LABORATORY REPORT

OF
EXPERIMENT E1.03
RCL CIRCUITS
GROUP E12

GROUP MEMBER
YAP WAI MING
YAP CHIH HSIUNG
PRESENTED BY
YAP CHIH HSIUNG

OBJECTIVES
To understand and explain the operating principles of RCL series and parallel
connections in a.c. circuits.

THEORY
AC Through Pure Ohmic Resistance Alone

Figure 1
The circuit is shown in Figure 1. Let the applied voltage be given by the equation
v = Vm sin t
Let

R = ohmic resistance; i = instantaneous current

The applied voltage has to supply ohmic voltage drop only.

Hence, for equilibrium
v = iR
Vm sin t = iR;

Vm
sin t
R
i = Im sin t
i=

The alternating voltage and current are in phase with each other as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

AC Through Pure Inductance Alone

Figure 3
Whenever an alternating voltage is applied to a purely inductive coil, a back e.m.f. is
produced due to the self-inductance of the coil. The back e.m.f. at every step opposes
the rise or fall of current through the coil. As there is no ohmic voltage drop, the
applied voltage has to overcome this self-induced e.m.f. only.
So at every step
v=L

di
dt

v = Vm sin t
Vm sin t = L

di
dt

di =

Vm
sin t dt
L

Integrating both sides, we get

Vm
sin t dt
L
V
m cos t
L
V
m cos t
L
V

m sin t
L
2

Vm

sin t
XL
2

Hence i = Im sin (t -

)
2

The current lags behind the applied voltage by a quarter cycle (Figure 4) or the phase
difference between the two is
It is seen that Im =

with voltage leading.

2

Vm Vm

L X L

Here L plays the part of resistance. It is called the (inductive) reactance XL of the
coil and is given in ohms if L is in henry and is in radian/second.
Now, XL = L = 2fL ohm. It is seen that XL depends directly on frequency of the
voltage. Higher the value of f, greater the reactance offered and vice versa.

Figure 4

AC Through Pure Capacitance Alone

Figure 5
When an alternating voltage is applied to the plates of a capacitor, the capacitor is
charged first in one direction and then discharged in the opposite direction. With
reference to Figure 5, let
v = potential difference developed between plates at any instant
q = charge on plates at that instant
q = Cv
= CVm sin t
Current i is given by the rate of flow of charge.

dq d
CVm sin t CVm cos t
dt dt
Vm
Vm

i
cos t
sin t
1 / C
1 / C
2
Vm
V
Im
m
1 / C X C
i

i I m sin t

The denominator XC =

1
is known as capacitive reactance and is in ohm if C is in
C

farad and in radian/second.

The current in a pure capacitor leads its voltage by a quarter cycle as shown in Figure
6 or phase difference between its voltage and current is

with the current leading.

2

Figure 6

Combining Impedances in Series and Parallel

Figure 7
Impedances in series can be combined into a single impedance by simply adding the
individual impedances. The circuit shown in Figure 7 defines the problem in general
terms. The impedances Z1, Z2,....., Zn are connected in series between terminals ab.
When impedances are in series they carry the same phasor current I. The voltage drop
across each impedance is Z1I, Z2I,....., ZnI, and from Kirchhoffs voltage law,
Vab = Z1I + Z2I +.....+ ZnI
= (Z1 + Z2 +.....+ Zn)I
The equivalent impedance between terminals ab is
Vab
= Z1 + Z2 +.....+ Zn
I
Impedances connected in parallel may be reduced to a single equivalent impedance by
the reciprocal relationship
Zab =

1
1
1
1

.....
Z ab
Z1 Z 2
Zn

Figure 8
Figure 8 depicts the parallel connection of impedances. Note that when impedances are
in parallel, they have the same voltage across their terminals. From Figure 8,
I = I1 + I2 +.....+ In
V
V
V
V

.....
Z ab
Z1 Z 2
Zn

Canceling the common voltage term out reveals

1
1
1
1

.....
Z ab
Z1 Z 2
Zn

Experiment
RCL Series Circuit
Circuit

Procedure
1.

An a.c. voltage of 12 VPP, f = 1kHz is applied to the circuit.

2.

The values required to complete Table 1 are determined using a multimeter.

3.

The experiment record and exercises are completed

Results
1.
1
2
3
4

R1
C1, R1
L1, R1
Li, C1, R1

Ue (V)
4.243
4.243
4.243
4.243

U1 (V)
2.88
3.85
Table 1

U2 (V)
2.96
2.91

U3 (V)
4.06
2.74
2.0
2.68

I (mA)
27.07
18.27
13.33
17.87

2.

XL = 2fL
= 2(1103)(3310-3)
= 207.3
XC =
=

1
2fC

1
2 (1 10 )(1 10 6 )
3

= 159.2
3.

From row 3:
XL =

U1
I

2.88
13.33 10 3
= 216.1

From row 2:
XC =

U2
I

2.96
18.27 10 3
= 162.0

From row 4:
XL =

U1
I

3.85
17.87 10 3
= 215.4
U
XC = 2
I
2.91
=
17.87 10 3
= 162.8

XL (average) =

216.1 215.4
2

= 215.75

XC (average) =

162.0 162.8
2

= 162.4
4.

