝑘Ω
𝜏𝑑 = 𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝐶 = (𝑅||𝑅𝑁 )C = 1𝑀Ω+1𝑘Ω 10𝜇𝐹 ≈ 10𝑚𝑠

𝑣𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 65𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏𝑑

The minimum v when discharging is 𝑣𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∙ 𝑅𝑁 = 10 𝑉

As a result in next charging circles (10 V< v < 65 V):

𝑣𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = 90 + (10 − 90)𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏𝑐

(90−65)
Charging time 𝑡𝑐 = −𝜏𝑐 ln ≈ 11.63𝑠
80

Also note 𝜏𝑐 ≫ 𝜏𝑑 , so the charging time is much longer than the discharging time.

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Draw the figure as follow:

(Note that this figure is not correct: At t=0, v should be 0! Also The peak of v is 65V, not 90V!)

b) Since the discharge time is so small in comparison to the charge time, we will only consider the charge time.
𝑇 ≈ 𝑡𝑐 = 11.63𝑠
1 1
Therefore the flashing rate is 𝑓 = = = 0.086 𝐻𝑧.
𝑇 11.63

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 3 (18 points)

You must show your work to get full credit.

The voltage signal of Figure 5(a) is applied to the cascaded integrating amplifiers shown in Figure 5(b). There
is no energy stored in the capacitors at the instant when the signal is applied。
a) Derive the numerical expressions for vo1(t) and vo(t) for the time intervals
0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 0.5 𝑠 and 0.5 𝑠 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 .
b) Compute the value of 𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 .

Figure 5 (a)

Figure 5 (b)

Solution:
a) 𝑣𝑜1 is the output of the first integrator, while 𝑣𝑜 is the output of the second integrator.

𝑑𝑣𝑜1 1
𝑑𝑡
= −𝑅 𝑣𝑔 = −20𝑣𝑔
1 𝐶1

𝑑2 𝑣𝑜 1 106
= 𝑣 = 𝑣 = 250𝑣𝑔
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑅1 𝐶1 𝑅2 𝐶2 𝑔 100 × 400 × 0.5 × 0.1 𝑔

When 𝟎 ≤ 𝒕 ≤ 𝟎. 𝟓−:

𝑣𝑔 = 80 𝑚𝑉
𝑑𝑣𝑜1
= −20𝑣𝑔 = −1.6
𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝑣𝑜
= 250𝑣𝑔 = 20
𝑑𝑡 2
And initial condition: 𝑣𝑜1 (0) = 0 , 𝑣𝑜 (0) = 0
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So

𝑣𝑜1 (𝑡) = ∫ −1.6𝑑𝑡 = −1.6𝑡

𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = ∬ 20𝑑𝑡 = 10𝑡 2

When 𝟎. 𝟓− ≤ 𝒕 ≤ 𝒕𝒔𝒂𝒕 :

𝑣𝑔 = −40 𝑚𝑉
𝑑𝑣𝑜1
= −20𝑣𝑔 = 0.8
𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝑣𝑜
= 250𝑣𝑔 = −10
𝑑𝑡 2
Initial condition:
𝑣𝑜1 (0.5+ ) = 𝑣𝑜1 (0.5− ) = −1.6 × 0.5 = −0.8 𝑉

𝑡
𝑣𝑜1 (𝑡) = ∫ 0.8 𝑑𝑡 + 𝒗𝒐𝟏 (𝟎. 𝟓+ ) = 0.8(𝑡 − 0.5) − 0.8 = 0.8𝑡 − 1.2 𝑉
0.5+
Similarly,
𝑣𝑜 (0.5+ ) = 𝑣𝑜 (0.5− ) = 10 × 0.25 = 2.5 𝑉
And
𝑑𝑣𝑜 𝑑𝑣𝑜
(0.5+ ) = (0.5− ) = 20 × 0.5 = 10,
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

So,
𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑜 𝑑𝑣𝑜
(𝑡) − (0.5+ ) = ∫ −10𝑑𝑡 = −10𝑡 + 5
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 0.5+
𝑡
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = ∫0.5+(−10𝑡 + 5 + 10) 𝑑𝑡 + 𝑣𝑜 (0.5+ )

= −5𝑡 2 + 15𝑡 − (−5 × 0.25 + 15 × 0.5) + 2.5 = −5𝑡 2 + 15𝑡 − 3.75 𝑉

Summary:

0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 0.5−:
𝑣𝑜1 (𝑡) = −1.6𝑡 𝑉, 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = 10𝑡 2 𝑉
0.5− ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 :
𝑣𝑜1 (𝑡) = 0.8𝑡 − 1.2 𝑉, 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = −5𝑡 2 + 15𝑡 − 3.75 𝑉

b)
𝑣𝑜 (𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 ) = −12.5 𝑉
Solving, 𝑡𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 3.5 𝑠
Check 𝑣𝑜1 (3.5) = 1.6 𝑉 < 5𝑉, So the answer is available.

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 4 (10 points)

You must show your work to get full credit.

