Experiment 12: AC Circuits - RLC Circuit

Introduction

An inductor (L) is an important component of circuits, on the same level as resistors (R) and capacitors
(C). The inductor is based on the principle of inductance - that moving charges create a magnetic field (the
reverse is also true - a moving magnetic field creates an electric field). Inductors can be used to produce
a desired magnetic field and store energy in its magnetic field, similar to capacitors being used to produce
electric fields and storing energy in their electric field. At its simplest level, an inductor consists of a coil
of wire in a circuit. The circuit symbol for an inductor is shown in Figure 1a.
So far we observed that in an RC circuit the charge, current, and potential difference grew and decayed
exponentially described by a time constant τ . If an inductor and a capacitor are connected in series in a
circuit, the charge, current and potential difference do not grow/decay exponentially, but instead oscillate
sinusoidally. In an ideal setting (no internal resistance) these oscillations will continue indefinitely with a
period (T) and an angular frequency ω given by
1
ω=√ (1)
LC
This is referred to as the circuit’s natural angular frequency.
A circuit containing a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor is called an RLC circuit (or LCR), as
shown in Figure 1b. With a resistor present, the total electromagnetic energy is no longer constant since
energy is lost via Joule heating in the resistor. The oscillations of charge, current and potential are now
continuously decreasing with amplitude. This is referred to as damped oscillations. The oscillations in the
RLC circuit will not damp out if an external emf source supplies enough energy to account for the energy
lost from the resistor. This energy is supplied from an oscillating emf source with an alternating current
(AC).

If the applied voltage in an RLC is of the form

E = E0 sin(ωt + φ) (2)

where E0 is the maximum amplitude of the emf, then the potential difference across each component can
be written as
VR = V0R sin(ωt) (3)

π
VC = V0C sin(ωt − ) (4)
2
π
VL = V0L sin(ωt + ) (5)
2
where V0R , V0C , and V0L are the maximum (amplitude) voltages across the resistor, capacitor, and inductor
components respectively. The ω here is the driving angular frequency. Notice that the voltage across the
capacitor VC lags VR by 90◦ , and the voltage across the inductor VL leads VR by 90◦ . All three voltages
are plotted in Figure 2.

1
 A

L VL

C VC VLRC

R VR

(a) (b)

Figure 1: (a) Inductor circuit symbol. (b) An RLC circuit.

Figure 2: Phase relationships between voltages across the components of an RLC circuit. Using VR as a
reference, VL leads by 90◦ while VC lags by 90◦ . Note that the amplitude of the voltage for each component
may not be equal as depicted but depend on the specific values of L, R and C.

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 In this lab we will only discuss series RLC circuits. Since the R, L, and C components are in series,
the same current passes through them. The current in the circuit can be expressed in the form of Ohms
Law as
E0
I= (6)
Z
where Z is the impedence of the circuit defined as
r
1 2
Z = R2 + (ωL − ) (7)
ωC
The impedance of a circuit is a generalized measurement of the resistance that includes the frequency
dependent effects of the capacitor and the inductor. Notice from Equation 6 that the current I is at a
maximum when Z is minimum. Thus, for a given resistor R, the amplitude of the current is a maximum
1
when ωL − ωC = 0; that is, when
1
ωL = (8)
ωC
or written in terms of the angular frequency as
1
ω=√ (9)
LC
The maximum value of the current occurs when the driving angular frequency matches the natural angular
frequency (Eq. 1) at resonance. In this lab we will study an RLC circuit with an AC source to create a
resonant system.

Procedure and Analysis:

1. You are given a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor with nominal values of R = 12 kΩ, L = 0.1 H,
and C = 10 nF, respectively. Using the inductance meter / multimeter measure the values of R, L
and C and compare them with the given values.

2. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1b using the breadboard with jumper-wires. Make sure that
the resistor is the last component closest to the ground end of the circuit.

