2022Tutorial 4 Memo

EEE2041F/EEE2049W 2021

The resistance of the given load must be equal to the resistance of the available source. In
other words, the resistance of the load must be the same as Thevenin's equivalent
resistance.
EEE2041F/EEE2049W TUTORIAL 3
SOLUTIONS DC TRANSIENTS: RL and
RC CIRCUITS
6.
1. For the network shown in Fig. 1:5
(a) determine the mathematical expressions for the variation of the current in the inductor
following the closure of the switch at t = 0 on to position 1;

Circuit mode: Current growth

−𝑡⁄ 𝐿
𝑖 = 𝐼 (1 − 𝑒 𝑇) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑇 =
𝑅
Required calculations:
(i) I – final (steady state) value of current
(ii) T – the circuit’s time constant

KVL around loop:

𝑑𝑖
𝑉 = 𝑖(𝑟) + 𝐿.
𝑑𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑖(𝑟)
- at steady state, di/dt = 0 (no more change in current)
which means there is no more emf induced in the coil.
Final value of current, now denoted I, = 𝑉/𝑟
I = V/R = 10/10 = 1A
T = L/R = 0.1/10 = 0.01s

Expression:

−𝒕⁄
𝒊 = (𝟏 − 𝒆 𝟎.𝟎𝟏 ) 𝒂𝒏𝒔.

(b) when the switch is closed on to position 2 at t = 100 ms, determine the new expression
for the inductor current and for the voltage across R;
Circuit mode: Current decay
−𝑡 𝐿
𝑖 = 𝐼 (𝑒 ⁄𝑇 ) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑇 =
𝑅
Required calculations:
(iii) I – initial value of current
(iv) T – the circuit’s time constant
Assuming that the circuit was carrying the same steady state
current as in (a) before switching to position 2,

I = 1A
T = L/R = 0.1/(10+15) -(L is now connected to the series
combination, r+R)
T = 0.1/
I = 1A
T = 4ms
−𝒕⁄
𝒊=𝒆 𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟒 𝒂𝒏𝒔.
 (c) plot the current waveforms for t = 0 to t = 200 ms.

Current flows to the inductor (growth) between t = 0 and t = 100ms, from this point till t =
200ms, current flows from inductor through r and R (decay).

NB: To estimate the time when transients finish (steady state conditions), using either
growth or decay equations, the response gets to 99.3% (which is very close to settling) in
about 5 time constants (5*T).
Proof:
−𝑡
𝑖 = 𝐼 (1 − 𝑒 ⁄𝑇 ) 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ: Calculate ratio 𝑖⁄𝐼 𝑎𝑡 𝑡 = 5𝑇
−5𝑇⁄
𝑖 = 𝐼 (1 − 𝑒 𝑇) = 𝐼(1 − 𝑒 −5 )
𝑖⁄ = 0.9933
𝐼
Using this result:
It will be noted that in the first switching period, five times the time constant is 50 ms. The
transient has virtually finished at the end of this time (this can help you with sketches)

72. An inductor coil with a resistance of 1Ω and a constant inductance of 2 H is connected in

series with a 19 Ω resistor and switched across a 40 V d.c. supply. Calculate: (a) the time
constant; (b) the final value of the current; (c) the value of the current 0.05 s after the switch
is closed. [0.1s; 2A; 0.787A]

Circuit:
(a) T=L/R L = 2H; R = (19 + 1) Ω =20 Ω
T = 2/20
T = 0.1s ans.

