MODULE NO.

8
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS AND
CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
 SIMPLE ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Consider the circuit containing a resistor, a capacitor and
an inductor in series with a source of electromotive force as
shown in the figure.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law states that the algebraic sum of

all the potentials in a closed circuit is equal to zero.
Let:
𝑑𝑖
𝐸𝐿 = 𝐿 → potential drop across the inductor
𝑑𝑡
𝐸𝑅 = 𝑖𝑅 → potential drop across the resistor
𝑄
𝐸𝐶 = → potential drop across the capacitor
𝐶
𝐸 → electromotive force
From Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
−𝐸𝐿 + −𝐸𝑅 + −𝐸𝐶 + 𝐸 = 0
or
𝐸𝐿 + 𝐸𝑅 + 𝐸𝐶 = 𝐸
𝑑𝑖 𝑄
𝐿 + 𝑖𝑅 + = 𝐸
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
 i If there’s no capacitance; then
𝑑𝑖
𝐿 + 𝑖𝑅 = 𝐸
𝑑𝑡
ii If there’s no inductance; then
𝑄
𝑖𝑅 + = 𝐸
𝐶
since
𝑑𝑄
𝑖=
𝑑𝑡
hence
𝑑𝑄 𝑄
𝑅 + =𝐸
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
 EXAMPLES
1. An inductance of 𝐿 henrys and a resistance of 10 ohms are
connected in series with an emf of 100 volts. If the current is
initially zero and is equal to 9 amperes after one second, find
𝐿.
Solution:
Determine 𝐿
Consider the circuit shown;
From Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:
𝑑𝑖
𝐿 + 𝑖 10 = 100
𝑑𝑡
or
𝑑𝑖 10 100
+ 𝑖=
𝑑𝑡 𝐿 𝐿
10 100
𝑃 𝑡 = ;𝑄 𝑡 =
𝐿 𝐿
For 𝐼 𝑡
10
‫𝑡𝑑 𝐿 ׬‬
𝐼 𝑡 =𝑒
10
𝑡
𝐼 𝑡 = 𝑒 𝐿

Hence
10
𝑡 100 10 𝑡
𝑖𝑒 𝐿 =න ∙ 𝑒 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶1
𝐿
 100 𝐿 10 𝑡
= ∙ 𝑒 𝐿 + 𝐶1
10
𝐿 10 10
𝑡 𝑡
𝑖𝑒 𝐿 = 10𝑒 𝐿 + 𝐶1
or
10
− 𝑡
𝑖 = 10 + 𝐶1 𝑒 𝐿 → 1
For 𝐶1 ; when 𝑡 = 0, 𝑖 = 0
10
− 0
0 = 10 + 𝐶1 𝑒 𝐿
𝐶1 = −10
Hence, 1 becomes
10
− 𝑡
𝑖 = 10 − 10𝑒 𝐿
For 𝐿; when 𝑡 = 1 sec, 𝑖 = 9 Amperes
10
9 = 10 − 10𝑒 − 𝐿 1
10
−
𝑒 = 0.10
𝐿
10
− ln 𝑒 = ln 0.10
𝐿
10
− = −2.302
𝐿
or
𝐿 = 4.343 henrys ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
2. A 20 ohm resistor and a 0.01 farad capacitor are connected
in series with an emf of 200𝑒 −5𝑡 volts. If initially, the electric
charge 𝑄 = 0, find 𝑄 when 𝑡 = 0.40 second. Compute also the
maximum charge.
Solution:
a. determine 𝑄
Consider the circuit shown;

From Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:

𝑑𝑄 𝑄
20 + = 200𝑒 −5𝑡
𝑑𝑡 0.01
or
𝑑𝑄
+ 5𝑄 = 10𝑒 −5𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝑃 𝑡 = 5; 𝑄 𝑡 = 10𝑒 −5𝑡
For 𝐼 𝑡
𝐼 𝑡 = 𝑒 5 ‫𝑡𝑑 ׬‬
𝐼 𝑡 = 𝑒 5𝑡
Hence
𝑄𝑒 5𝑡 = 10 න 𝑒 −5𝑡 ∙ 𝑒 5𝑡 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶1