3. Turn on the signal generator and set the frequency of the oscillating signal to be approximately
250 Hz (note: ω = 2πf ). The time varying voltages will be studied using the oscilloscope. The
oscilloscopes allow you to measure potential difference with respect to ground.

4. As a first exercise, we will observe the voltage on the oscilloscope when the ”two” sources are in
phase with each other. Connect the leads from CH1 and CH2 of the oscilloscope to the LRC circuit
as shown in Figure 3. This means that both channels will measure the voltage across R.

5. Make sure both signals are visible on the display. Adjust the Horizontal and Vertical scale knobs to
obtain a suitable display on the oscilloscope.

6. Are the signals from CH1 and CH2 in phase with each other? Why is this the case? Sketch the
signals in your report.

7. Change the display selector from y-t to x-y (x vs. y). Use the display button and the “format” button
found in the on-screen menu to toggle between the two settings. If both x and y are in phase with
each other (they both reach their peaks and valleys at the same instant), the oscilloscope should
display a straight line inclined at an angle (45 degrees if both inputs have the same magnitude and
calibration scale). Verify this. Just as you directly observed the waveform in Procedure 6, this is
another technique to check if the two signals are in phase with each other. This display is known as
a Lissajous figure. Sketch this display in your report, remember to label the axis appropriately.

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 Oscilloscope

Ch 1 Ch 2

Figure 3: Oscilloscope connection for alternating current circuit. Note that only the resistor part of the
RLC circuit is shown.

8. Change the settings to obtain the signal as in Procedure 5-6. Disconnect CH2 from the circuit and
connect it to Point A as shown in Figure 1b. In this position, CH1 is still measuring the voltage
across the resistor (VR ), but CH2 is now measuring the voltage across all three components (VRLC ).
Adjust the vertical and horizontal scales to obtain the best display.

9. Are the two signals in phase with each other? Does VRLC lead or lag VR ,and by how much? Sketch
this in your report.

10. Observe the Lissajous figure for these two signals by repeating Procedure 7. Is this identical to the
one you observed before? Sketch this in your report. You should now know what the Lissajous figure
should look like when the signals are in phase and out of phase with each other.

11. Change the settings back to obtain the signal as in Procedure 8-9 (using the format button), but
this time, set the display to show only the signal from CH1, which is VR . You should, however, leave
CH2 connected as is.

12. Change the frequency of the signal generator (hint: you may want to increase the frequency) while
continuously observing the amplitude of VR . Find the frequency where the amplitude of VR is a
maximum. Change the vertical scale and the vertical positioning as you wish to help you accurately
determine this frequency. Do not forget to read the frequency from the frequency counter. At this
frequency, the current in the circuit is also a maximum, since VR = IR. Thus, from Equations 6 and
7, this is the resonant frequency of the RLC circuit.

13. Now change the display setting so that you again see both VR from CH1, and VRLC from CH2. From
Equations 8 and 9, the reactance from the inductor (XL = ωL) and the reactance from the capacitor

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 (XC = 1/ωC) should cancel each other so that the impedence of the circuit just depends on the
resistor. This means that VRLC should be in phase with VR . Is this what you observe?

14. Check this by observing the Lissajous figure at the resonant frequency. If the figure does not quite
show the shape necessary for the two signals to be in phase, make the necessary adjustments to the
frequency until you are satisfied that they are now in phase with each other. Record this frequency
if it is different from the one you obtained before.

15. Using Equation 9, calculate the theoretical value of the resonance frequency and compare it with
the value (or values if you have two different ones) you obtained experimentally. Take note that in
Equation 9, you are calculating the resonance angular frequency ω.

16. Calculate the phase constant φ for procedure 9 - that is,

XL − XC
tan φ = (10)
R
Is the circuit more inductive than capacitive or vice versa? How can you tell? What is the phase
constant for the circuit in Procedure 13?

A full lab report is not necessary for this lab. Answer the questions above and turn it in with your
signed datasheet.