Solution of First-Order Linear Differential Equation

The solution to a first-order linear differential equation with constant coefficients,

dX
a1 + a0 X = f (t) ,
dt

is X = Xn + Xf , where Xn and Xf are, respectively, natural and forced responses of the

system.
The natural response, Xn , is the solution to the homogeneous equation (RHS=0):

dX
a1 + a0 X = 0
dt

The functional form of Xn is Xn = Kest (K and s are constants). Value of s can be found
by substituting the functional form in the homogeneous differential equation:

dKest
a1 + a0 Kest = 0
dt
a0
a1 Ksest + a0 Kest = 0 → a1 s + a0 = 0 → s=−
a1

Constant K is found from initial conditions. As the initial condition applies to X not Xn ,
K should be found after Xf is calculated.
Some functional forms of the forced solution, Xf , are given in the table below. To find
Xf , the functional form is substituted in the original differential equation and the constant
coefficients of the functional form are found.

Trial Functions for Forced Response

f (t) Trial Function†

a A
at + b At + B
at + btn−1 + ...
n
At + Btn−1 + ...
n

aeσt Aeσt
a cos(ωt) + b sin(ωt) A cos(ωt) + B sin(ωt)


Constants a and b are used to define the general form of f (t).
†
Constants A and B in trial functions are found from substitution in
the differential equation.

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 70

Example: Solve the differential equation below with the initial condition of v(t=0)=1.

dv
+ 5v = 10
dt

The solution is v = vn + vf . vn is the solution to the homogeneous equation:

dv
+ 5v = 0
dt

Using the trial function vn = Kest , we find:

d
st 
Ke + 5Kest = 0
dt
Ksest + 5Kest = 0 → s = −5
vn = Ke−5t

K will be found later from the initial condition.

To find vf , we note that f (t) = 10 = constant. From the table of the trial functions, we
find that the functional form of vf = A = constant. Substituting for vf in the differential
equation, we get:

dv dA
+ 5v = 10 → + 5A = 10
dt dt
0 + 5A = 10 → vf = A = 2
v = vn + vf = Ke−5t + 2

We now use the initial condition, v(t = 0) = 1, to find K:

 
v(t = 0) = Ke−5t + 2 =1 → K +2=1 → K = −1
t=0

v = −e−5t + 2

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 71

 First-Order Circuits

First order circuits include only one capacitor or inductor (after using series/parallel reduc-
tion). The solution of these circuits results in a “first-order” linear differential equation with
constant coefficients. It requires one initial condition.
First-order RL Circuits
Consider a first-order circuit containing only one inductor. The rest of the circuit contains
only resistors and voltage and current sources. Therefore, the rest of the circuit is a two-
terminal resistive subcircuit and can be reduced to a Thevenin or Norton form as shown.
Note that it is possible that the rest of circuit reduced to only a resistor, i.e., vT = 0.
iL RT iL iL

+ + +
Rest of +
vL L vT vL L iN R
the circuit - N vL L
- -
OR -

Solving the Thevenin equivalent circuit, we get:

KVL: RT iL + vL − vT = 0
diL
i-v Eq.: vL = L
dt

Substituting for vL in KVL, we arrive at the general form of differential equation that
describes first-order RL circuits:

diL
L + RT iL = vT
dt

If we use the Norton form for the resistive subcircuit, we will arrive at

L diL
+ iL = iN
RN dt

which is exactly identical to the Thevenin form (RN = RT and vT = RT iN ).

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 72

First-order RC Circuits
Consider a first-order circuit containing only one capacitor. Similar to a first-order RL
circuit, we can reduce the rest of the circuit to a Thevenin or Norton form as shown.
iC RT iC iC

+ + +
Rest of +
vC C vT vC C iN R
the circuit - N vC C
- -
OR -

Solving the Thevenin equivalent circuit, we get:

KVL: RT iC + vC − vT = 0
dvC
i-v Eq.: iC = C
dt

Substituting for iC in KVL, we arrive at the general form of differential equation that de-
scribes first-order RC circuits:

dvC
RT C + vC = vT
dt

The Norton form will also lead to an equation similar to above.

