1

2
Investigate the behavior of currents and
voltages when energy is either released or
acquired by inductors and capacitors when
there is an abrupt change in dc current or
voltage source.
To do an analysis of natural response and step
response of RL and RC circuit.
3
5-1 NATURAL RESPONSE OF RL CIRCUIT
5-2 NATURAL RESPONSE OF RC CIRCUIT
5-3 STEP RESPONSE OF RL CIRCUIT
5-4 STEP RESPONSE OF RC CIRCUIT
4
A circuit that contains only sources, resistor and inductor
is called and RL circuit.
A circuit that contains only sources, resistor and capacitor
is called an RC circuit.
RL and RC circuits are called first order circuits because
their voltages and currents are describe by first order
differential equations.

v
s

R

+
C
i

+
L
R
i
V
s

An RL circuit
An RC circuit
5
Any first order circuit can be reduced to a Thvenin
(or Norton) equivalent connected to either a single
equivalent inductor or capacitor.






In steady state, an inductor behave like a short circuit.
In steady state, a capacitor behaves like an open circuit.
L R
N
I
N

+
V
Th C
R
Th
6
The natural response of an RL and RC circuit is its
behavior (i.e., current and voltage ) when stored
energy in the inductor or capacitor is released to the
resistive part of the network (containing no
independent sources)

The steps response of an RL and RC circuits is its
behavior when a voltage or current source step is
applied to the circuit, or immediately after a switch
state is changed.
7
Consider the following circuit, for which the switch is
closed for t<0, and then opened at t = 0:






The dc voltage V, has been supplying the RL circuit with
constant current for a long time
L R
o
R

I
s
t = 0
i +
V

8
For t 0, i(t) = I
o

For t 0, the circuit reduce to





At t = 0, the inductor has initial current I
o
, hence i(0) = I
o
The initial energy stored in the inductor is,








L R
o
R

I
o
i +
v

2
0
2
1
) 0 ( LI w =
9
Cont.
Applying KVL to the circuit:

dt
L
R
t i
t di
t Ri
dt
t di
L
t Ri
dt
t di
L
t Ri t v
=
=
= +
= +
) (
) (
) (
) (
0 ) (
) (
0 ) ( ) (
(1)
(4)
(3)
(2)
From equation (4), let say;
dv
L
R
u
du
=
(5)
10
Integrate both sides of equation (5);


Therefore,



hence, the current is


} }
=
t
t
t i
t i
o o
dv
L
R
u
du
) (
) (
(6)
t
L
R
i
t i
=
) 0 (
) (
ln (7)
t L R t L R
e I e i t i
) / (
0
) / (
) 0 ( ) (

= =
11

From the Ohms law, the voltage across the resistor R is:



And the power dissipated in the resistor is:


Energy absorb by the resistor is:



t L R
I R t i t v
) / (
0
Re ) ( ) (

= =
t L R
R
I t i v p
) / ( 2 2
0
Re ) (

= =
) 1 (
2
1
) / ( 2 2
0
t L R
e LI w

=
12

Time constant, determines the rate

at which the current or voltage
approaches zero.

The time constant of a circuit is the
time required for the response to
decay to a factor of 1/e or 36.8% of its
initial current

Natural response of the RL circuit is
an exponential decay of the initial
current. The current response is
shown in Fig. 5-1

Time constant for RL circuit is



And the unit is in seconds.
R
L
= t
Figure 5-1
13
The expressions for current, voltage, power and energy
using time constant concept:



) 1 (
2
1
Re
Re ) (
) (
/ 2 2
0
/ 2 2
0
/
0
/
0
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
e LI w
I p
I t v
e I t i

=
=
=
=
14
For all transient cases, the following instants of switching times are
considered.
t = 0
-
, this is the time of switching between - to 0 or time before.
t = 0
+
, this is the time of switching at the instant just after time t = 0s
(taken as initial value)
t = , this is the time of switching between t = 0
+
to (taken as final
value for step response)
The illustration of the different instance of switching times is:

= 0 t
+
= 0 t
-

15
For the circuit below, find the expression of i
o
(t) and V
o
(t). The
switch was closed for a long time, and at t = 0, the switch was
opened.
2H
0.1 10
20A

t = 0
i0
+
V

iL
40
2
16
When t < 0, switch is closed and the inductor is short circuit.