= 10 න 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶1

𝑄𝑒 5𝑡 = 10𝑡 + 𝐶1
or
𝑄 = 10𝑡𝑒 −5𝑡 + 𝐶1 𝑒 −5𝑡 → 1
For 𝐶1 ; when 𝑡 = 0, 𝑄 = 0
0 = 10 0 𝑒 −5 0 + 𝐶1 𝑒 −5 0
 𝐶1 = 0
Hence, 1 becomes
𝑄 = 10𝑡𝑒 −5𝑡 → 2
For 𝑄; when 𝑡 = 0.40 second
𝑄 = 10 0.40 𝑒 −5 0.40
𝑄 = 0.541 coulomb ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
b. determine 𝑄𝑚
Differentiate 2 with respect to time 𝑡
𝑑𝑄
= 10𝑡 −5𝑒 −5𝑡 + 𝑒 −5𝑡 10
𝑑𝑡
0 = −50𝑡𝑒 −5𝑡 + 10𝑒 −5𝑡
10𝑒 −5𝑡 1 − 5𝑡 = 0
For 𝑡
10𝑒 −5𝑡 = 0 ; 1 − 5𝑡 = 0
𝑒 −5𝑡 = 0 ; 5𝑡 = 1
−5𝑡 ln 𝑒 = ln 0 ; 𝑡 = 0.20 sec
ln 0
𝑡=− ← 𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑑
5
For 𝑄𝑚
𝑄𝑚 = 10 0.20 𝑒 −5 0.20
𝑄𝑚 = 0.736 coulomb ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
Solutions containing an amount of substance that varies
because of certain physical or chemical actions taking place
are usually analyzed in accordance with the following relation.
 Rate of change of Rate of Rate of
= −
substance in a volume entrance exit
Consider the tank shown in the figure.

Let:
𝑆 → the amount of substance present in the solution at
any instant
𝑑𝑆
→ rate of change of 𝑆
𝑑𝑡
 𝐶𝑖 → concentration of incoming solution
𝐶𝑂 → concentration of outgoing solution
𝑅𝑖 → rate of inflow
𝑅𝑂 → rate of outflow
Hence
𝑑𝑆
= 𝐶𝑖 𝑅𝑖 − 𝐶𝑜 𝑅𝑜
𝑑𝑡
where
𝑆
𝐶𝑜 =
𝑉𝑜 + 𝑅𝑖 − 𝑅𝑜 𝑡
𝑉𝑜 → initial volume of solution in the tank
 EXAMPLES
1. A tank contains 100 gallons of brine made by dissolving 60 pounds of
salt in water. Salt water containing 1 pound of salt per gallon runs in at
the rate of 2 gal/min, and the mixture kept uniform by stirring runs out
at the rate of 3 gal/min. Find the amount of salt in the tank at the end of
1 hour
Solution:
Determine 𝑆; the amount of salt in the tank after 1 hour
Consider the tank shown in the figure
𝑑𝑆
= 𝐶𝑖 𝑅𝑖 − 𝐶𝑜 𝑅𝑜
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑆 𝑆
= 1 2 − 3
𝑑𝑡 100 − 𝑡
or
𝑑𝑆 3
+ 𝑆=2
𝑑𝑡 100 − 𝑡
3
𝑃 𝑡 = ; 𝑄 𝑡 =2
100 − 𝑡
For 𝐼 𝑡
3
‫׬‬100 − 𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝐼 𝑡 = 𝑒
= 𝑒 −3 ln 100 − 𝑡
−3
𝐼 𝑡 = 100 − 𝑡
Hence
−3 −3
𝑆 100 − 𝑡 = 2 න 100 − 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶1