Find the current 𝑖 for the circuit shown in Figure 6 when 𝐿 = 0.1H, 𝐶 = 25mF, 𝑅1 = 3Ω, 𝑅2 = 3Ω,
𝑅3 = 1Ω and
𝑉𝑠 (𝑡) = −4 𝑐𝑜𝑠(10𝑡 + 30°)V

𝐼𝑠 (𝑡) = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(40𝑡 + 30°)A

Figure 6

Solution:

1) Firstly we turn off the voltage source:

𝐼𝑠 (𝑡) = 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛(40𝑡 + 30°) A = 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠(40𝑡 − 60°)A = 2∠ − 60°A = 1 − 𝑗√3 A

Thus
𝜔1 =40rad/s, 𝑍𝐿1 = 𝑗4Ω, 𝑍𝐶1 = −𝑗Ω,

Apply KCL at node a:

𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑎 − (−2𝑖1 )
−𝐼𝑠 + 𝑖1 + + =0 ①
3−𝑗 1
𝑉𝑎
𝑖1 = ②
3 + 𝑗4
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Solving ① and ②，we get

𝑖1 = −0.0416 − 𝑗0.231A = −0.235∠ − 79.8°A = −0.235𝑐𝑜𝑠(40𝑡 − 79.8°) A

2) Then we turn off the current source:

𝑉𝑠 (𝑡) = −4 𝑐𝑜𝑠(10𝑡 + 30°)V = 4∠30°V = −2√3 − 𝑗2 V

Thus 𝜔2 =10rad/s, 𝑍𝐿2 = 𝑗Ω, 𝑍𝐶2 = −𝑗4Ω

Apply KCL at node a:

𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑎 − (−2𝑖2 − 𝑉𝑠 )
𝑖2 + + =0 ③
3 − 4𝑗 1
𝑉𝑎
𝑖2 = ④
3+𝑗
Solving ③ and ④，we get
𝑖2 = 0.601 + 𝑗0.167A = 0.62∠15.5°A = 0.62𝑐𝑜𝑠(10𝑡 + 15.5°) A

According to superposition theory,

𝑖 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖2 = [−0.235𝑐𝑜𝑠(40𝑡 − 79.8°) + 0.62𝑐𝑜𝑠(10𝑡 + 15.5°)] A

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 5 (15 points)

You must show your work to get full credit.

The impedance ZL in the circuit shown in Figure 7 is adjusted for maximum average power transfer to ZL .
The internal impedance of the sinusoidal voltage source is 4 + 𝑗7 Ω.
a) What is the maximum average power delivered to ZL ?
b) What percentage of the average power delivered to the linear transformer is delivered to ZL ?

Figure 7
Solution:
First, find the Thevenin Equivalent circuit.

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

Problem 6 (20 points)

You must show your work to get full credit.

Consider the circuit in Figure 8. The ideal op-amp’s power supplies of ±V volts limit the range of the output
𝑉
voltage. Note that this circuit has positive feedback. Assuming that 𝑣𝐴 (0− ) = 𝑣1 (0− ) = − , express and
2

sketch the voltages 𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) and 𝑣𝐵 (𝑡) as functions of time. Assuming that the response time of the op-amp’s
output to the changes at its inputs can be ignored.

Figure 8

Solution:
The op-amp is ideal, but its output is limited to the range [−V, V] by the supply voltages. vB(t) will drop across
the series combination of resistors, so
𝑣1 (𝑡) = 𝑣𝐵 (𝑡)/2

Analysis of the circuit:

𝑉 𝑉
1) Initially, 𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) = − 2 > 𝑣𝐵 (𝑡) = −V, capacitor starts to discharge, and 𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) drop below − 2 .

𝑉
2) When 𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) < 𝑣1 (𝑡) = − 2 , we have

𝑣𝐵 (𝑡) = +𝑉

This means the capacitor voltage vA(t) (referred to ground) will begin to climb towards V.
3) At some point it will cross V/2 which will make vB(t) switch to −V , taking v1(t) to −V/2. Now the voltage
across the capacitor will discharge towards −V.
4) When it crosses −V/2 we have vB(t) switching again to +V (and v1(t) to V/2) so the cycle repeats.

𝑉 𝑉
For 𝑣𝐴 (0+ ) = 𝑣𝐴 (0− ) = − 2 , so 𝑣𝐵 (0− ) = −𝑉, C will discharge, when 𝑣𝐴 (0+ ) < − 2 , then 𝑣𝐵 (0+ ) = 𝑉,

𝑉
and 𝑣1 (0+ ) = . The capacitor starts to charge, we have the equation
2

𝑑𝑣𝐴 (𝑡)
𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) + 𝑅𝐶 =𝑉
𝑑𝑡
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Electric Circuits, Fall 2015 Midterm Exam #2 Solution

with solution
𝑉 3𝑉 𝑡
𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) = − + (1 − 𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 )
2 2
But it will only continue till vA(t) reaches V/2, then vB(t) is going to switch to -V, so the time capacitor charging
is 𝑅𝐶 ln 3.
𝑉
Similar to next discharging process, initial condition 𝑣𝐴 (𝑅𝐶 ln 3) = , we have
2

𝑑𝑣𝐴 (𝑡)
𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) + 𝑅𝐶 = −𝑉
𝑑𝑡
with solution
𝑉 3𝑉 𝑡−𝑅𝐶 ln 3
𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) = − (1 − 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 ) , 𝑅𝐶 ln 3 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2𝑅𝐶 ln 3
2 2
Then the capacitor will run the circle again.

Above all, we can express

𝑉 3𝑉 𝑡−2𝑘𝜎
− + (1 − 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 ) , 2𝑘𝜎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ (2𝑘 + 1)𝜎
𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) = { 2 2
𝑉 3𝑉 𝑡−(2𝑘+1)𝜎
− (1 − 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 ) , (2𝑘 + 1)𝜎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ (2𝑘 + 2)𝜎
2 2

𝑉, 2𝑘𝜎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ (2𝑘 + 1)𝜎

𝑣𝐵 (𝑡) = {
−𝑉, (2𝑘 + 1)𝜎 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ (2𝑘 + 2)𝜎

Where 𝜎 = 𝑅𝐶 ln 3 , 𝑘 = 0, 1, 2, 3, ⋯
And the graphs of 𝑣𝐴 (𝑡) and 𝑣𝐵 (𝑡) are

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