Experiment 8 Lab Manual

American International University- Bangladesh

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
EEE 2109: Introduction to Electrical Circuits Laboratory

Title: Analysis of RC, RL, RLC series circuits and verification of KVL in RLC series Circuit.

Abstract:

The purpose of this experiment is to develop an understanding of circuits containing R,L and
C components and also is to be able to analyze the outputs of RC & RL series circuit obtained
practically with simulated or theoretical results along with the determination of phase
relationship between V and I in an RLC series circuit and finally to draw the complete vector
diagram of an RLC series circuit which is designed and where KVL is verified in this
experiment.

Introduction:

The RC & RL circuit is used to determine the input and output relationship of voltage and
current for different frequencies. In RC series circuit the voltage lags the current by 90˚and in
RL series circuit the voltage leads the current by 90˚.

An RLC circuit is an electrical circuit consisting of a resistor, an inductor, and a capacitor,

connected in series. The RLC part of the name is due to those letters being the usual electrical
symbols for resistance, inductance and capacitance respectively. Series RLC circuits are
classed as second-order circuits because they contain two energy storage elements, an
inductance and a capacitance.

The primary objectives of the lab experiment are-

• To determine the reactance of the RL and RC circuits and the impedance equation
both practically and theoretically.
• To determine phase relationship between voltage and current in an RLC circuit.
• To draw the complete vector diagram.
• Design an RLC series circuit and verify KVL.

Theory and Methodology:

RC Series Circuit:
A resistor–capacitor circuit(RC circuit), or RC network, is an electric circuit composed of
resistors and capacitor is in series driven by a voltage or current source(See the Figure-1).
A first order RC circuit is composed of one resistor and one capacitor and is the simplest
type of RC circuit.

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

Figure 1

Analysis of a Series RC Circuit:

For doing a complete analysis of a series RC circuit, given the values of R, C, f, and VT.

Step 1. Calculate the value of XC:

XC = 1 / (2πfC)

Step 2. Calculate the total impedance Z:

𝑍 = √(𝑋𝑐2 + 𝑅2)

Step 3. Use Ohm's Law to calculate the total current IT:

IT = VT / Z

Difference between Rectangular & Polar representation of Impedance:

• In Rectangular form:

ZT = R - j XC

• In Polar form:

ZT = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝑐)2

θ = tan-1(-XC/R) = tan-1(-1/ωRC)

Impact of frequency on the value of capacitance:

Figure 1.1 will shows the impact of frequency by varying the value of Capacitance in series
resonance.

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

Figure 1.1
RL Series Circuit:
A resistor–inductor circuit (RL circuit), or RL network, is an electric circuit composed of
resistors and inductor is in series driven by a voltage or current source (See the Figure-2).
A first order RL circuit is composed of one resistor and one inductor and is the simplest
type of RL circuit

Figure 2

Analysis of a Series RL Circuit:

For doing a complete analysis of a series RL circuit, given the values of R, L, f, and VT.

Step 1. Calculate the value of XL:

XL = 2πfL

Step 2. Calculate the total impedance Z:

𝑍 = √(𝑋𝐿2 + 𝑅2)

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

Step 3. Use Ohm's Law to calculate the total current IT:

IT = VT / Z

Difference between Rectangular & Polar representation of Impedance:

• In Rectangular form:

ZT = R+jXL

• In Polar form:

ZT = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝐿)2

θ = tan-1(XL /R) = tan-1(ωL/R)

Impact of frequency on the value of inductance:

Figure 2.1 will shows the impact of frequency by varying the value of Inductance in series
resonance.

Figure 2.1

RLC Series Circuit:

Three basic passive components- R, L and C have very different phase relationships to each
other when connected to a sinusoidal AC supply. In case of a resistor the voltage waveforms
are "in-phase" with the current. In case of pure inductor, the voltage waveform "leads" the
current by 90o whereas in case of pure capacitor, the voltage waveform "lags" the current by
90o. This phase difference depends upon the reactive value of the components being used.
Reactance is zero if the element is resistive, positive if the element is inductive and negative
if the element is capacitive.
Instead of analyzing each passive element separately, we can combine all three together into
a series RLC circuit. The analysis of a series RLC circuit is the same as that for the dual

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

series RL and RC circuits we studied in the last experiment, except this time we need to take
account the magnitudes of both inductive reactance and capacitive reactance to find the
overall circuit reactance.

