TUTORIAL 5

Question 1(a)
For the arrangement shown in figure below, C1 = 2 μF, C2 = 3 μF, and C3 = 15 μF.

Determine

a) the equivalent capacitance of the circuit.

(b) the total charge of the circuit
(c) the p.d across the 15 μF capacitor
(d) the charge on the 15 μF capacitor
Solution

(a) the equivalent capacitance of the circuit:

(C1 + C2 )  C3
Ceq =
(C1 + C2 ) + C3

(2 F + 6 F)  15 F
Ceq = = 5.22 F
(2 F + 6 F) + 15 F

(b) QT = CeqV = 5.22 F  150 = 783 C

15 F
(c) V = 150  = 97.83V
8  F + 15 F

Q15 = C15V = 15 F  150

Q15 = 2250 C = 2.25 mC

 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

Question 1(a)

A capacitor is made with seven metal plates each plate is separated by dielectric material with
relative permittivity of 6. The area of one side of each of the plate is 0.05 m2 with the distance
of 0.5 mm separating each capacitor plate. If a p.d 200 V DC is maintained across the terminals
of the capacitor. Determine

(i) the capacitance of the capacitor.

(ii) The charge stored in the capacitor.
(iii) The charge density for in the dielectric.
(iv) The electric field strength.
{𝜖0 = 8.85 × 10−12 𝐹/𝑚}

SOLUTION

∈𝜖0 (𝑛−1)𝐴 6×(8.85×10−12 )×(7−1)×(0.05)

(i) Capacitance 𝐶 = = = 31.86 nF
𝑑 (0.0005)

(ii) Charge stored 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 31.86 × 10−9 × 200 = 6.37 μC

𝑄 6.37×10−6
(iii) The charge density 𝐷 = (n−1)×𝐴 = = 1.91 μC /m2
6×0.05

(iv) Electric field strength 𝐸 = 𝑉⁄𝑑 = 200⁄0.0005 = 0.4 MV/m

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

Question 2
For an RC series connected circuit with a 2 kΩ and 1000 µF capacitor.
(1) What will be the time constant and initial charging current of the circuit when connected
across 110V d.c supply.
(2) Determine the instantaneous value of the current flowing 1s after the supply has been
switched on.
(3) Determine the voltage across the resistance and the capacitance at that instant of time.

SOLUTION
Given: R = 2 kΩ, C = 1000 µF =1000 x 10-6 F, V = 110 V, t = 1sec

(i) the time constant 𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 2 × 103 × 1000 × 10−3 𝑠 =

𝑉 110
the initial charging current = 𝐼 = = =
𝑅 2 ×10−3

(ii) First write the formula for series RC current when the switch is closed
𝑉 𝑡
𝑖 = 𝑅 (𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 ) ……… (eq.1)
𝑡
Then find the value of 𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 for t =1s which is 𝑒 −0.5 and substitute into eq. 1
Therefore, 𝑖 = 33.4 𝑚𝐴
(iii) The voltage across the individual component will be
𝑡
(a) Across the resistor 𝑣𝑅 = 𝑉(𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 ) = 110 ( 0.607) = 66.8 V
𝑡
(b) Across the capacitor 𝑣𝑐 = 𝑉(1 − 𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 ) = 110 ( 1- 0.607)= 43.2 V

To confirm your answers:

𝑉 = 𝑣𝑅 + 𝑣𝑐 = 66.8 + 43.2 = 110 𝑉

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

Question 3

(i) The winding of an electromagnet has an inductance of 3 H and a resistance of 15 ohm. When it is
connected to a 120 V d.c supply, calculate:

1. The time constant of the coil.

2. The maximum value of the current.
3. The instantaneous value of the current 0.35 s after connection to the supply
4. The energy stored in the magnetic field when the current has attained its maximum value.
Solution

Given: R = 10 Ω, L = 0.04 H, V = 120 V, t = 0.35 sec

𝐿 3
1) to determine the time constant 𝜏 = 𝑅
= 15 = 0.2 𝑠
𝑉 120
2) to determine the maximum current 𝐼 = 𝑅
= 15
=8𝐴
3) To calculate the instantaneous current 𝑖 after t = 0.35 s
𝑡 𝑉 𝑡
using 𝑖 = 𝐼(1 − 𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 ) or 𝑖 = 𝑅 (1 − 𝑒 − ⁄𝜏 )
120 0.35⁄
𝑖= 15
(1 − 𝑒− 0.2 )

𝑖 = 8(1 − 𝑒 −1.75 )
𝑖 = 8(1 − 0.1738)= 6.61 A
𝟏
4) the energy store 𝑬 = 𝑳. 𝑰2
𝟐
𝟏
𝑬= × 𝟑 × 𝟖𝟐 = 96 J
𝟐

(ii) For the circuit shown calculate the following particulars:

(a) the impedance of branch AB.

(b) the admittance of branch AB.

(c) the impedance of branch CD.

(d) the admittance of branch CD.

(e) the total conductance.

(j) the total susceptance.

(g) the resultant admittance.

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

SOLUTION

For Question (a) and (b)

For Question (c) and (d)

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

Question 4

Consider the network in figure below, determine the power in the 3 Ω resistor using

Thevenin's Theorem.

Figure

SOLUTION

- Remove the 3Ω resistor, then with the battery short-circuited, the resistance
RAB between A and B is obtained
With the battery short-circuited,

RAB = RTH =
(1  2 + 4 + 2)
(1 + (2 + 4 + 1))
1 8
= = 0.89 Ω
1+ 8

20
Therefore, by apply ohm’s law: The current in the circuit I = = 2.22 A
9

The voltage VTh between A and B is also found with the 3Ω resistor removed.

20
VTH = 8  =17.78 V
9

Therefore, the current in the 3Ω resistor will be

VTH 17.78
ITH = =
RTH + R L 0.89 + 3

ITH = 4.57A

Power in the 3Ω resistor

P = 4.572  3 = 62.67W
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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

Question 5
For the bridge Network in figure 2.0 below, use Thevenin theorem to determine the current
in the 5 Ω resistor and its direction.

Solution
To find the open circuit voltage VAB, RL from the circuit

To determine the p.d (VAC) between A and C

by applying potential divider rule:

R1
VAC = .E
R1 + R4

3
VAC = (30) = 18 V
3+ 2

And the voltage at A VA = 30 − 18 = 12 V

To determine the p.d (VBC) between B and C

by applying potential divider rule:

4
VAC = (30) = 12 V
4+6

And the voltage at B VB = 30 − 12 = 18V

Therefore, the p.d between A and B will be

VAB = 12 − 18 = −6 V

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

QUESTION 6

Write the mesh current equation for the network shown in the Fig. below.

Fig
SOLUTION

Using mesh analysis, the mesh currents are denoted as i1, i2 and i3 as shown in the circuit
below.
For Mesh 1: −12𝑉 + 4(𝑖1 − 𝑖2 ) + 2(𝑖1 − 𝑖3 ) = 0

−12 + 4𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 + 2𝑖1 − 2𝑖3 = 0

6𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 − 2𝑖3 = 12 --------eq. (1)

For Mesh 2: 6𝑖2 + 4(𝑖2 − 𝑖3 ) + 4(𝑖2 − 𝑖1 ) = 0

6𝑖2 + 4𝑖2 − 4𝑖3 + 4𝑖2 − 4𝑖1 = 0

−4𝑖1 + 14𝑖2 − 4𝑖3 = 0 --------eq. (2)

For Mesh 3: 6𝑉 + 4(𝑖3 − 𝑖1 ) + 4(𝑖3 − 𝑖2 ) = 0

6 + 4𝑖3 − 4𝑖1 + 4𝑖3 − 4𝑖2 = 0

−4𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 + 8𝑖3 = −6 --------eq. (3)

The mesh equations are equations (1), (2) and (3)

6𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 − 2𝑖3 = 12

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)
−4𝑖1 + 14𝑖2 − 4𝑖3 = 0

−4𝑖1 − 4𝑖2 + 8𝑖3 = −6

6 −4 −2 𝑖1 12
[−4 14 −4] [𝑖2 ] = [ 0 ]
−4 −4 8 𝑖3 −6

To obtain the determinant of the network

6 −4 −2
𝐷 = [−4 14 −4]
−4 −4 8
= 6(112 − 16) − 4(−32 − 16) − 2(56 − 16) = 240

12 −4 −2
[ 0 14 −4]
888
𝐼1 = −6 −4 8 = = 3.70 𝐴
𝐷 240

6 12 −2
[−4 0 −4]
384
𝐼2 = −4 −6 8 = = 1.60𝐴
𝐷 240

6 −4 12
[−4 14 0 ]
1464
𝐼3 = −4 −4 −6 = = 2.13 𝐴
𝐷 240

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

QUESTION 7

Obtain the mesh current equation for the network shown in the Figure below, and solve the
mesh currents (i) by determinants.

Figure

SOLUTION

Using mesh analysis, the mesh currents are denoted as i1, i2 and i3 as shown in the circuit
below.
For Mesh 1: −6𝑉 + 10(𝑖1 ) + 2(𝑖1 − 𝑖2 ) = 0

−6 + 10𝑖1 + 2𝑖1 − 2𝑖2 = 0

12𝑖1 − 2𝑖2 = 6 --------eq. (1)

Or 6𝑖1 − 𝑖2 = 3

For Mesh 2: 8𝑉 + 4𝑖2 + 2(𝑖2 − 𝑖1 ) + 1(𝑖2 − 𝑖3 ) = 0

8 − 2𝑖1 + 7𝑖2 − 𝑖3 = 0

−2𝑖1 + 7𝑖2 − 𝑖3 = −8 --------eq. (2)

For Mesh 3: −8𝑉 + 6𝑉 + (𝑖3 − 𝑖2 ) + 5(𝑖3 ) = 0

−2 + 6𝑖3 − 𝑖2 = 0

−𝑖2 + 6𝑖3 = 2 --------eq. (3)

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

The mesh equations are equations (1), (2) and (3)

6𝑖1 − 𝑖2 =3

−2𝑖1 + 7𝑖2 − 𝑖3 = −8

−𝑖2 + 6𝑖3 = 2

6 −1 0 𝑖1 3 6 −1 0 𝑖1 3
[−2 7 −1] [𝑖2 ] = [−8] or [2 −7 1] [𝑖2 ] = [8]
0 −1 6 𝑖3 2 0 −1 6 𝑖3 2

To obtain the determinant of the network

6 −1 0
𝐷 = [2 −7 −1]
0 −1 6
−7 −1 2 1 2 −7
D = (6) [ ] − (−1) [ ] + (0) [ ]
−1 6 0 6 0 −1
𝐷 = 6(−42 − 1) − (−1(12 − 0) + 0(−2 + 0) = −246

Solving for the mesh currents:

3 −1 0
[8 −7 −1]
−79
𝐼1 = 2 −1 6 = = 0.32 𝐴𝑣
−246 −246

6 3 0
[2 8 −1]
𝐼2 = 0 2 6 = 264 = −1.07 𝐴
−246 −246

6 −1 3
[2 −7 8]
−38
𝐼3 = 0 −1 2 = = 0.15 𝐴
−246 −246

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)

SOURCE TRANSFORMATION

Use source transformation method to determine 𝑉𝑥 in the circuit below

SOLUTION
Step 1: Replace the voltage source in series with a resistor, with a current source in parallel
with a resistor
𝑉
𝑖1 = 𝑅 𝑠
1

100 𝑉
𝑖1 = = 4.55𝐴
22 Ω

Replacing the parallel current sources (𝑖1 & 𝑖𝑠 ) and the parallel resistors (R1 & R3) with their
equivalents

𝑖𝑒𝑞 = 𝑖1 + 𝑖𝑠

𝑖𝑒𝑞 = 4.55 𝐴 + 4 𝐴 = 8.55 𝐴

𝑅 ×𝑅
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1+ 𝑅3
1 3

22 × 10
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = = 6.875
22 + 10

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 Electrical Circuits ELC105B Semester Test 2 (MEMO)
Replacing the equivalent current source (𝑖𝑒𝑞 ) in parallel with the equivalent resistor (Req)
with a voltage source in series with a resistor:

𝑉𝑒𝑞= 𝑖𝑒𝑞 × 𝑅𝑒𝑞

𝑉𝑒𝑞= 8.55 × 6.875 = 58.75 𝑉

Therefore, applying voltage divider

rule to the final circuit to obtain 𝑉𝑥 ;

𝑅4
𝑉𝑥 = 𝑉𝑒𝑞 ×
𝑅𝑒𝑞 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅4

15
𝑉𝑥 = 58.75 ×
6.875 + 33 + 15

𝑉𝑥 = 16.06 𝑉

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