R-C and R-L Circuits in Series

Impedence : = Z When resistors, inductors

Is the total and capacitors are
opposition to the connected in a.c circuit
alternating
current I flow through them are
not in phase

Therefore, Z is not the

algebraic sum of R, XL and
XC

Z=?
 Impedance

R-C circuit in series R-C-L circuit in series

R R
o R-L circuit in series o
V V
o o
C R C
o
V
o
A phasor is a vector of
constant magnitude When a
and rotating in an phasor
anticlockwise direction rotates, it will
with a constant angular generate a
velocity, . waveform.
 R-C circuit in series
For R: For C:
R V lags
o I and V
V are in behind I
o
C phase by /2

Same current: Phase diagram

R VR = IR
Z = R2 +XC2 adjacent adjacent
VC

opposite
opposite

Tan  =
VR XC Z VC VZ
= IXC
XC
=
R
 XC = 1
C

Z = R2 + 1 2

C
 V = IZ  V = I  Z 
Variation of Impedance with frequency
As f increases,
Z = R2 + 1 2 Z decreases
C and
I increases
Z
Current I
Z approaches
R for high f
0

Impedance, Z
R ZR

0 f
At f = 0, I is zero as the capacitor
blocks direct current
 If a piece of mica is inserted,
What happened to the brightness of the lamp ?

Z = R2 + 1 2

C
o
Lamp X
V
o
C
C increases

1 decreases
C
From Vrms = IrmsZ
Brightness
increases I increases Z decreases
R-L circuit in series
For R: For L:
R
o I and V V leads
V
o are in I by /2
phase

Same current: Phase diagram

Z = R2 +XL2
VL Z V
Tan  = XL VL
VR
 = IXL 
XL
=
R R VR = IR
 XL = L

Z = R2 + (L)2
R-C-L circuit in series
For R: For C:
For L:
R
o I and V V lags
V V leads
are in behind I
o I by /2
C phase by /2

Phase diagram
VL
VZ = IZ

VL – VC

I
VR
VC
 VZ = VR2 + (VL – VC)2

IZ = (IR)2 + (IXL – IXC)2

Impedence = Z = R2 + (XL – XC)2

2
= R2 + L – 1
C
Phase diagram
VL
VZ = IZ

VL – VC

I
VR
VC
 2
Z = R2 + L – 1 If X L = XC
C
L = 1
C
Z
2foL = 1
2foC
fo2 = 1
42 LC

f fo = 1
0 fo 42 LC
= 1
Resonance
2 LC
frequency
 2
Z = R2 + L – 1
C

= L

= 1
C
 Example :
What value of capacitance has the same reactance as a
250 mH inductor at a frequency of 50 Hz?
XL = XC

Inductor : Capacitance :

XL = L = 2fL XC = 1 = 1
C 2fC
= 2(3.14)(50)(250 x 10-3) 1
78.5 =
2(3.14)(50)C
= 78.5 
C = 4.06 x 10-5 F
fo = 1
or 42 LC
= 1
2 LC
Example :
Example :
Example :
Example :