Peter's Physics Pages

Peter's Index Physics Home Lecture 13 Course Index

Lecture 15

A Semester of First Year Physics with Peter Eyland

Lecture 14 (RC, RL and RLC AC circuits)

In this lecture complex numbers are used to analyse A.C. series circuits, in
particular:
• Resistance Capacitance (RC) circuits
• Resistance (Pure) Inductance (RL) circuits
• Resistance (Pure) Inductance and Capacitance (RLC) circuits
• Resistance (Real) Inductance and Capacitance (RLC) circuits

RC series A.C. circuits

The e.m.f. that is supplied to the circuit is

distributed between the resistor and the
capacitor. Since the same current must flow in
each element, the resistor and capacitor are in
series. The common current can often be taken
to have the reference phase.

In a series circuit, the potential differences are

added up around the circuit.
(In a parallel circuit where the emf is the same
across all elements, the currents are added).

On a phasor diagram this is:

The physical current and potentials are:

The applied emf is φ rad behind the current in the circuit.

Example
A 255V, 500/π Hz supply is connected in series with a 100R resistor and a 2µF
capacitor. Taking the phase of the emf as a reference, find the complex and rms
values of
(a) the current in the circuit, and
(b) the potential difference across each element.

First write the complex emf and how it is distributed around the circuit.

1.37 radians is about 780. The total impedance of the circuit is seen in the
relationship between emf and current. The complex and rms currents are now
calculated.

The current leads the applied emf

phase reference by 1.37 radians or
780.

The potential differences across the resistor and capacitor are now calculated.

The resistor potential difference is in phase with the current and the capacitor
potential difference lags the current phase by π/2 (or 900).

RC high pass filter circuit

Since the impedance of the RC series circuit The complex e.m.f. supplied is:
depends on frequency, as indicated above, the
circuit can be used to filter out unwanted low
frequencies.
The complex potential across the output
resistor is:

The physical potential across the output resistor A graph of output versus frequency gives:
is:

The output potential is zero for a D.C. potential, and Em for very high frequency.
Low frequencies are suppressed and high frequencies are not really affected. The
cut-off frequency is arbitrarily chosen as the frequency where only half the input
power is output.

The half power angular frequency is the reciprocal of the time constant RC. The
phase will be π/4 at the half power frequency.

RC low pass filter circuit

As above, the complex e.m.f. supplied is: The complex potential across the output
capacitor is:

The physical potential across the output A graph of output potential versus frequency
capacitor is: gives:

The output potential is Em for a D.C. potential, and zero for very high frequency.
High frequencies are suppressed and low frequencies are not really affected. The
cut-off frequency is also chosen as the frequency where only half the input power
is output.

The half power angular frequency is again the reciprocal of the time constant RC.
The phase will also be π/4 at the half power frequency.

RL series A.C. circuits

The e.m.f. that is supplied to the circuit is

distributed between the resistor and the
capacitor. Since the resistor and capacitor are
in series the common current is taken to have
the reference phase.

Adding the potentials around the circuit: On a phasor diagram this is:

The physical current and potentials are:

The applied emf is φ rad ahead of the current in the circuit.

Example
A 100V, 1000/π Hz supply is connected in series with a 30R resistor and a 20mH
inductor. Take the emf as the reference phase and find:
(a) the complex impedance of the circuit
(b) the complex, real (i.e. physical) and rms currents, and
(c) the complex, real (i.e. physical) and rms potential differences across each
element.

The complex impedance for the circuit is 50 Ω,

and the phase angle between current and
applied emf is 0.93 radians (or about 530).

The emf is the reference phase.

The real (i.e. physical) current is the imaginary

part of the complex current and lags behind the
applied emf with -0.93 radians (-530).
The rms current is an equivalent dc current of 2
A and has no phase.

The complex potential difference across the

resistor is in phase with the current.
The rms potential difference is 60 V.

The complex potential difference across the

inductor leads the emf by 0.64 radians (370).
The rms potential difference is 80 V.

RL high pass filter circuit

The complex e.m.f. supplied is:

The complex potential across the output The physical potential across the output
inductor is: inductor is:

The equations have the same physical form as the RC high pass filter, but with
time constant L/R instead of RC. The output potential is Em for a very high
frequency, and zero for D.C. potential. Low frequencies are suppressed and high
frequencies are not really affected. The half power angular frequency is again the
reciprocal of the time constant.

RL low pass filter circuit

The complex e.m.f. supplied is:

The complex potential across the output The physical potential across the output resistor
resistor is: is:

The equations have the same physical form as the RC low pass filter, but with time
constant L/R instead of RC. The output potential is Em for a D.C. potential, and
zero for very high frequency. High frequencies are suppressed and low frequencies
are not really affected. The half power angular frequency is again the reciprocal of
the time constant.

RLC series A.C. circuits

The e.m.f. that is supplied to the circuit is

distributed between the resistor, the inductor,
and the capacitor. Since the elements are in
series the common current is taken to have the
reference phase.

Adding the potentials around the circuit: On a phasor diagram this is:

The physical current and potentials are:

Example
A 240V, 250/π Hz supply is connected in series with 60R, 180mH and 50µF. Take
the emf as the reference phase and find:
(a) the complex impedance of the circuit
(b) the complex, real (i.e. physical) and rms currents, and
(c) the complex, real (i.e. physical) and rms potential differences across each
element.

The complex impedance for the circuit is 78.1

Ω, and the phase angle between current and
applied emf is 0.69 radians (or 39.80).

The emf is the reference phase.

The real (i.e. physical) current is the imaginary

part of the complex current and lags behind the
applied emf with -0.69 radians (-39.80).
The rms current is an equivalent dc current of 3
A and has no phase.

The complex potential difference across the

resistor is in phase with the current.
The rms potential difference is 180 V.

The complex potential difference across the

inductor leads the emf by 0.88 radians (50.20).
The rms potential difference is 270 V.

The complex potential difference across the

capacitor lags the emf with -2.27 radians
(-129.80). (A negative angle is measured
clockwise from the positive "x" axis).
The rms potential difference is 120 V.

Impure or Practical Inductors in A.C. series circuits

In general, an inductor will have resistance

because it is made of normally resistive wire.
The potential difference across the inductor
includes both elements because they cannot be
physically separated.

Adding the potentials around the circuit: On a phasor diagram this is:

The physical current and potentials are: