ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Series & Parallel Resonant Circuits Pre-Lab 7

IMPORTANT – SHOW ALL WORK!

1. For the RLC circuit shown below, determine the following:

a. Total impedance “seen “ by the source as a function of source frequency, .

b. Source frequency (in Hertz) where the total impedance magnitude is a minimum and
thereby current a maximum.
c. Peak current value at part b frequency.
d. The voltage across R (V-rms) at part b frequency.
e. Circuit quality factor Qs. Note: Inductor ideal.

Note: Vs has units of Volts (V).

2. Given a resonant frequency of 1,000 rad/sec and a circuit quality factor Qs = 10, determine L
and C in the circuit below. Note: The inductor is ideal.

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 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Series & Parallel Resonant Circuits Pre-Lab 7

3. For the parallel RLC circuit shown below, determine the following:

a. Total admittance “seen “ by the source as a function of source frequency, .

b. Source frequency (Hz) where the total impedance magnitude is a maximum and thereby
output voltage (Vo) a maximum.
c. Peak Vo value at part b frequency..
d. Current through R (A-rms) at part b frequency.
e. The circuit’s quality factor Qp. Note: The inductor is ideal.

4. For the parallel RLC circuit shown below:

a. Determine the frequency (Hz) for which Vo is a maximum.

b. With an 80Ω load connected across terminals a and b at the part a frequency,
determine required R value to deliver maximum power to the load.
c. Using part b conditions, calculate the power (mW) delivered to the load.

a
+
Vo
-
b

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 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
California Polytechnic State University

EE 251 Series & Parallel Resonant Circuits Lab 7

Objective
To observe the effects of resonance in both series and parallel RLC circuits.

Workbench Equipment
 Function Generator, Agilent 33120A or Agilent 33220A or Rigol DG1062Z
 Digital Multimeter, Agilent 34401A
 Digital Multimeter, Fluke 8840A
 Resistor Box III, 1kΩ/2.5kΩ/5kΩ/10kΩ/25kΩ
 Resistor Box IV, 100/250/500
 Resistor Decade Box,  step
 Inductor Decade Box, 10mH step: 0 – 100mH
 Capacitor Decade Box, 0.1F step: 0 – 1.1F
 Capacitor Decade Box, 1F step: 0 – 10F
 RLC Bridge, Gen Rad 1659

Check-out Equipment, 20-111 window

 Banana to banana, 3 pairs, red/black
 BNC to banana, quantity 1
 Short leads, quantity 6, 1 bag

Background
The resonance phenomenon is important in electrical circuits because it enables selection of a
desired signal frequency from a range of frequencies, as in radio and TV receivers. Resonance is
not always a desirable feature of a system since it can also cause undesired power dissipation
leading to possible system degradation or failure. In resonant electric circuits, there is an
interchange of energy between capacitive and inductive elements. There is also a loss factor
associated primarily with the effective resistance of practical (non-ideal) inductors and
capacitors.
Series Resonance
Fig. 7-1 illustrates a series RLC circuit. The total impedance “seen” by the source (Zeq) in this
circuit is:
1  1 
Z eq  R  jL   R  j  L    R  jX eq (7-1)
jC  C 

Zeq

Fig. 7-1 Series RLC Circuit

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 1
At the resonant frequency o (o = 2fo), Xeq = 0 since L  when  = o.
C
1 1 1
X eq  o L   0  o  or fo  (7-2)
o C LC 2 LC

At this frequency, Zeq is purely real (resistive). Since Z eq  R 2  X eq2 , |Zeq| reaches a minimum
value at resonance.
V V
Z eq  R and I    (7-3)
o o
Z eq R
o

Since I = V / Zeq, the current reaches a maximum value when Zeq = R.

