Modue 04 : Second Order Circuits

Response of second order circuit (RLC): Series, parallel and

complex circuits.

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 Examples of Second Order RLC circuits

A second-order circuit is characterized by a second-order differential

equation. It consists of resistors and the equivalent of two energy
storage elements.

RLC Series RLC Parallel RL T-config RC Pi-config

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 Source Free Series RLC circuits
The circuit is being excited by the energy
initially stored in the capacitor and inductor.
The energy is represented by the initial
capacitor voltage V0 and initial inductor current
I0 .
Thus, at t = 0,

Applying KVL around the loop

d 2 i R di i
Differentiating with respect to t, we get 2
  0 (1)
dt L dt LC
This is a second-order differential equation and is the reason for calling
the RLC circuits as second-order circuits.

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 Source Free Series RLC circuits
To solve such a second-order differential equation requires that we have two initial
conditions, such as the initial value of i and its first derivative or initial values of
some i and v.

Initial value of the derivative of i is

Solution is of exponential form. So we let

where A and s are constants to be determined.
Substituting it into Eq.(1) and carrying out necessary differentiations, we obtain
, ,

This quadratic equation is known as the characteristic equation of the differential

Eq. (1), since the roots of the equation dictate the character of i.

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 Source Free Series RLC circuits
• The solution of the source-free series RLC circuit is called
as the natural response of the circuit.

d 2 i R di i
2
  0
dt L dt LC
d 2i di R 1
=> 2
 2   0i 0
2
where   and 0 
dt dt 2L LC
The two roots of second order differential equations are

• The roots s1 and s2 are called natural frequencies, measured in nepers per
second (Np/s), because they are associated with the natural response of the
circuit;
• ω0 is known as the resonant frequency or strictly as the undamped natural
frequency, expressed in radians per second (rad/s);
•  is the neper frequency or the damping factor, expressed in nepers per
second.
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 Source Free Series RLC circuits
There are three possible solutions for the following 2nd order differential equation.
The types of solutions for i(t) depend on the relative values of  and .

d 2i di R 1
2
 2   2
0 i0 where   and 0 
dt dt 2L LC

1. If  > o, over-damped case

i(t )  A1e s1t  A2e s2t where s1, 2      2  0

2

2. If  = o, critical damped case

i(t )  ( A2  A1t )et where s1, 2   

3. If  < o, under-damped case

i(t )  e t ( B1 cosd t  B2 sin d t ) where  d  02   2

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 Source-Free Parallel RLC Circuits

0
1
Let i(0)  I 0   v(t )dt
L
v(0) = V0
Apply KCL to the top node:

t
v 1 dv
  vdt  C  0
R L  dt
Taking the derivative with respect to t and dividing by C

The 2nd order of d 2 v 1 dv 1

expression 2
  v0
dt RC dt LC

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 Source-Free Parallel RLC Circuits
There are three possible solutions for the following 2nd order differential
equation:

d 2v dv 1 1
2
 2   0v  0
2
where   and 0 
dt dt 2 RC LC

1. If  > o, over-damped case

v(t )  A1 e s1t  A2 e s2t where s1, 2      2  0
2

2. If  = o, critical damped case

v(t )  ( A2  A1t ) e t where s1, 2   
3. If  < o, under-damped case

v(t )  e t ( B1 cosd t  B2 sin d t ) where  d  02   2

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Example 1 If R = 40 Ω, L = 4 H, and C = 0.25 F, calculate the characteristic
roots of the circuit. What type of natural response will the circuit have?

Solution 1

Since  >  we conclude that the response is over-damped.

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Example 2
If R = 10 Ω, L = 5 H, and C = 2 mF, calculate the characteristic roots of the
circuit. What type of natural response will the circuit have?

Solution 2

Since  <  we conclude that the response is underdamped.

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Example 3: In the parallel circuit, find v(t) for t > 0, assuming v(0) = 5 V, i(0)=0, L=1 H,
and C 10 mF. Consider these cases: (i) R = 1.923 , (ii) R = 5,and (iii) R = 6.25 .
t
v 1 dv
  vdt  C  0
R L  dt
t
dv v 1
Solution 1 C     vdt
dt R L 
dv(t ) v(t )  Ri(t )

dt RC

t=0 ---- (A)

dv(t ) v(t )  Ri(t ) t=0


dt RC

---- (B)

Solving equation (A) & (B)

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 Responses for three degrees of damping

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Example 4
_
Find i(t) in the circuit. Assume that the circuit has reached steady state at t=0 .

Solution 4

For t < 0, the switch is closed. The capacitor acts like an open circuit while the
inductor acts like a short circuit.

At t = 0

For t > 0, the switch is opened and the voltage source

is disconnected. Circuit is source free RLC circuit.

Hence, the response is under-damped ( <  )

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 We now obtain A1and A2 using the initial conditions. At t= 0,

Imposing the condition at t = 0 gives,

Substituting the values of A1and A2 yields the complete solution as

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Example 5: Determine i(t) for all t > 0.

Solution 5

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Example 6: The circuit has reached steady state at t = 0-. If the switch moves to
position b at t = 0, calculate i(t) for t > 0.

Solution 6
For t < 0, the inductor is connected to the voltage source and when the circuit
reaches steady state, the inductor acts like a short circuit.

i(0-) = 100/10 = 10 = i(0+) = i(0)

The voltage across the capacitor is 0 = v(0-) = v(0+) = v(0).

For t > 0, we have a source-free RLC circuit.

Since < o, we have an under damped case.

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 We now determine A1 and A2.

i(0) = 10 = A1

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Example 7: Find the voltage across the capacitor as a function of time for t > 0.
Assume steady-state conditions exist at t = 0-.

Solution 7

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Example 8: In the circuit, the switch instantaneously moves from position A to B
at t = 0. Find v(t) for all t  0.

Solution 8

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Example 9:
Determine i(t) for all t > 0.

Solution 9

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