(b) I = V/R (see Q1 (a))

I = 40/20
I = 2A ans.

c) to extract value of current (i) given time (t), we require an equation relating the two,
−𝑡⁄
𝑖 = 𝐼 (1 − 𝑒 𝑇)
−𝑡⁄
Using results from (a) and (b), 𝑖 = 2 (1 − 𝑒 0.1 )

−0.05⁄
At t = 0.05s, 𝑖 = 2 (1 − 𝑒 0.1 )

𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟖𝟕 𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒔.
3. For the network shown in Fig 6.
8. 3 below,

a) Find the current through the middle 4 Ω resistor immediately after switch S is closed.
Init. Conditions:
The inductor is against the change of current (Lenz’s law). Initial conditions, inductor
current = 0.
KVL in the 1st loop:
10 = 4𝐼1 + 4𝐼3
KCL at the marked node,
𝐼1 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3
Since 𝐼2 = 0, 𝐼1 = 𝐼3
10 = 4𝐼3 + 4𝐼3
10 = 8𝐼3
𝑰𝟑 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒔

b) Find the current through the inductor 0.2 s after switch S is closed.
In order to analyse the transient effect, it is necessary to simplify the supply network
(looking from the inductor terminals) by means of Thevenin’s theorem.

Vth = 4/(4+4) * 10V = 5V

[Voltage divider circuit with supply 10V and 2 resistors of 4 ohms]
Rth = (4//4)+8 = 10 Ω
I, final current = V/R = 5/10= 0.5 A
T, time constant = L/R = 1/10=0.1 s
−0.2⁄
𝑖 = 0.5 (1 − 𝑒 0.1 )

𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟑𝟐 𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒔

c) After a ‘very long’ time, the switch is then reopened. In this case, calculate the initial
current through the 8 Ω resistor.
Steady state (final) current calculated in (b) is the initial current in decay : 0.5 A ans
d) Find the current through the inductor 0.2 s after switch S is reopened.
Circuit:
−𝑡⁄
Decay: 𝑖 = 𝐼 (𝑒 𝑇)

Initial current, I = 0.5 A (from part a)

Time constant, T = L/R = 1/12 s
Time, t = 0.2 s

−0.2
⁄ 1
( )
𝑖= 0.5 (𝑒 12 )

𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒔

9.
4. For the network shown in Fig. 7.
4:

Figure
Figure 4 7

(a) Determine the mathematical expressions for the variation of the voltage across the
capacitor following the closure of the switch at t = 0 on to position 1;

Circuit mode: capacitor charging −𝑡

𝑣𝑐 = 𝑉 (1 − 𝑒 ⁄𝑇 ) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑇 = 𝑅𝐶
Required calculations:
(v) V – final (steady state) value of voltage
(vi) T – the circuit’s time constant

KVL around loop:

𝑑𝑣
𝑉 = 𝑅𝐶. + 𝑣𝑐
𝑑𝑡

- at steady state, dv/dt = 0 (no more changes

in voltage)
𝑉 = 𝑣𝑐

Final voltage, V = 10V

T = RC = (100e3)(0.1e-6) = 0.01s

Expression:

−𝒕⁄
𝒗 = 𝟏𝟎 (𝟏 − 𝒆 𝟎.𝟎𝟏 ) 𝒂𝒏𝒔.
 (b) When the switch is closed on to position 2 at t = 100 ms, determine the new expression
for the capacitor voltage and for the voltage across R;
Circuit mode: Current decay −𝑡
𝑣 = 𝑉 (𝑒 ⁄𝑇 ) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑇 = 𝑅𝐶
Required calculations:
(vii) V – initial value of capacitor voltage
(viii) T – the circuit’s time constant
Assuming that the initial voltage is the same steady state
voltage as in (a) before switching to position 2,

V = 10V
T = RC = (200e3) x (0.1e-6)
[Note: The discharge path has a 200k resistor]
T = 0.02s

−𝒕⁄
𝒗 = 𝟏𝟎𝒆 𝟎.𝟎𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒔.

(c) Plot the current and voltage waveforms for t = 0 to t = 200 ms.
For charging: 5T = 50ms (around this time, transients have virtually finished)
For discharging: 5T = 100ms (from the instant S is thrown into position 2, t = 100ms, it takes
another 100ms to get to steady state conditions, t = 200ms)
10.
5. A 10 μF capacitor is connected in series with a 100 kΩ resistor across a 100 V d.c. supply.
Calculate: (a) the time constant; (b) the initial charging current; (c) the time taken for the
p.d. across the capacitor to grow to 63V; (d) the current and the p.d. across the capacitor
3.0 s after it is connected to the supply.
[1s; 1mA; 0.994s; 95V, 0.05mA]
Circuit:
a) T=RC C = 10e-6 F; R = 100e3 Ω
T = (100e3) x (10e-6)
T = 1s ans.