At frequencies (2, 1) above and below the resonant frequency where Xeq = +R.
V V
Z eq  R 2 and I  ,   (7-4)
1 ,2 Z eq
1 2
1 ,2
R 2
These two frequencies are referred to as the half-power frequencies or cut-off frequencies.
Solving for frequency 2: Xeq = +R
1 R 1
2 L    R   22   2  0 (7-5)
2C L LC
2 2
R  R  1 R  R  1
2           (7-6)
2L  2L  LC 2L  2L  LC
Note that the positive sign must be selected to avoid negative frequency values.
Solving for frequency 1: Xeq = -R
1 R 1
1 L    R  12  1  0 (7-7)
1C L LC
2 2
R  R  1 R  R  1
1            (7-8)
2L  2L  LC 2L  2L  LC
Again the positive sign must be specified to avoid negative frequencies. The circuit bandwidth
1
BW is defined as the frequency range over which the current is times maximum value or
2
greater. Using equations (7-6) and (7-8):
R
BW   2  1  (7-9)
L
The quality factor Qs is defined as the ratio of the resonant frequency to the circuit bandwidth:
 L 1 L
Qs  o   (7-10)
BW R LC R C
Parallel Resonance
Fig. 7-2 illustrates a parallel RLC circuit. The total admittance Yeq of this circuit is
1  1 
Yeq  G  jC   G  j  C    G  jBeq (7-11)
jL  L 
where G (conductance) and B (susceptance) are the real and imaginary components of
admittance Y, the reciprocal of impedance (Z); Y = 1/Z.
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 1 1 1
G = Re{1/Z} and B = Im{1/Z} therefore BC   C and BL   (7-12)
Xc XL L

Fig. 7-2 Parallel RLC Circuit

1
At the resonant frequency o (o = 2fo), Beq = 0 since C  when  = o.
L
1 1 1
Beq  o C   0  o  or f o  (7-13)
o L LC 2 LC
The resonant frequency equation is the same for both series and parallel RLC circuits.
At the resonant frequency, Yeq is purely real (conductive). Since Yeq  G 2  Beq2 , |Yeq| reaches a
minimum value at resonance.
I I
Yeq  G and V    (7-14)
o o
Yeq o G
Since V = I / Yeq, the voltage reaches a maximum value when Yeq = G.
At frequencies (2, 1) above and below the resonant frequency where Beq = +G,
I I V
Yeq  G 2 and V  ,    (7-15)
1 ,2 Yeq 1 ,2 G 2
1 2
2
These two values are the half-power frequencies or cut-off frequencies.
Solving for 2: Beq = +G
1 1 1 1
2C   G    22  2  0 (7-16)
2 L R RC LC
2 2
1  1  1 1  1  1
2           (7-17)
2 RC  2 RC  LC 2 RC  2 RC  LC
Note that the positive sign must be selected to avoid negative frequency values.
Solving for frequency 1: Beq = -G
1 1 1 1
1C   G    12  1  0 (7-18)
1 L R RC LC
2 2
1  1  1 1  1  1
1            (7-19)
2 RC  2 RC  LC 2 RC  2 RC  LC
Again the positive sign must be specified to avoid negative frequencies. The circuit bandwidth
BW is defined as the frequency range over which the voltage is 2 times maximum value or
greater. Using equations (7-17) and (7-19):
1
BW  2  1  (7-20)
RC
The quality factor Qp is defined as the ratio of the resonant frequency to the circuit bandwidth:

57
 o RC C 1
Qp   R  (7-21)
BW LC L Qs

Procedure 1 Series Resonance (Determining Resonant Frequency)

 Use an impedance bridge (set to 1 kHz) to measure and record L and C values specified in
Table 7-1. Also, record measured value of R (100in Table 7-1.
 From measured L and C values, calculate and record resonant frequencies for each LC
combination in Table 7-1.
 Construct circuit of Fig. 7-3; for each LC combination: (connect 50mH / 0.5µF combo last)
 Set the function generator (FG) to high Z output – see Lab 6 procedure 1 and adjust settings
to produce a sine wave at the calculated resonant frequency and amplitude to yield a |VC| of
approximately 1Vrms. Record loaded |VS| level (Vrms) in Table 7-2.
 Maintain the FG amplitude setting and adjust the frequency only to maximize |VR|. Record
this frequency in Table 7-1 and the maximum |VR| value (Vrms) in Table 7-2.
 Calculate the percent difference between calculated and measured resonant frequencies for
each LC combination and record in Table 7-1.

