Experiment 5: AC Analysis RLC Circuits

Alen Bea Ducao, Gene Duque, Myron Bukuhan

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Abstract The main objective of this experiment is to
help the students in familiarizing the basics in AC circuit
analysis. The experiment involves the use of an
oscilloscope to understand the behavior of the RMS
voltages in an Inductive and Capacitive Circuit. It also
enables the students to understand the relationship
between the RMS voltages with the means of analyzing
the waveforms of each of the voltages.

I. INTRODUCTION
Resistors are one of the most basic components of
a circuit, along with the wires and sources but these
are not the only components that must be studied. As
EEE students, the proponents must also understand the
behaviours of inductors and capacitors and its effects
on the relationship of currents and voltages in a given
circuit not only in DC but also in AC setting. The
experiment shows these behaviours and effects that
will be observed and analyzed by the proponents.
II. EXPERIMENT, RESULTS, AND DISCUSSION
The experiment was divided into three parts to
further familiarize the basics of circuit analysis for AC
Circuits.
A Impedance of a Practical Inductor
A supply voltage, Vs=10V(peak-to-peak), 60 Hz
sine wave without DC offset was produced using a
function generator and with the aid of an oscilloscope.
The circuit shown in Figure 1 was constructed using
the secondary of the transformer as the inductor and
R=1k.

Before wiring up the circuit, the internal resistance of

the inductor was obtained using the digital multimeter
(DMMM). Then, the RMS voltages of VT, VR, VZ was
obtained using the
VAC function of the DMM. The measurements obtained
from the DMM is simultaneously verified in the
oscilloscope.
The values obtained from the measurements and
calculated are all tabulated in Table I. Calculations are
shown below.
TABLE I
RL CIRCUIT MEASUREMENTS

Measured Values
RL = 1.97
VT = 3.061 V
VR = 3.022 V
VZ = 46 mV

I=

Compared Values
I = 3.022 mA
L = 35 mH
XL = 13.23

V R 3.022
=
=3.022mA
R 1000
V Z =IZ

The impedance of an RL circuit varies directly with

frequency.

Z =R L + jL
VZ
=Z
I

=2 f

46 ( 103 )
=1.97+ jL ( 2 )( 60 )
30.22 ( 103 )
46 ( 103 )
1.97
3.022 ( 103 )
jL=
120

Disregarding the imaginary coefficient of

L=35.1 103 H
Fig. 1. Circuit setup of an RL circuit

L ,

To solve for the reactance of the inductor,

X L=2 fL
X L=2 ( 60 Hz ) ( 35.1103 )

XL =

13.23
By KVL,

V T V R+ V Z

3.022+ 0.046

3.066
By KVL,

V T should be equal V R +V Z

however due to the inherent non-ideal

characteristics of the tools used to measure, these
values are just approximately equal to each other.
In this experiment, Ohm's law becomes readily
applicable to the analysis of AC circuits by
replacing the load elements by their impedances (or
admittances). Consequently, Kirchoff's voltage law
and Kirchoff's current law become readily applicable
to the analysis of the circuit by replacing the
sinusoidal voltages and currents by their phasor
representations for both the source as well as the
load elements.
B Making RMS Measurements
The function generator was set to 60Hz sinusoidal
wave form and then connected to the DMM. The
DMM is then set to measure AC voltage.
The amplitude knob of the function generator was
adjusted until the DMM displays 5 V. The generated
signal is then displayed in the oscilloscope. The
amplitude of the voltage waveform is equal to 7.28 V
and the period (T) is equal to 16.6 ms. From these
values, we can conclude that the voltage read by the
multimeter is equal to the RMS value of the sinusoidal
waveform.
C K.V.L in AC Circuits
Inductive Circuit

Fig. 2. Circuit setup of an RL circuit

On this part of the experiment the application of

Kirchoffs Voltage Law on inductive circuits was verified
and tested with the use of the circuit shown in Figure 2.
Like in Part A, a sine wave with 10 volt (peak-to-peak)
and 60 Hz was used as the voltage source. The CHOP
mode and INVERT function of the oscilloscope was used
in generating the waveform shown in Figure 3.
CH1: 100 mV

CH2: 5 V

Time/Div: 10
ms

Fig. 3. Output Waveform of an RL Circuit (VR and VL) in Dual Mode

VR having a period of 16.6ms and V z with 2ms it can

be deduced that VR lags VZ by 14ms. The equivalent of
14ms in degrees is 316.63, the procedure done in
acquiring the equivalent value in degrees is shown below.

360( t)
T

Fig. 4. Phasor

(16.62)
x 360
16.6

Representation for

VR + VZ = VT
Capacitive
Circuits
Fig. 5. Circuit

setup of an

RC circuit

For this part of the experiment, the circuit shown in

Figure 5 was used. A 7 volt (p-p) and 1500 Hz sine wave
was used as the voltage source for the circuit. The
waveform shown in Figure 6 was generated by inverting
the signal input in channel 2 and by using the
VERTICAL and ALT modes of the oscilloscope.
CH1: 2V

=316.63

CH2: 2 V

Time/Div:200

s
Fig. 6. Output Waveform of an RC Circuit (VR and VC) in Dual Mode

The ADD function of the oscilloscope was

implemented to generate the waveform shown in
Figure 4.

VR having a period of 672 us and VC with 668 us it can

be deduced that VR leads VC by 4 us. The equivalent of 4
us in degrees is 1.08, this was obtained by the solution
shown below.

360( t)
T

(668672)
x 360
668

=2.16
Just like in Part C.1. the ADD function of the oscilloscope
was implemented to generate the waveform shown in
Figure 7.
Fig. 4. Output waveform of VR + VL

The phasor diagram for VR + VZ = VT is shown in

Figure 5.

III. CONCLUSION
Dealing with inductors and capacitors on actual
circuits was hard at first since they are still new to the
proponents but as the experiment was conducted, the
behaviour of these components was understood. Since
the voltage of the resistance is in phase with the
source current phasor, it was observed that inductor
voltage leads current and capacitor voltage lags the
current by an angle with a given range of
0 90 . These observations shall be used

Fig. 7.
Output
waveform of VR + VC

The phasor diagram for VR + VC = VT is shown in

Figure 8.
Fig. 8. Phasor Representation for VR

+ VC = VT

for future applications on higher EEE subjects and on the

field.
REFERENCES
[1] Lee, C.Y. RL Circuits. 1st ed. Taiwan: I-Shou University, 2015.
Web. 3 Nov. 2015..