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 73

 Natural Response of First-Order Circuits
t = t0
As the natural response of a circuit is generic to the cir- RT
cuit and is independent of the driving sources, we con-
sider the natural response (no sources) first. + vT R L
-
In these circuits, the inductor or the capacitor is
“charged” with a voltage or current source, a switch
opens or closes removing the source from the circuit, and
letting the capacitor or inductor discharge in a resistor.
Natural Response of RL Circuits iL

A generic RL circuit with an initial condition of iL (t = t+

0 ) = i0 +
is shown. For t > t0 , we have: R L vL
-
KVL: vL + RiL = 0
diL
L + RiL = 0
dt
I.C.: iL (t = t+
0 ) = i0

It is a good idea to write down the initial conditions (again) next to the differential equation.
Since the RHS of the equation is zero, there is no forced solution. The functional form of the
natural solution is iL = Kest . Substituting this functional form in the differential equation
(to find s), we get:

diL
iL = Kest = Ksest
dt
R
LKsest + RKest = 0 → Ls + R = 0 → s=−
L
iL = Ke−(R/L)t
t
−1 L −
Define time constant, τ , as τ= = → iL = Ke τ
s R

Constant K is found from the initial condition, iL (t = t+

0 ) = i0 :

t0 t0
− +
iL (t = t+
0) = i0 = Ke τ → K = i0 e τ

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 74

 iL
Thus:
io
t − t0 t − t0
− − < 1% io
iL = i0 e τ and vL = −Ri0 e τ
t
t0 t0+5τ
Current and voltage waveforms are plotted in the v
L
figure. After several time constants (5τ is ade-
quate), the current and voltage decay away and t0 t
the circuit reaches its steady condition.

Natural Response of RC Circuits

A generic RC circuit with an initial condition of vC (t =
t+
0 ) = v0 is shown. For t > t0 , we have:
iC

KVL: Ric + vC = 0 +
R C vC
dvC
RC + vC = 0
dt -
I.C.: vC (t = t+
0 ) = v0

Substituting this functional form for vC in the differential equation we find s = −1/(RC).

t
−1 −
Define time constant, τ , as τ= = RC → vC = Ke τ
s

Constant K is found from the initial condition, vC (t = t+

0 ) = v0 and we arrive at:

t − t0 t − t0
− v0 −
vC = v0 e τ and iC = − e τ
R

vC i
C

vo t0 t
< 1% vo
t
t0 t0+5τ

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 75

 First-Order Circuits with DC sources (Step Response)
u(t)
Unit Step function is defined as: 1

u(t) = 0 for t ≤ 0−
t
u(t) = 1 for t ≤ 0+

Defining t = t − t0 , one can see that u(t ) = u(t − t0 ) is: u(t-t 0)

 1
u(t − t0 ) = 0 for t ≤ t−
0
u(t − t0 ) = 1 for t ≤ t+
0 t
t0
Step functions are one way to illustrate switched circuit as is shown in the example below.
t = t0 R R

vs
+ +
C vs u(t-t ) C
0
- -

Step response of an RC circuit

Consider the RC circuit above. The switch closes at time t = 0 and the capacitor has an
initial voltage of v0 . For t > 0, KVL results in Ric + vC = vs , or:

dvC
RC + vC = vs
dt
I.C.: vC (t = 0+ ) = v0

We have found the natural solution to RC circuit to be:

t
−
vC,n = Ke τ and τ = RC

To find the forced response, vC,f , we note that the RHS of the differential equation is a
constant. Table of trial force functions on page 70 indicates that the forced response should
also be a constant, vC,f = A. Substituting for vC,f in the differential equation, we get:

dA
RC + A = vs → vC,f = A = vs
dt
t
−
vC = vC,n + vC,f = Ke τ + vs

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 76

Constant of K is found from the initial condition: vC (t = 0+ ) = v0 :

