Shopy 101
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RLC Series

An RLC series circuit consists of a resistor, inductor, and capacitor connected in series:


By Kirchhoff's voltage law the differential equation for the circuit is:

{\displaystyle L{\frac {dI}{dt}}+IR+{\frac {1}{C}}\int Idt=V(t)}

or

{\displaystyle L{\frac {d^{2}I}{dt^{2}}}+R{\frac {dI}{dt}}+{\frac {I}{C}}={\frac {dV}{dt}}}

Leading to:

{\displaystyle s^{2}+{\frac {R}{L}}s+{\frac {1}{LC}}=0}
{\displaystyle s=-\alpha } ± {\displaystyle {\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}}}

with

{\displaystyle \alpha ={\frac {R}{2L}}} and {\displaystyle \beta ={\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}}

There are three cases to consider, each giving different circuit behavior, \\beta^2, or \\alpha^2 < \\beta^2 "}}' id="mwJw">\beta ^{2},or\alpha ^{2}<\beta ^{2}}"/> .

{\displaystyle \alpha ^{2}=\beta ^{2}} .
{\displaystyle {\frac {R}{2L}}} = {\displaystyle {\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}}
{\displaystyle R=2{\sqrt {\frac {L}{C}}}}

Equation above has only one real root

s = -α = {\displaystyle {\frac {R}{2L}}}
{\displaystyle I=Ae^{(-{\frac {R}{2L}})t}}


\\beta^2"}}' id="mwOg">\beta ^{2}}"/> ,
{\displaystyle {\frac {R}{2L}}} > {\displaystyle {\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}}
2\\sqrt{\\frac{L}{C}}"}}' id="mwPw">2{\sqrt {\frac {L}{C}}}}"/>

Equation above has only two real roots

{\displaystyle s=-\alpha } ± {\displaystyle {\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}}}
{\displaystyle I=e^{(}-\alpha +{\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}})t+e^{-}(\alpha +{\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}})t}
{\displaystyle I=e^{(}-\alpha )e({\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}})t-e^{-}({\sqrt {\alpha ^{2}-\beta ^{2}}})t}


{\displaystyle \alpha ^{2}<\beta ^{2}} .
{\displaystyle R<2{\sqrt {\frac {L}{C}}}}

Equation above has only two complex roots

{\displaystyle s=-\alpha } + j{\displaystyle {\sqrt {\beta ^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}}}
{\displaystyle s=-\alpha } - j{\displaystyle {\sqrt {\beta ^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}}}
{\displaystyle I=e^{j}(-\alpha +{\sqrt {\beta ^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}})t+e^{j}(-\alpha +{\sqrt {\beta ^{2}-\alpha ^{2}}})t}

Circuit Analysis

R = 0

If R = 0 then the RLC circuit will reduce to LC series circuit . LC circuit will generate a standing wave when it operates in resonance; At Resonance the conditions rapidly convey in a steady functional method.

{\displaystyle Z_{L}=Z_{C}}
{\displaystyle \omega L={\frac {1}{\omega C}}}
{\displaystyle \omega ={\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}}

R = 0 ZL = ZC

If R = 0 and circuit above operates in resonance then the total impedance of the circuit is Z = R and the current is V / R

At Resonance

{\displaystyle Z_{L}+Z_{C}=0} Or {\displaystyle Z_{L}=Z_{C}}
{\displaystyle \omega L={\frac {1}{\omega C}}}
{\displaystyle \omega ={\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}}
{\displaystyle Z=Z_{R}+Z_{L}+Z_{C}=R+0=R}
{\displaystyle I={\frac {V}{R}}}

At Frequency

I = 0 . Capacitor opens circuit . I = 0
I = 0 Inductor opens circuit . I = 0

Plot the three value of I at three I above we have a graph I - 0 At Resonance frequency {\displaystyle \omega ={\sqrt {\frac {1}{LC}}}} the value of current is at its maximum {\displaystyle I={\frac {V}{R}}} . If the value of current is half then circuit has a stable current {\displaystyle I={\frac {V}{2R}}}does not change with frequency over a Bandwidth of frequencies É1 - É2 . When increase current above {\displaystyle I={\frac {V}{2R}}} circuit has stable current over a Narrow Bandwidth . When decrease current below {\displaystyle I={\frac {V}{2R}}} circuit has stable current over a Wide Bandwidth

Thus the circuit has the capability to select bandwidth that the circuit has a stable current when circuit operates in resonance therefore the circuit can be used as a Resonance Tuned Selected Bandwidth Filter

Further Reading

  1. RCL circuit analysed in the time domain
  2. RCL circuit analysed in the frequency domain