100 − 𝑡 −2
= −2 ∙ + 𝐶1
−3
−2
𝑆 100 − 𝑡 = 100 − 𝑡 −2 + 𝐶1
or
3
𝑆 = 100 − 𝑡 + 𝐶1 100 − 𝑡
For 𝐶1 ; when 𝑡 = 0, 𝑆 = 60 lb
3
60 = 100 − 0 + 𝐶1 100 − 0
𝐶1 = −0.00004
Hence
3
𝑆 = 100 − 𝑡 − 0.00004 100 − 𝑡
For 𝑆; when 𝑡 = 1 hr or 60 min
3
𝑆 = 100 − 60 − 0.00004 100 − 60
𝑆 = 37.44 lb ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
2. A tank contains 50 gallons of brine by dissolving 40 pounds
of salt in water. Pure water runs into the tank at the rate of 2 gal
/min, and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring, runs out at the
same rate. Find the concentration of salt in the tank after
30 minutes.
Solution:
Determine 𝐶; the concentration of salt after 30 minutes
Consider the tank shown ;

𝐶𝑖 = 0

𝑑𝑆
= 𝐶𝑖 𝑅𝑖 − 𝐶𝑜 𝑅𝑜
𝑑𝑡
 𝑑𝑆 𝑆
= 0 2 − 2
𝑑𝑡 50
or
𝑑𝑆
න = −0.04 න 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶1
𝑆
ln 𝑆 = −0.04𝑡 + 𝐶1
𝑒 ln 𝑆 = 𝑒 −0.04𝑡 + 𝐶1
𝑆 = 𝑒 −0.04𝑡 ∙ 𝑒 𝐶1
𝑆 = 𝐶2 𝑒 −0.04𝑡 → 1
For 𝐶2 ; when 𝑡 = 0, 𝑆 = 40 lb
40 = 𝐶2 𝑒 −0.04 0
𝐶2 = 40
Hence 1 becomes
𝑆 = 40𝑒 −0.04𝑡
For 𝐶; when 𝑡 = 30 min
𝑆
𝐶=
𝑉
where
𝑆 = 40𝑒 −0.04 30
𝑆 = 12.048 lb
Hence
12.048 lb
𝐶=
50 gal
𝐶 = 0.241 lb/gal ← 𝐴𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟
 EXERCISE NO. 2
1. An inductance of 2 henrys and a resistance of 10 ohms are
connected in series with an emf of 𝐸 volts. If the current is
initially zero, find the current at the end of 0.5 second when (a)
𝐸 = 120 volts, and (b) 𝐸 = 120 sin 6𝑡 volts.
2. An inductance of 1 henry and a resistance of 2 ohms are
connected in series with an emf of 100𝑒 −𝑡 volts. If the current
is initially zero, what is the maximum current attained?
3. An 𝑅𝐶 circuit has an emf given by 400 cos 2𝑡 volts, a
resistance of 100 ohms and a capacitance of 0.01 Farad.
Initially there is no charge on the capacitor. Find the current in
the circuit after 0.5 second.
4. An 𝑅𝐿 circuit has an emf given in volts by 3 sin 2𝑡 , a resistance
of 10 ohms, an inductance of 0.50 henry, and an initial current of 6
amperes. Find the current in the circuit after 0.5 second.
5. A tank contains 50 gallons of water. Brine, containing 2 pounds
per gallon of salt, flows into the tank at a rate of 2 gallons per
minute, and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring runs out at the
same rate. How long will it take before the quantity of salt in the
tank is 50 pounds?
6. A tank contains 50 gallons of water. Brine, containing 3 pounds
per gallon of salt, flows into the tank at the rate of 2 gallons per
minute, and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring, runs out at the
rate of 1 gallon per minute. Find (a) how long before the quantity
of salt in the tank is 100 pounds; and (b) the amount of salt
present when the tank contains 100 gallons of brine.
7. A tank contains 100 gallons of brine. Three gallons of brine,
each containing 2 pounds of dissolved salt, enter the tank each
minute, and the mixture, assumed uniform, leaves at the rate
of 2 gallons per minute. If the salt concentration in the tank is
1.6 pounds per gallon at the end of 1 hour, what was the initial
concentration?
8. A 50 gallon tank contains 10 gal of fresh water. At 𝑡 = 0, a
brine solution containing 2 pound of salt per gallon is poured
into the tank at a rate of 4 gal/min, while the well-stirred
mixture leaves the tank at the rate of 2 gal/min. Find the
amount of salt in the tank when overflow occur.