Figure 3: RLC series circuit

Relevant Equations:

Inductive reactance, XL = 2пfL

1
Capacitive reactance, XC =
2п𝑓𝐶

Net reactance, X = XL - XC

Total impedance, Z = √𝑅2 + 𝑋2

Current, I = 𝑉
𝑍

Resistive voltage drop, VR = I*R

Reactive voltage drops = VL – VC, where VL = I*XL and VC = I*XC

Total voltage drop = √𝑉𝑅2 + (𝑉𝐿 − 𝑉𝐶)2

Vector Diagram:

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

Pre-Lab Homework:

Read about the characteristics of RC, RL and RLC series circuit from “Alternating Current
Circuit” by George F Corcoran and use PSIM to generate the output of the circuits provided
in this lab sheet. Compare the wave shapes given in the text book with your results. Save the
simulation results and bring it to the lab.

Apparatus:

• Oscilloscope
• Function generator
• Resistor: 100  (For RC and RL)
• Inductor: 2.4mH (For RC and RL)
• Capacitor: 1 F/ 10 F (For RC and RL)
• SPST switch
• Resistor (200 ) For RLC
• Inductor (6.3 mH) For RLC
• Capacitor(1 uF) For RLC
• Connecting wire
• Bread board

Precautions:

• Oscilloscopes should be properly calibrated using the information provided at the

calibration port before obtaining the wave shapes using the experimental set up.
• Do not short any connections. Short connection can produce heat (due to high current
flow) which is harmful for the components.

Experimental Procedure:

For RC and RL Series Circuit:

1. Construct the circuit as shown in the Fig. 1. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope
across function generator and channel 2 of the oscilloscope across R.
2. Set the amplitude of the input signal 5V peak and the frequency at 1 kHz. Select
sinusoidal wave shape.
3. Measure peak value of the both wave shapes.
4. Determine phase relationship between the waves.
5. Write down the wave equations for I and E.
6. Calculate resistance and reactance from the relevant data.
7. Do the same experiment setting input frequency 5kHz and 10kHz.
8. Complete the following table.
Table~1
f E I=VR/R Z= E I Z R XC=1/2fC VR VC=IXC
(A) (Rectangular) 
(Polar)  
1KHz
5KHz
10KHz

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

1. Now construct the circuit as shown in fig.2. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope
across function generator and channel 2 of the oscilloscope across R.
2. Do the same procedure stated in 2 to 7. Complete the following table.

Table~2
f E I=VR/R Z= E I Z R XL=2fL VR VL=IXL
(A) (Rectangular)  
(Polar) 
1KHz
5KHz
10KHz

For RLC Series Circuit:

1. Construct the circuit as shown in the Figure 3. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope
across the ac voltage source and channel 2 of the oscilloscope across R.
2. Set the amplitude of the input signal 5V peak.
3. Set the frequency of the signal generator 1 kHz.
4. Determine phase relationship between the waves.
5. Measure value of I.
6. Measure value of VR, VL& VC.
7. Verify KVL using the experimental data and draw the complete vector diagram.
8. Set the frequency of the signal generator 2 kHz. Repeat step 4-7.
9. Set the frequency of the signal generator 4 kHz. Repeat step 4-7.
10. Complete the following table.
Table~3
f E θ = tan-1 VR I=VR/R XL=2fL VL=IXL XC=1/2fC VC V* Comment
(V) X/R (V) (A) () (V) () (V) (V)
1kHz
2kHz
4kHz

*V = √𝑉𝑅2 + (𝑉𝐿 − 𝑉𝐶)2

Simulation and Results:

Compare the simulation results with your experimental data/ wave shapes and comment on
the differences (if any). Example of how the simulated wave shape should look is provided
below.

Result and Calculation:

1. Complete Table~1 and Table~2 and Table~3.

2. Calculate the value of XC, XL, Z, I,θ.
3. Draw the complete vector diagram for the RL and RC and RLC circuit.
4. Comment on the role of frequency to inductive reactance and capacitive reactance.

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 Experiment 8 Lab Manual

Questions for report writing:

1. Draw the complete vector diagrams.

2. Verify KVL.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Interpret the data/findings and determine the extent to which the experiment was
successful in complying with the goal that was initially set. Discuss any mistake you
might have made while conducting the investigation and describe ways the study could
have been improved.

Reference:

[1] “Fundamental of Electric Circuit”by AlekzendreSadiku

[2] “Alternating Current Circuit” by George F Corcoran
[3] http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py106/ACcircuits.html

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB 8