+
VC Vm Agilent 34401A
Hi Z Output - VR + -
100

Vm Fluke 8840A

Fig. 7-3 Circuit for Determining Series Resonant Frequency

Nominal L = 30mH Nominal L = 50mH
Measured L = ________ mH Measured L = ________ mH
Meas Calc % Diff Meas Calc % Diff
Nominal C = 0.5F fo = fo = fo = fo =
Measured C = _____ F
Nominal C = 2.0F fo = fo = fo = fo =
Measured C = _____ F
Measured R = ______ 
Table 7-1 Measured and Calculated Resonant Frequencies
Nominal L = 30mH Nominal L = 50mH
VS (Vrms)1 VRmax (Vrms)2 VS (Vrms)1 VRmax (Vrms)2
Nominal C = 0.5F

Nominal C = 2.0F
Footnotes: 1) Amplitude adjustment to |VC| = 1Vrms 2) Frequency adjustment to max |VR|
Table 7-2 Procedure 1 Voltage Levels

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Procedure 2: Series Resonant Circuit Parameters

 The 50mH / 0.5µF LC combination from Procedure 1is circuit of Fig. 7-4.
 Table 7-3 specifies the 600 - 1700Hz range in 100Hz increments.
o Measure and record the rms voltage across the 100 resistor.
o Record additional measurements in 1Hz increments near the resonant frequency.
o Include these additional measurements in Excel plot data table, but not in Table 7-3.
 Plot voltage, VR as a function of frequency. From your plot:
o Determine half-power frequencies (f1 and f2) and calculate bandwidth (BW).
o Determine resonant frequency fo.
 Calculate f1, f2 using measured values of R, L and C. Calculate BW, fo and Qs.
o Use total series resistance = measured R + inductor’s DC resistance (measure with
ohmmeter) + 50Ω (internal resistance of FG). Record inductor’s DC resistance in Table
7-3.
 Record measured Qs (from plot) and calculated Qs along with % percent error in Table 7-3.

50mH
+
VC Vm Agilent 34401A
Hi Z Output - VR + - 0.5F
100

Vm Fluke 8840A

Fig. 7-4 Series RLC Circuit

f (Hz) VR (mV) f (Hz) VR (mV) f (Hz) VR (mV)

600 1000 1400 Rinductor = Ω
700 1100 1500 Qsmeas =
800 1200 1600 Qscalc =
900 1300 1700 % error =
Table 7-3 Series RLC Frequency Response Data

Procedure 3 Parallel Resonant Circuit Parameters

 Use impedance bridge (set to 1 kHz) to measure L and C values of Fig. 7-5. Also, measure
both resistors 10kΩ and 50kΩ with ohmmeter. Record in Table 7-4.
 Use measured values to calculate resonant frequency for LC combo, record in Table 7-4.
 Construct the circuit of Fig. 7-5.
 Set the FG to high Z output – see Lab 6 procedure 1 and adjust settings to produce a sine
wave at the calculated resonant frequency and an amplitude of 16Vpp. Record the resulting
V1 (Vrms) in Table 7-4.
 Table 7-4 specifies the 1000 – 1275Hz in 25Hz increments.
o Maintain V1 at the value recorded in the previous step by adjusting FG amplitude. This
will simulate a constant current source.
o Measure and record V2 in rms voltage in Table 7-4
o Record additional measurements at 1Hz increments near the resonant frequency.
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 o Include these additional measurements in Excel plot data table, but not in Table 7-4.
 Plot V2 vs. frequency. From your plot:
o Determine half-power frequencies (f1 and f2) and calculate BW.
o Determine resonant frequency fo. Record in Table 7-4. Calculate % Diff.
 Calculate f1, f2 using measured values of R, L and C. Calculate BW, fo and Qp.
o Use the total resistance of the parallel combination (“seen” from the load) of the 50KΩ
and 10 KΩ. The FG internal resistance (50Ω) can be ignored since it is << 50KΩ.
 Record measured Qp (from plot) and calculated Qp along with % percent error in Table 7-4.

Fig. 7-5 Parallel RLC Circuit

Nominal L = 100mH
Measured L = ________ mH
Meas Calc % Diff
Nominal C = 0.2F fo = fo =
Measured C = _____ F
Measured 10K = ______ 
Measured 50K = ______ 
f (Hz) V2 (mV) f (Hz) V2 (mV) f (Hz) V2 (mV)
1000 1100 1200 V1 (V) =
1025 1125 1225 Qpmeas =
1050 1150 1250 Qpcalc =
1075 1175 1275 % error =
Table 7-4 Parallel RLC Frequency Response Data
Discussion

1. For both circuits, series RLC and parallel RLC, comment on any differences between
theoretical and experimental values of Q, f0, f2 and f1.
2. Compare the two curves obtained for the series RLC and parallel RLC circuits. Comment on
Q effects on curve shape and bandwidth.
3. What applications require a high Q circuit? Can you think of a low Q circuit application?
Hint: Low Q circuits are referred to as broadband.

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