RLC and

Impedance
Concept
MODULE 2
Alexander T. Montero, REE, RME
Topics
• Review of Complex Numbers
• Complex Numbers in AC Analysis
• RLC Circuits with Sinusoidal Excitation
• Resistance and Sinusoidal AC
• Inductance and Sinusoidal AC
• Capacitance and Sinusoidal AC
• Impedance Concept
Objectives
1. Understand and solve problems involving complex
numbers
2. Understand and solve problems involving RLC
circuit with sinusoidal excitation
3. Understand and compute resistance, reactance,
and impedance in AC circuits
Complex
Number
Review
Complex Number Define
A complex number is a number of the form

where a and b are real numbers and

The number a is called the real part of C and b is called its
imaginary part.

(In circuit theory, j is used to denote the imaginary

component rather than i to avoid confusion with current i.)
Geometrical Representation
Complex numbers may be represented geometrically,
either in rectangular form or in polar form as points on a
two-dimensional plane called the complex plane (Figure
16–1).

The complex number C = 6 + j8,

represents a point whose
coordinate on the real axis is 6 and
whose coordinate on the imaginary
axis is 8.
This form of representation is
called the rectangular form.
Geometrical Representation
Complex numbers may also be represented in polar form
by magnitude and angle.

Thus, C = 10∠53.13° is a
complex number with
magnitude 10 and angle
53.13°.
See (Figure 16–2)
Conversion between
Rectangular and Polar Forms
Conversion between
Rectangular and Polar Forms
CxNEP01
CxNEP01 Solution
CxNEP01 Solution
CxNEP01 Solution
CxNEP01 Solution
Powers of j
Powers of j are frequently required in calculations.
Here are some useful powers:
Addition and Subtraction of
Complex Numbers
Addition and subtraction of complex numbers can
be performed analytically or graphically.
Analytic addition and subtraction is most easily
illustrated in rectangular form, while graphical
addition and subtraction is best illustrated in polar
form.
Addition and Subtraction of
Complex Numbers
For analytic addition, add real and imaginary parts
separately.
Similarly for subtraction.
For graphical addition, add vectorially.
For graphical subtraction, change the sign of the
subtrahend, then add vectorially.
CxNEP02

ANALYTICALLY
CxNEP02 Solution
Multiplication and Division of
Complex Numbers
These operations are usually performed in polar form.
For multiplication, multiply magnitudes and add angles
algebraically.
For division, divide the magnitude of the denominator into
the magnitude of the numerator, then subtract
algebraically the angle of the denominator from that of
the numerator.
CxNEP03
CxNEP04
Sometimes easier to multiply directly in rectangular form
than it is to convert to polar.
Reciprocals
Complex Conjugates
The conjugate of a complex number is a complex
number with the same real part but the opposite
imaginary part. (denoted by asterisk *)

