First-order Circuit

Intro
Circuit Analysis with Capacitors and Inductors
KVL and KCL involving circuits with capacitors and
inductors result in differential equations (D.E.) rather than
algebraic equations.
The order of a differential equation is equal to highest
derivative.
1st order DE

dx
+a x (t )=f (t )
dt 0

2nd order DE

d 2 dx
dx
+ a1 + a0 x ( t )=f (t)
2
dt
dt

Nth order DE

dn x
d n1 x
dx
+
a
++a 1 + a0 x ( t ) =f (t)
n1
n
n1
dt
dt
dt

Circuit Order

Order
of a
circuit

Order of the
differential
equation
(DE) required
to
describe the
circuit

The number
of
independent*
energy
storage
elements
(Cs and Ls)

Cs and Ls are independent if they cannot be combined with other Cs and Ls

(in series or parallel, for example)
A first-order circuit can only contain one energy storage element (a capacitor or
an inductor). The circuit will also contain resistance (discuss). So there are two
types of first-order circuits:
-

RC circuit
RL circuit

A source-free circuit is one where all independent sources have been

disconnected from the circuit after some switch action. The voltages and currents
in the circuit typically will have some transient response due to initial conditions
(initial capacitor voltages and initial inductor currents).

 We will begin by analyzing source-free circuits as they are the simplest type.
Later we will analyze circuits that also contain sources after the initial switch
action.