When t > 0, the switch is open and the circuit become;
0.1
10
20A

iL(0-)
40
2
Therefore; i
L
(0
-
) = 20A
2H
10
20A

i
o
(0
+
)
+
v
o
(0
+
)

i
L
(0
+
)
40
2
Hence; i
L
(0
+
) = i
L
(0
-
) = 20A
Current through the
inductor remains
the same
(continuous)
17
R
T
= (2+10//40) = 10

So, time constant, sec

By using current division, the current in the 40 resistor is:



Using ohms Law, the V
o
is,


Hence:

2 . 0
10
2
= = =
T
R
L
t
A i i
L o
4
40 10
10
=
+
=
A e t i
t
o
5
4 ) (

=
V t V
o
160 40 4 ) ( = =
t
e t V
5
0
160 ) (

=
18
The switch in the circuit below has been closed for a long time.
At t = 0, the switch is opened. Calculate i(t) for t > 0.
+

2H
2
12
t = 0
16
4
i(t)
40V
19
When t < 0, the switch is closed and the inductor is short circuit to dc.
The 16 resistor is short circuit too.


calculate i
1
;




using current division, calculate i(0
-
)
( )
A 8
12 // 4 2
40
i
1
=
+
=
+

2
12
4
i(0
-
)
40V
i
1
A i 6
4 12
12
) i(0
1
-
=
+
=
Hence; i(0) = i (0
-
) = 6A
Since the current through
an inductor cannot
change instantaneously
20
When t > 0, the switch is open and the voltage source is disconnect.
sec
4
1
= =
eq
R
L
t
2H
12
16
4
i(t)
i(0
+
) = i(0) = i (0
-
) = 6A
hence;
R
T
= R
eq
= (12 + 4)// 16 = 8
Time constant,
Thus,
A 6 ) 0 ( ) (
4 -t/ t
e e i t i

= =
t
Because current
through the
inductor is
continuously
21
The natural response of RC circuit occurs when its dc source is
suddenly disconnected. The energy already stored in the
capacitor, C is released to the resistors, R.
Consider the following circuit, for which the switch is closed for t
< 0, and then opened at t = 0:







C
R
o
R

V
o
t = 0
+

+
v


22
For t 0, v(t) = V
o
For t > 0, the circuit reduces to







At t = 0, the initial voltage v(0) = V
o

The initial value of the energy stored is


+
v


C
R
o
R

V
o
+

i
2
2
1
) 0 (
o
CV w =
23

Applying KCL to the RC circuit:
(1)
(3)
(4)
(5)
0
) ( ) (
= +
R
t v
dt
t dv
C
0
) ( ) (
= +
RC
t v
dt
t dv
RC
t v
dt
t dv ) ( ) (
=
dt
RC t v
t dv 1
) (
) (
=
0 = +
R c
i i
(2)
24

From equation (5), let say:



Integrate both sides of equation (6):



Therefore:



dy
RC x
dx 1
=
(6)
RC
t
V
t v
o
=
) (
ln
(8)
} }
=
t t v
V
dy
RC
du
x
o
0
) (
1 1
(7)
25
Hence,
The voltage is:

Using Ohms law, the current is:

The power dissipated in the resistor is:



The energy absorb by the resistor is:









RC t
o
RC t
e V e v t v
/ /
) 0 ( ) (

= =
RC t
o
e
R
V
R
t v
t i
/
) (
) (

= =
RC t
o
R
e
R
V
vi t p
/ 2
2
) (

= =
) 1 (
2
1
/ 2 2 RC t
o
e CV w

=
26

The time constant for the RC circuit equal the product of the
resistance and capacitance,
Time constant, sec

The natural response of RC circuit illustrated graphically in
Fig 5.2



RC = t
Figure 5.2
27
The expressions for voltage, current, power and energy using
time constant concept:

) 1 (
2
1
) (
) (
) (
) (
/ 2 2
/ 2
2
/
/
t
t
t
t
t
o
t
o
t
o
t
o
e CV t w
e
R
V
t p
e
R
V
t i
e V t v

=
=
=
=
28
The switch has been in position a for a long time. At time t = 0,
the switch moves to b. Find the expressions for the v
c
(t), i
c
(t) and
v
o
(t).
t = 0
+

+
V
o


5k

10k
a b
18k
0.1F
12k
60k
90V

29
At t < 0, the switch was at a. the capacitor behaves like an open
circuit as it is being supplied by a constant source.





At t > 0, the instant when the switch is at b.
+

+
V
c
(0
-
)

5k

10k 90V

V v
c
60 90
15
10
) 0 ( = =

18k
0.1F
12k
60k
+
V
o


+
V
c
(0
+
)

v
c
(0+) = v
c
(0-) = 60V
the voltage across
capacitor remains
the same at this
particular instant

30









V V
o
24 60
30
12
) 0 ( = =
+
R
T
= (18 k + 12 k) // 60 k = 20 k
time constant, = R
T
C = 20k x 0.1 F = 2ms
V
c
(t) = 60e
-500t
V
Using voltage divider rule,
Hence,
500t -
c
3e -
dt
dv
C (t) i = =
Vo(t) = 24e
-500t
V
31
The switch in the circuit below has been closed for a long time,
and it is opened at t = 0. Find v(t) for t 0. Calculate the initial
energy stored in the capacitor.
t = 0
+

+
v

3

1
20mF
9 20V

32
For t<0, switch is closed and capacitor is open circuit.
+

+
v
c
(0
-
)

3
1
9
20V

V v
c
15 ) 20 (
3 9
9
) 0 ( =
+
=

For t>0, the switch is open and the RC circuit is

+
v
c
(0
+
)

