INVESTIGATION OF SERIES AND PARALLEL RESONANCE IN RLC

CIRCUITS

Goal of this lab

This lab aims to introduce the students with the series and parallel resonance
phenomenon in RLC circuits. Using Matlab

Series resonance
The series resonance occurs in circuit where an inductor and capacitor are in series
(fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Circuit schematic Fig. 2. Impedance triangle.

In this circle the resistance 𝑅, the reactance (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 ) and the impedance 𝑧 are
connected with the sides of a right rectangle (fig. 2), where:
1
𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 = 𝜔𝐿 −
𝜔𝐶
and

𝑧 = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2
When 𝑋𝐿 = 𝑋𝐶 series resonance occurs and the impedance has a minimum:

𝑧 = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2 = √𝑅2 + 0 = 𝑅

According to Ohm’s law the maximal current also occurs at the resonant frequency:
𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶
𝐼𝑀𝐴𝑋 = = =
𝑧 2 𝑅
√𝑅2 + (𝜔𝐿 − 1 )
𝜔𝐶
The bandwidth of a series RLC circuit is determined as the frequency range at which
the power of the resistor is at least 50% of the maximal power, where maximal power
transfer occurs at the resonant frequency (fig. 3). The half-power frequencies (𝑓𝐿 and
𝑓𝐻 ) are obtained for current:
𝐼𝑀𝐴𝑋
𝐼=
√2

Fig. 3. Frequency response of the current 𝐼(𝑓) and bandwidth.

Parallel resonance
The parallel resonance occurs in circuits where an inductor and capacitor are
connected in parallel (fig. 4).

Fig. 4.
The complex admittance of a parallel RLC circuit is:
1
𝑌 = 𝐺 − 𝑗𝐵 = 𝐺 − 𝑗 ( − 𝜔𝐶)
𝜔𝐿
1
If − 𝜔𝐶 = 0 parallel resonance occurs and the admittance has a minimum. The
𝜔𝐿
voltage drop on a parallel RLC circuit has a maximum for the resonant frequency
when powered by a real voltage source (fig. 5).
 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶
𝑉𝑀𝐴𝑋 = .𝑅
𝑅𝑆𝑅𝐶 + 𝑅𝐿 𝐿

Fig. 5. Frequency response of 𝑉(𝑓) and bandwidth of parallel RLC circuit.

The bandwidth of a parallel RLC circuit is also limited by the half-power frequencies
when the voltage is:
𝑉𝑀𝐴𝑋
𝑉=
√2

Q factor and bandwidth

The bandwidth of the RLC circuits, limited by the half-power frequencies 𝑓𝐿 and 𝑓𝐻 ,
depends on the so called quality factor Q. The Q factor of series RLC circuit is
estimated with:
𝑋𝐿 𝑜𝑟 𝑋𝐶
𝑄=
𝑅
Alternatively the Q factor of parallel RLC circuit is:
𝐵𝐿 𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝐶 𝑅
𝑄= =
𝐺 𝑋𝐿 𝑜𝑟 𝑋𝐶
The bandwidth can be estimated with:
𝑓𝑟
𝐵𝑊 = = 𝑓𝐻 − 𝑓𝐿
𝑄
Work plan
Task 1.

Fig. 6.
1. The circuit from fig. 6 is powered with sine voltage 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 = 6 𝑉𝑝𝑝. For each of the
frequencies in the table below, estimate:
 The angular frequency 𝜔 = 2. 𝜋. 𝑓;
 The inductive reactance 𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔. 𝐿;
1
 The capacitive reactance 𝑋𝐶 = ;
𝜔.𝐶
 The impedance 𝑧 = √𝑅2 + (𝑋𝐿 − 𝑋𝐶 )2;
 The RMS value of the current according to Ohm’s law 𝐼 = 𝑧1.
𝑉

Note that the function generator has 50 Ohms resistance and the coil has 18
Ohms resistance, which should also be included in the calculations.
2. Connect the circuit on the plug-in board and power it up with a sine wave from the
function generator.
3. Measure the voltage amplitude on 𝑅1 for each of the frequencies and fill in its
RMS value in the table below:
𝑉𝑅𝑚
𝑉𝑅 =
√2
4. Estimate the RMS current in the circuit according to Ohm’s law.
𝒇, 𝑯𝒛 500 700 900 1200 1500 2000 3000
Calculated quantities
𝜔, 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
 𝑋𝐿 , 𝛺
𝑋𝐶 , 𝛺
𝑧, 𝛺
𝐼, 𝐴
Measured quantities
𝑉𝑅1 , 𝑉
𝐼, 𝐴

5. Determine the Q factor and bandwidth of the circuit analytically:

1
 Resonant frequency 𝑓𝑟 = 2.𝜋.√𝐿.𝐶
𝑋𝐿
 Quality factor 𝑄 = where 𝑋𝐿 = 2. 𝜋. 𝑓Р . 𝐿1
𝑅𝑉1 +𝑅1 +𝑅𝐿
 Bandwidth:

𝑅 √ 𝑅 2 1
𝜔𝐿 − + ( ) +
2𝐿 2𝐿 𝐿𝐶
𝑓𝐿 = =
2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑅 √ 𝑅 2 1
𝜔𝐻 2𝐿 + (2𝐿) + 𝐿𝐶
𝑓𝐻 = =
2𝜋 2𝜋
𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓𝐻 − 𝑓𝐿

6. Draw the experimentally acquired dependency 𝐼(𝑓) and determine the

bandwidth of the circuit:

 Determine the resonant frequency 𝑓𝑟 where the current is maximal;

𝐼𝑀𝐴𝑋
 Determine the half power current where 𝐼𝐻𝑃 = ;
√2
 Determine the half-power frequencies 𝑓𝐿 and 𝑓𝐻 where 𝐼𝐻𝑃 crosses 𝐼(𝑓);
 Estimate the bandwidth of the circuit with 𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓𝐻 − 𝑓𝐿 .