b) I = V/R
Explanation: Initially charge has not yet built
up on the capacitor plates to establish a p.d. –
at initial conditions capacitor acts as short
circuit.
I = 100/100e3
I = 1m A ans.

c) to extract value of time, t, given voltage, v, we require an equation relating the two,
−𝑡⁄
𝑣 = 𝑉 (1 − 𝑒 𝑇)

Using results from (a) and the fact that final voltage is 100 V,
−𝑡⁄
63 = 100 (1 − 𝑒 1)

63
1−= 𝑒 −𝑡
100
𝑡 = −ln 0.37
𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟒 𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒔.
NB. Compare this value with the time constant of the circuit. What does it tell you about
estimating a circuit’s time constant?

−𝑡⁄
d) Use 𝑣 = 𝑉 (1 − 𝑒 𝑇 ), with V = 100 V, T = 1s and t = 3s
−3⁄
𝑣 = 100 (1 − 𝑒 1)

𝒗 = 𝟗𝟓𝑽 𝒂𝒏𝒔
−𝑡 −3
e) 𝑖 = 𝐼 (𝑒 ⁄𝑇 ) = 10−3 (𝑒 ⁄1 ) = 0.05 𝑚𝐴
Alternatively, a KVL loop on the circuit gives: 𝑉 = 𝑖𝑅 + 𝑣𝐿
100 = 𝑖(100𝑒3) + 95
5
𝑖=
100𝑒3
𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝒎𝑨 𝒂𝒏𝒔
11.
6. For the network shown below, the switch is closed on to position 1 when t = 0 and then
moved to position 2 when t = 20 ms. Determine the voltage across the capacitor when t =
30 ms.

Figure
Figure 68

In order to analyse the transient effect, it is necessary to simplify the supply network to the
capacitor by means of Thevenin’s theorem.

On the sectioned network, Vth = 100k/(100k+100k) * 6 V = 3 V

[Voltage divider circuit with supply 6V and 2 resistors of 100 kilo-ohms]
Rth = (100k//100k)+100k = 150k Ω

Resulting reduced circuit:

The required voltage occurs at t = 30ms, which is 10ms
into the discharge. (Remember, switch is thrown into
position 2 at t = 20ms). This means we must analyse the
charging cycle to determine the final value of voltage at t
= 20ms. Following this we then calculate the voltage 10
ms into discharge.
Charging mode:
T = RC = (150e3)(0.2e-6)=0.03s
Steady state voltage, V = 3V
−𝑡⁄
𝑣 = 3 (1 − 𝑒 0.03 )

At t=20ms,
−0.02⁄
𝑣 = 3 (1 − 𝑒 0.03 )

𝑣 = 1.46 𝑉
From this voltage, the circuit is pushed into discharge (by throwing switch to position 2)
 Discharge mode:
- Initial voltage, V = 1.46 V
(final value before switch change as calculated in prev. section)
- Time constant, T = RC = (200e3)(0.2e-6) = 0.04 s
(Note: discharge is through the 200k resistor)
- Time instant of interest, t = 0.01 s
(question asks for t = 30ms from the beginning which includes the 20 ms of
charging)

−0.01⁄
𝑣 = 1.46 (𝑒 0.04 )

𝒗 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟒 𝑽 𝒂𝒏𝒔

b) Plot the response of this circuit from time, 𝑡 = 0 𝑡𝑜 𝑡 = 40 𝑚𝑠

Derivation questions:
7. Using a simple series circuit with a capacitor of capacitance C and a resistor, R connected
across a battery pack with total voltage V, derive the equation governing the capacitor’s
voltage response (charging cycle)

Please refer to notes

8. Using a simple series circuit with an inductor with inductance L and a resistor, R
connected across a battery pack with total voltage V, derive the equation governing the
inductor’s current growth response.

Please refer to notes