1
20mF
9
33
v
c
(0) = v
c
(0
+
) = v
c
(0
-
) = 15 V
R
eq
= 1+9 = 10
Time constant, = R
eq
C = 0.2s
Because;
So ;
Because;
Voltage across the capacitor; v(t) = 15e
-5t
V
Initial energy stored in the capacitor is;
w
c
(0) = 0.5Cv
c
2
=2.25J
34


No RL circuit RC circuit
1
2 Inductor behaves like a
short circuit when being
supplied by dc source for
a long time
Capacitor behaves like an
open circuit when being
supplied by dc source for a
long time
3 Inductor current is
continuous
i
L
(0
+
) = i
L
(0
-
)
Voltage across capacitor is
continuous
v
C
(0
+
) = v
C
(0
-
)
RC = t
R
L
= t
35
The step response is the response of the circuit due to a sudden
application of a dc voltage or current source.
Consider the RL circuit below and the switch is closed at time t = 0.






After switch is closed, using KVL




dt
di
L t Ri V
s
+ = ) (
R

V
s
t = 0
+
v(t)

+

i
L
(1)
36
Rearrange the equation;
(4)
(3)
(2)
|
.
|

\
|

=
+
=
R
V
t i
L
R
L
V t Ri
dt
t di
s s
) (
) ( ) (
dt
R
V
i
L
R
di
s
|
.
|

\
|

=
R V t i
di
dt
L
R
s

) (
} }

=
) (
0 0
) (
t i
s
t
R V u
du
dv
L
R
(5)
) (
) ( ) (
ln
0
R V I
R V t i
t
L
R
s
s

=
(6)
Therefore:
37
Hence, the current is;


Or may be written as;

Where i(0) and i() are the initial and final values of i, respectively.

The voltage across the inductor is;

Or;

t L R
s
o
s
e
R
V
I
R
V
t i
) / (
) (

|
.
|

\
|
+ =
t L R
o s
e R I V t v
) / (
) ( ) (

=
t /
)] ( ) 0 ( [ ) ( ) (
t
L
e i i i t i

+ =
dt
di
L t v
L
= ) (
38
The switch is closed for a long time at t = 0, the switch opens.
Find the expressions for i
L
(t) and v
L
(t).
2

10V

t = 0
+

3

1/4H

i
39
When t < 0, the 3 resistor is short circuit, and the inductor acts like
short circuit.
2

10V

+
i
L
(0-)
A i
L
5 2 / 10 ) 0 ( = =

So; i(0) = i(0

+
) = i(0
-
) = 5A
Because inductor current
cannot change
instantaneously
When t< 0, the switch is open and the both resister are in series.
2

10V

+

3

1/4H

i
L
(0
+
)
40
s
R
L
R
T
T
20
1
5 ) 3 2 (
= =
O = O + =
t Time constant;
2

10V

+

3

i
L
()
When t = , the inductor acts as short circuit again.
A R V i
T s L
2 / ) ( = =
Thus: i
L
(t) = i() +[i(0) i()]e
-t/
= 2 + 3e-20t A

And the voltage is:
dt
di
L t v
L
= ) (
= -15e
-20t
V
41
Consider the RC circuit below. The switch is closed at time t = 0





From the circuit;



Division of Equation (1) by C gives;

R
v
dt
dv
C I
c c
s
+ =
R

t = 0
+
v
c
(t)

i
I
s C

(1)
RC
v
dt
dv
C
I
c c s
+ =
(2)
42

Same mathematical techniques with RL, the voltage is:


Or can be written as:



And the current is:

Or can be written as:





RC t
s o s c
e R I V R I t v
/
) ( ) (

+ =
RC t
o
s
e
R
V
I t i
/
) (

|
.
|

\
|
=
v(t) = v() + [v(0) v()]e
-t/

dt
dv
C t i = ) (
43

The switch has been in position a for a long time. At t = 0, the
switch moves to b. Find V
c
(t) for t > 0 and calculate its value at
t=1s and t=4s
3k

t = 0
+

+
V
c


5k
a b
4k
0.5mF
24V

+

30V

44

V V
c
15
8
5
24 ) 0 ( = =

V V V V
c c
15 ) 0 ( ) 0 ( ) 0 ( = = =
+
When t<0, the switch is at position A. The capacitor acts like an open circuit.
3k

+

+
V
c
(0-)

5k 24V

Using voltage division:
When t <0, the switch is at position B.
Since voltage across
the capacitor remains
same.
s RC 2 = = t
And the time constant is:
4k
+

30V

0.5mF
45
4k
+

30V

+
V
c
()

At t = , the capacitor again behaves like an open circuit.
V V
c
30 ) ( =
Hence;
Since, v(t) = v() + [v(0) v()]e
-t/

So; v
c
(t) = 30-15e
-0.5t
V
At , t = 1s, Vc(t) = 20.9V
At , t = 4s, Vc(t) = 28 V
And;