7. With the circuit Built in Matlab perform an AC sweep analysis. From the current
response determine the resonant frequency and bandwidth of the circuit similarly to
point 6.
 Quantity Calculated Measured Simulated
𝑓𝑟 , 𝐻𝑧
𝑄 N/A N/A
𝑓𝐿 , 𝐻𝑧
𝑓𝐻 , 𝐻𝑧
𝐵𝑊, 𝐻𝑍

Task 2.

Fig. 7.
1. The circuit in fig. 7 is powered by a function generator with sine voltage 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 =
6 𝑉𝑝𝑝. For each of the frequencies in the table below, estimate:
 The angular frequency 𝜔 = 2. 𝜋. 𝑓;
1
 The inductive susceptance 𝐵𝐿 = ;
𝜔.𝐿
 The capacitive susceptance 𝐵𝐶 = 𝜔. 𝐶;
 The complex admittance of the parallel RLC circuit according to:
1
𝑌𝑅𝐿𝐶 = − 𝑗(𝐵𝐿 − 𝐵𝐶 )
𝑅
 The complex impedance of the whole circuit according to:
1
𝑍= + 𝑅𝑆𝑅𝐶
𝑌𝑅𝐿𝐶
•
 Assume that the initial phase of the source is 0 (𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 = 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 . 𝑒 𝑗0 ) and estimate
the complex current of the source according to Ohm’s law:
 •
• 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶
𝐼𝑆𝑅𝐶 =
𝑍
 Write down the KVL for the loop through the source and the resistor 𝑅1 :
• • • • • • • •
𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 = 𝑉𝑅𝑆𝑅𝐶 + 𝑉𝑅1 => 𝑉𝑅1 = 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 − 𝑉𝑅𝑆𝑅𝐶 = 𝑉𝑆𝑅𝐶 − 𝐼𝑆𝑅𝐶 . 𝑅𝑆𝑅𝐶
2. Connect the circuit on the plug-in board and power it up with a sine wave from the
function generator.
3. Measure the voltage amplitude on 𝑅1 for each of the frequencies and fill in its
RMS value in the table below:
𝑉𝑅𝑚
𝑉𝑅 =
√2
𝒇, 𝑯𝒛 200 500 1000 1200 2000 5000 7000
Calculated quantities
𝜔, 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
𝐵𝐿 , 𝑆
𝐵𝐶 , 𝑆
𝑌𝑅𝐿𝐶 , 𝑆
𝑍, 𝛺
•
𝐼𝑆𝑅𝐶 , 𝐴
•
𝑉𝑅1 , V
𝑉𝑅1 , 𝑉
Measured quantities
𝑉𝑅1 , 𝑉

4. Determine analytically the half-power frequencies and bandwidth of the circuit:

1
 Resonant frequency 𝑓𝑟 =
2.𝜋.√𝐿.𝐶
𝑅L
 Quality factor 𝑄 = where 𝑋𝐿 = 2. 𝜋. 𝑓𝑟 . 𝐿1
𝑋𝐿
 𝑓r
 Bandwidth of the circuit 𝐵𝑊 =
𝑄
𝐵𝑊 𝐵𝑊
 Lower and upper frequencies: 𝑓𝐿 = 𝑓r − 𝑓𝐻 = 𝑓r +
2 2

5. Draw the experimentally acquired dependency 𝑉𝑅1 (𝑓) and determine the
bandwidth of the circuit:

 Determine the resonant frequency 𝑓𝑟 where the voltage is maximal;

𝑉𝑀𝐴𝑋
 Determine the half power voltage where 𝑉𝐻𝑃 = ;
√2
 Determine the frequencies 𝑓𝐿 and 𝑓𝐻 where 𝑉𝐻𝑃 crosses 𝑉𝑅1 (𝑓);
 Estimate the bandwidth of the circuit with 𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓𝐻 − 𝑓𝐿 .

6. With the circuit Built in Matlab perform an AC sweep analysis. From the voltage
response determine the resonant frequency and bandwidth of the circuit similarly to
point 5.

Quantity Calculated Measured

𝑓𝑟 , 𝐻𝑧
𝑄 N/A
𝐵𝑊, 𝐻𝑍
𝑓𝐿 , 𝐻𝑧
𝑓𝐻 , 𝐻𝑧

Report content
1. Goals of the lab
2. The circuit schematics
3. The tables with the experimental data
4. The frequency responses 𝐼(𝑓) and 𝑉(𝑓)
4. The conclusions.
Questions
1. Why are the expected and experimental values different?
2. What would happen with the bandwidth of the series circuit if 𝑅1 is increased?
And what if it is decreased?
3. What would happen with the bandwidth of the parallel circuit if 𝑅1 is increased?
And what if it is decreased?
4. Considering the resistance of the source (same inductor and capacitor), what is the
maximal possible Q factor for series and for parallel circuits?