0
+
−
vC (t = 0 ) = v0 = Ke τ + vs = K + vs → K = v0 − vs

Thus, the capacitor voltage waveform is:

t
−
vC (t) = (v0 − vs )e τ + vs

If we wait long enough, (mathematically: t → ∞, practically: 5τ ) the circuit will reach DC

steady condition again, current in the capacitor becomes zero and its voltage reaches vs as
can be see either from the circuit or from the expression for vC (t).
vC iC

vs t0 t0+5τ t

v0

t -v s /R
t0 t0+5τ

If the switch was closed at time t = t0 instead of time zero, the capacitor voltage waveform
would be (let t = t − t0 and switch closing at t = 0):

t − t0
−
vC (t) = (v0 − vs )e τ + vs

Since v0 is the initial value of vC and vs is its final value , the above equation can be re-written
as:

  t − t0
vC Initial Value of Final Value of − Final Value of
= − ×e τ +
at Time t vC vC vC

In fact, all voltages and currents in the circuit (also called “state variables”) will have the
same waveform:

  t − t0
State Variable Initial Value of Final Value of − Final Value of
= − ×e τ +
at Time t State Variable State Variable State Variable

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 77

Step response of an RL circuit
t = t0 iL
Consider the RL circuit shown. The switch closes at time t = t0
is
and the inductor has an initial current of i0 . We can find the +
R L vL
inductor current waveform following the procedure similar to
one used for step response of RC circuits. -

Alternatively, we can use the “state variable” formula identified above. Here the state
variable of interest is iL . The time constant of the circuit is τ = L/R. The final value of
the state variable is iL (t → ∞) when the switch is closed and circuit has reached a DC
steady state condition. Replacing the inductor with a short circuit, we find iL (t → ∞) = is .
Substituting in the “state variable” formula above, we get

t − t0
−
iL (t) = (i0 − is )e τ + is

Procedure for Solving First-Order Circuits

1. If the initial conditions are not given, use DC steady-state analysis to find the initial
conditions (vc and iL )

2. Solve the time dependent circuit:

a) Direct solution using KVL and KCL, node-voltage and mesh current methods, etc.
b) Reduce the circuit to simple RC or RL circuits above and use the formulas.
Example 1: The circuit is in DC steady-state for t=0 12 Ω

t < 0. Find i for t > 0 i

2Ω
As the initial conditions are not given, we need to 12Ω 18 V
6Ω +
solve the DC steady-state circuit for t < 0 first. + -
We redraw the circuit at t < 0 (switch is closed) 1F
vc
12
and replace the capacitor with an open circuit. -

We proceed with solving the circuit with node- vA =vc 12 Ω 18 V

voltage method. As the 2 Ω resistor does not carry i
any current, vA = vC . Then: 2Ω
12Ω 18 V
6Ω +
vC − 18 vc vC + -
KCL at vA : + + =0 vc
12 6 12 -
vC = 4.5 V for t < 0

No-jump condition leads to the initial condition for t > 0: vC (0+ ) = vC (0− ) = 4.5 V. Note
that although we like to find i, the initial condition is obtained for vC as no-jump condition
only applies to vC and i may have a discontinuity at the switching time.

