Vout = Vin (6)

In a high-pass RC filter as indicated in Figure 1, the

out voltage can be measured across the resistor,R.
The circuit blocks all low-frequency signals from
0Hz to a cut-off frequency, 𝑓 , then allows all high-
frequency signals to pass after the cut-off frequency
up to infinity when measured across the output of
the resistor.

Figure 2:R-C high-pass filter at f 0 Hz [1].

At f = 0Hz , 𝑋 = = infinity Ω the output
voltage is then equal 0V, as the capacitor acts as an
open circuit shown in Figure 2 [1].
At very high frequencies,f tends to infinity
and 𝑋 = = tends to 0 Ω . The output
voltage is then equal to the input voltage, as
the capacitor acts as a short circuit shown in
Figure 3 [1].

Figure 3:R-C high-pass filter at very high frequencies[1]..

The ratio of the output voltage to the input voltage is also referred to as the Gain, G, [3] of an
RC filter circuit, and is defined in equation (7) for a high-pass filter circuit.

𝐺= = (7)
( )

The half-power point of an RC filter circuit is the frequency at which frequencies are either
rejected or passed. The half-power point occurs at
0.707Vin. Below is (8) this point is also referred to as the
cut-off frequency, 𝑓 .[1]

𝑓 = (8)

The phase angle, ɸ , is the measure of the deviation of a

position within a wave from its initial position and is
expressed in (9) as [3]:

ɸ = arctan ( ) (9)
Figure 4:Output voltage versus frequency for a high-pass
An illustration of the expected output voltage to the R-C filter[1]
frequency of a high-pass RC filter circuit is shown in
Figure 4. This graphical plot shows how low frequencies are stopped or blocked below the half
power point and higher frequencies are passed after the cut-off frequency.
4
 Figure 5 also shows a graphical plot for a high-
pass filter showing the out voltages leading the
input voltage by 90 degrees at f = 0Hz. This angle
reduces to 45 degrees at the cut-off frequency and
at high frequencies, the phase angle between the
output voltage and input voltage tends to zero
degrees[1].
Figure 5:Phase-angle response for the high-pass R-C
filter[1].

In Figure 6 a diagram of a simple Low-Pass RC circuit is shown. An AC source is connected

in series with a resistor and capacitor. The output voltage is then measured across the capacitor.
The circuit passes all low-frequency signals from
0Hz to a cut-off frequency, 𝑓 , then blocks all
high-frequency signals up to infinity when
measured across the output of the capacitor. The
output voltage can be determined by equation (6)
as indicated earlier. The gain can also be
determined.

Figure 6:Simple Low-Pass RC circuit

At f = 0Hz , 𝑋 = = infinity Ω the output voltage is

then equal to the input, as the capacitor acts as an open
circuit shown in Figure 7 [1]. The output voltage is equal to
the input voltage. Figure 7: R-C low-pass filter at low frequencies [1]

At very high
frequencies,f tends
to infinity and 𝑋 = tends to 0 Ω . The output
voltage is then equal 0V , as the capacitor acts as a
short circuit shown in Figure 8 [1].

Figure 8:R-C low-pass filter at very high

frequencies [1]

An illustration of the output voltage to the

frequency of a low-pass RC filter circuit is
Figure 9:Output voltage versus frequency for a low-pass R-C
shown in Figure 9. This graphical plot filter [1]