The conjugate of

is
CxNEP05
What is the conjugate of
CxNEP06
Complex Numbers
in AC Analysis
Representing AC Voltages and
Currents by Complex Numbers
AC voltages and currents can be represented as phasors.
Since phasors have magnitude and angle, they can be
viewed as complex numbers.
Representing AC Voltages and
Currents by Complex Numbers
Representing AC Voltages and
Currents by Complex Numbers
The idea illustrated in Figure 16–9 is of fundamental
importance to circuit theory.
By replacing the time function e(t) with its phasor
equivalent E, we have transformed the source from
the time domain to the phasor domain.
Representing AC Voltages and
Currents by Complex Numbers
NOTE:
Both Kirchhoff’s voltage law and Kirchhoff’s current law
apply in the time domain and in the phasor domain
For example, e = v1 + v2 in the time domain can be
transformed to E = V1 + V2 in the phasor domain and vice
versa.
Similarly for currents.
Summing AC Voltages and Currents
Sinusoidal quantites must sometimes be added or
subtracted as in Figure 16–10.
Summing AC Voltages and Currents
The impractical and tedious process:
By adding waveforms point by point as in (b).
Summing AC Voltages and Currents
A better way is to transform the sources and use
complex numbers to perform the addition.
This is shown in Figure 16–11.
Summing AC Voltages and Currents
Replace voltages e1 and e2 with their phasor equivalents,
E1 and E2, and v with its phasor equivalent, V.
CxNACEP01
CxNACEP01 Solution
Replace voltages e1 and e2 with their phasor equivalents,
E1 and E2, and v with its phasor equivalent, V.
CxNACEP01 Solution
CxNACEP01 Solution
IMPORTANT NOTES...
1. To this point, Peak values such as Vm and Im
represent the magnitudes of phasor voltages and currents,
as this has been most convenient for our purposes.
In practice, however, rms values are used instead.
Accordingly, we will now change to rms.
IMPORTANT NOTES...
Thus, from here on, the phasor V =120 V ∠0° will
be taken to mean a voltage of 120 volts rms at an
angle of 0°.
If you need to convert this to a time function, first
multiply the rms value by √2, then follow the usual
procedure.
Thus, v = √2 (120) sin ωt = 170 sin ωt.
IMPORTANT NOTES...
2.
IMPORTANT NOTES...
3. Although we use phasors to represent
sinusoidal waveforms, it should be noted that sine
waves and phasors are not the same thing.
Sinusoidal voltages and currents are real—they are
the actual quantities that you measure with meters
and whose waveforms you see on oscilloscopes.
Phasors, on the other hand, are mathematical
abstractions that we use to help visualize
relationships and solve problems.
IMPORTANT NOTES...
4.
CxNACEP02
CxNACEP02 Solution
CxNACEP03
CxNACEP03 Solution
CxNACEP04
CxNACEP05
ASS Part I
ASS Part 2
R, L, and C Circuits
with
Sinusoidal Excitation
RLC Circuits with
Sinusoidal Excitation
R, L, and C circuit elements each have quite
different electrical properties.
Resistance, for example, opposes current, while
inductance opposes changes in current, and
capacitance opposes changes in voltage.
These differences result in quite different voltage-
current relationships.
Let us investigate these relationships for the case
of sinusoidal ac.
RLC Circuits with
Sinusoidal Excitation
Sine waves have several important characteristics that
you will discover from this investigation:
1. When a circuit consisting of linear circuit elements
R, L, and C is connected to a sinusoidal source, all
currents and voltages in the circuit will be sinusoidal.

2. These sine waves have the same frequency as the

source and differ from it only in terms of their
magnitudes and phase angles.
Resistance and
Sinusoidal AC
Resistance and Sinusoidal AC
Ohm’s law applies and thus, current is directly proportional
to voltage.
Current variations therefore follow voltage variations,
reaching their peak when voltage reaches its peak,
changing direction when voltage changes polarity, and so
on (Figure 16–18).
Resistance and Sinusoidal AC
For a purely resistive circuit, current and voltage are in
phase.
Since voltage and current waveforms coincide, their
phasors also coincide (Figure 16–19).
Resistance and Sinusoidal AC
The relationship may be stated mathematically as
RnACEP01
RnACEP01 Solution
Inductance and
Sinusoidal AC
Phase Lag in an Inductive Circuit
For an ideal inductor, voltage vL is proportional to the rate
of change of current.
Because of this, voltage and current are not in phase as
they are for a resistive circuit.
This can be shown with a bit of calculus.
Phase Lag in an Inductive Circuit
Phase Lag in an Inductive Circuit
For a purely inductive circuit, current lags voltage by 90°
Alternatively you can say that voltage leads current by 90°.
Phase Lag in an Inductive Circuit
Inductive Reactance
Inductive Reactance
To solve simple inductive circuits with sinusoidal excitation,
that is, we know that current lags voltage by 90° and
that their amplitudes are related by
LnACEP01
LnACEP01 Solution
LnACEP02
LnACEP02 Solution
Variation of Inductive Reactance
with Frequency
Inductive reactance is directly proportional to
frequency f and inductance L by:
ASS Part 3