Utotal1 = 4.06 V
Utotal2 = 2.96 + 2.74 = 5.7 V
Utotal3 = 2.88 + 2.0 = 4.88 V
Utotal4 = 3.85 + 2.91 + 2.68 = 9.44 V

5.

The arithmetically summed values are not in agreement with the total voltage
applied except for row 1.
This is because phase difference exists between the input voltage and the
voltage across the components in row 2, 3 and 4. The phase is not taken into
account when the voltages are summed arithmetically. This results in the
difference between the summed values and the total voltage applied.

6.

Geometrically summed voltages:

Utotal2 = 2.96 2 2.74 2
= 4.034 V
Utotal3 = 2.88 2 2 2
= 3.506 V
Utotal4 = 2.68 2 3.85 2.91 2
= 2.84 V
The geometrically summed voltages in row 2 agree with the applied voltage but
the geometrically summed voltages in rows 3 and 4 are not in agreement with
the applied voltage. It can be seen that inductor L1 is in use in row 3 and 4 only.
Therefore we can conclude that the disagreement is caused by the inductor.

7.

Theoretically,
Impedance Z =

R 2 (X L X C ) 2

= 150 2 (207.3 159.2) 2

= 157.5

8.

From measurement results,

Impedance Z =

Ue
I

4.243
17.87 10 3
= 237.4

The calculated value of Z from measurement results is higher compared with

that from point 7. This difference is caused by the non-ideal inductor with an
internal resistance which is not negligible. The extra internal resistance causes
the total impedance to increase.
9.

The characteristic features of the RCL series circuit are shown below.
Value of Impedance
R (X L X C )
2

Phase Angle of Current

between 0 and 90, lag
or lead

RCL - Parallel Circuit

Circuit

10

Power Factor
between 0 and unity, lag
or lead

Procedure
1.

Ue = 12 VPP, f = 1 kHz is applied to the circuit input.

2.

The values required to complete Table 2 are determined with a multimeter.

3.

The experiment record and exercises are completed.

Results
1.
Circuit
Combinations
1
R2
2
L2
3
C2
4
R2, C2
5
R2, L2
6
L2, C2
7 L2, C2, R2

IR2
(mA)
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4

IL2
(mA)
20.5
20.5
20.5
20.5
Table 2

2.

XL = 2fL
= 2(1103)(3310-3)
= 207.3
XC =
=

1
2fC

1
2 (1 10 )(1 10 6 )
3

= 159.2
3.

XL =

U4
I L2

4
20.5 10 3
= 195.1

XC =

U4
I C2

11

IC2
(mA)
33
33
33
33

Itotal
(mA)
0.35
18.9
25.8
25.8
18.3
9.95
10.19

U4 (V)
4.1
4.0
4.08
4.06
4.03
4.03
4.02

U5
(mV)
3.5
189.0
258
258
183
99.5
101.9

4.08
33 10 3
= 123.6

4.

Itotal4 = 0.4 10-3 + 33 10-3 = 33.4 10-3 A

Itotal5 = 0.4 10-3 + 20.5 10-3 = 20.9 10-3 A
Itotal6 = 20.5 10-3 + 33 10-3 = 53.5 10-3 A
Itotal7 = 0.4 10-3 + 20.5 10-3 + 33 10-3 A = 53.9 10 -3 A

5.

The arithmetically summed values are not in agreement with the measured total
current.
This is because phase difference exists between the total current and the current
through the components. The phase is not taken into account when the currents
are summed arithmetically. This results in the difference between the summed
values and the measured total current.

6.

Geometrically summed currents:

Itotal4 = (0.4 10 3 ) 2 (33 10 3 ) 2 33 10 3 A
Itotal5 = (0.4 10 3 ) 2 (20.5 10 3 ) 2 20.9 10 3 A
Itotal6 = (33 10 3 20.5 10 3 ) 2 12.50 10 3 A
Itotal7 = (0.4 10 3 ) 2 (33 10 3 20.5 10 3 ) 2 12.51 10 3 A
The geometrically summed currents are in agreement with the measured total
currents.

7.

Combination 4:
Impedance Z =

U4
4.06

157.4
I total 258
. 10 3

Combination 5:
Impedance Z =

U4
4.03

220.2
I total 18.3 10 3

Combination 6:
Impedance Z =

U4
4.03

405.0
I total 9.95 10 3

Combination 7:
Impedance Z =

U4
4.02

394.5
I total 1019
. 10 3

12

8.

The impedance Z can be calculated using the formula below:

Itotal2 = IR22 + (IC - IL)2
V2
V2
V
V

Z2
R 2 1 / 2 fC 2 fL
1
1
1

= 2 + 2 fC
2

2 fL
Z
R
1
Z
1
1

+ 2 fC
2

2 fL
R

8.

13

References
1.

James W. Nilsson, Susan A. Riedel,Electric Circuits, Fifth Edition, Addison

Wesley.

2.

B. L. Theraja, A. K. Theraja,A Text Book of Electrical Technology, Nirja

Construction and Development Co. (P) Ltd.

14

Contents
Objectives

Theory

AC Through Pure Ohmic Resistance Only

AC Through Pure Inductance Only
AC Through Pure Capacitance Only
Combining Impedances in Series and Parallel

1
2
4
5

Experiment
RCL Series Circuit

7
7

Circuit
Procedure
Results

7
7
7

RCL - Parallel Circuit

10

References

14

Circuit
Procedure
Results

15

10
11
11