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 78

 vA 12 Ω

We now proceed to solve t > 0 circuit: i

2Ω
18 V
Method 1: Direct solution: 12Ω 6Ω +
vc
+ -
Both node-voltage and mesh-current methods 1F
vc
lead to 2 equations. As we are interested in vC , -
12

we proceed with node-voltage method:

vA vA − vC vA
KCL at vA : + + =0
6 2 12
2
2vA + 6vA − 6vC + vA = 0 → vC
vA =
3
vC − vA vC − vA 1 dvC
KCL at vC : + iC = 0 → + =0
2 2 12 dt

where we substituted for iC from the capacitor i-v equation. The above are two equations
in our two node-voltages vA and vC . Substituting for vA from first into the second, we get:

2 dvC
6vC − 6 vC + =0
3 dt
dvC
+ 2vC = 0 and vC (0+ ) = 4.5 V
dt

As the RHS of the differential equation is zero, solution consists only of the natural solution.
Using the trial function of Kest , we find:

sKest + 2Kest = 0 → s = −2
vC (t) = Ke−2t

and K is found from the initial condition:

vC (0+ ) = 4.5 = Ke−2×0 → K = 4.5 → vC (t) = 4.5e−2t (V)

We can now calculate i from our node voltage equations:

2
vA (t) = vC (t) = 3e−2t (V)
3
vA (t)
i(t) = = 0.25e−2t (A)
12

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 79

Method 2: Reduction to Thevenin form:
In this method, we reduce the circuit into a simple RC circuit by separating the capacitor
from the circuit and finding Thevenin equivalent of the remaining two-terminal subcircuit:

i
2Ω 2Ω

12Ω 6Ω 6 || 12 = 6Ω 1F
4Ω 12
1F 1F
12 12

We have solved this circuit before and the solution is:

t − t0
−
vC (t) = vC (t = t+
0 )e
τ with τ = RC
6
t0 = 0 and vC (t = t+ +
0 ) = vC (0 ) = 4.5 and τ = RC = = 0.5
12
vC (t) = 4.5e−2t (V)

We now need to go back to the original circuit to calculate i, for example, by writing the
node-voltage equations and use vC to find the other parameters as was done above.
Example 2: The circuit is in DC steady-state t=1s 50 Ω 50Ω
for t < 1 s. Find iL for t > 1
We redraw the circuit at t < 1 (switch is in the 10 V 10 V iL
25Ω
−
+ 150 mH
upper position) and replace the inductor with +
−
a short circuit. We also replace the 50 and
25 Ω resistors in series with a 75 Ω resistor.
As the 75 Ω resistor is in parallel with a short 50 Ω
circuit, it will carry a current of zero. Then,
by KCL, the current in the 50 Ω resistor will i iL i=0
10 V L
be iL . Then, + 75Ω
−
KVL: −10 + 50iL = 0 → iL = 0.2 A

No-jump condition leads to the initial condition for t > 1: iL (t = 1+ ) = iL (t = 1− ) = 0.2 A.

We now proceed to solve t > 0 circuit:

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 80

Method 1: Direct solution: −10 V 50 Ω vL
Node-voltage method leads to one equation as
opposed to mesh-current method that leads to 10 V iL +
75Ω
−
2 equations. So, we proceed with node-voltage 150 mH v
+ L
method:
−
vL vL − (−10)
KCL at vL : + iL + =0
75 50
2vL + 150iL + 3vL + 30 = 0 → 5vL + 150iL = −30
diL
i-v Eq.: vL = 150 × 10−3
dt
diL
5 × 150 × 10−3 + 150iL = −30
dt
diL
5 × 10−3 + iL = −0.2 and iL (t = 1+ ) = 0.2 A.
dt

As the RHS of the differential equation is not zero, we need to find both the natural and
forced solutions. The natural solution can be found by using trial function of iL,n = Kest :

5 × 10−3 sKest + Kest = 0 → s = −200

iL,n (t) = Ke−200t

To find iL,f , we note that the RHS of the differential equation is a constant. Using the
Table of trial functions for forced solution on page 70, we find iL,f = A. Substituting in the
differential equation, we get:

dA
5 × 10−3 + A = −0.2 → iL,f = A = −0.2
dt
iL (t) = iL,n + iL,f = Ke−200t − 0.2

Constant K is found from the initial conditions:

iL (t = 1+ ) = 0.2 = Ke−200 − 0.2 → K = 0.4e+200

iL (t) = 0.4e−200(t−1) − 0.2 (A)

Method 2: Reduction to Thevenin form:

In this method, we reduce the circuit into a simple RL circuit by separating the capacitor
from the circuit and finding Thevenin equivalent of the remaining two-terminal subcircuit:

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 81

 50 Ω

10 V iL 10 = 0.2 iL
75Ω 75Ω
−
150 mH 50 150 mH
+ 50 Ω

We have solve this circuit before and the solution is:

iL
t − t0
− −0.2
50 || 75= 150 mH
iL (t) = (i0 − is )e τ + is
30 Ω
t0 = 1
i0 = iL (t = t+
0 ) = +0.2 and is = −0.2
L 150 × 10−3
τ= = = 5 × 10−3
R 30
iL (t) = [0.2 − (−0.2)]e−200(t−1) + (−0.2)
iL (t) = 0.4e−200(t−1) − 0.2 (A)

ic C
Example 3: Integrator Find vo if vC (t = 0) = 0.
+ vc −
We replace the OpAmp with its circuit model. As
R
the current flowing into the OpAmp is zero, the −
current in the resistor is the same as iC . We also ic i=0 +
+
note the connection between output and inverting + v1u(t) vo
input terminal so negative feedback exists: −

Negative Feedback: vn = vp = 0 −

Ohm’s Law: RiC = v1 − vn = v1

dvC d(vn − vo ) dvo
Capacitor i-v: ic = C =C = −C
dt dt dt
Substituting for iC from Ohm’s law into capacitor i-v equation, and integrating the resulting
equation we get:

t dv
t
v1 dvo o 1
= −C → 
dt = − v1 (t )dt
R dt 0 dt RC 0

t
1
vo (t) = − v1 (t )dt
RC 0

since vC (t = 0) = vo (t = 0) = 0. As can be seen, this is an integrator circuit–the output

voltage is proportional to the integral of the input voltage waveform.

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 82

 ic R
Example 4: Differentiator: Find vo if vC (t = 0) = 0.
We replace the OpAmp with its circuit model. As ic C
the current flowing into the OpAmp is zero, the + vc −
− +
i=0
current in the resistor is the same as iC . We also +
+ v1u(t)
note the connection between output and inverting vo
−
input terminal so negative feedback exists:
−
Negative Feedback: vn = vp = 0
Ohm’s Law: RiC = vn − vo = −vo
dvC d(v1 − vn ) dv1
Capacitor i-v: ic = C =C =C
dt dt dt

Substituting for iC from Ohm’s law into capacitor i-v equation, we get:

vo dv1 dv1
− =C → vo (t) = −RC
R dt dt

As can be seen, this is a differentiator circuit–the output voltage is proportional to the

derivative of the input voltage waveform.
The above two circuits, the integrator and the differentiator, together with inverting and
non-inverting summers are the building block of analog computers.
t
Example: Design an OpAmp circuit to find vo (t) = 10vs (t) + 0 vs (t )dt .

C= 1/R
t
c vA = − 0 vs (t )dt
R
vA R R
−
+
vs − vo

R +
vo = −vA − vB
t
R
v R = 10vs (t)+ 0 vs (t )dt
− B
+
vB = −10vs (t)

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 83

Example: Design an OpAmp circuit which solves the differential equation:
d2 vo dvo
2
+2 + vo = vs (t).
dt dt

Rewrite the equation in the form:

d2 vo dvo
2
= −2 − vo + vs (t)
dt dt

The block diagram of the circuit is:

vs Inverting −vs
Amp. 2
dv0 dv0
v0 Inverting v0
dt2 dt
Summer Integrator Integrator
dv0
dt

and the circuit itself is:

R

vs R
− R R
C= 1/R
+ C= 1/R
R
− R
− R vo
0.5 R + −
+
+

MAE140 Notes, Winter 2001 84