ELL 100 LAB

REPORT
SUBMISSION
EXPERIMENT NO. 03
Time constant of a RC circuit
and Step Response of RLC
circuit

By:
Mahesh Patidar
Ce1180113
 CONTENTS

 Objectives and apparatus

 Determine and verify the time
constant of RC circuit
 Observe and trace the step
response of RLC circuit
 Conclusion and discussion
 OBJECTIVE AND APPARATUS
OBJECTIVE:

1.To determine the time constant and check it

with theoretical value.
2. To observe and trace the complete response to
step input in RLC circuit.

APPARATUS:
1. Capacitor 0.22µF
2. Connecting wire
3. Multimeter
4. Digital storage oscilloscope
5. Breadboard
6. Resistors
 470Ω
 5KΩ
 10 KΩ
 Part :1
Determine time constant of a
capacitive circuit

AIM:
To determine the time constant

THEORY:
To find the complete response of an RC series circuit we
find the zero input response and zero state response and
then add them together.

Natural response:
dv v
c + =0
dt R

Thus the natural response become

-t/RC
V(t) = Ae
 A is an arbitrary constant and the constant term RC is
known as time constant. the time constant provides a
measure of how long a capacitor takes to get
discharged or charged.

total response = natural response +

steady state response
Set up :
 OBSERVATIONS:
case voltage Vτ τ (µs)experimental τ (µs)theor.

1. 3.36 2.11 98 102

2. 3.36 1.24 98 102

Calculations:
The theoretical value of time constant
= RC
463.1Ω * 0.22µF
101.882µs
 102µs

Observed value of time constant =

98+98
µs
2

98µs
Conclusion:
Hence, within the experimental error
we were able to measure the time
constant of series RC circuit .
 PART : 2
Step response in
series RLC circuit
AIM:
1. To observe the complete response to step
input in series RLC circuit.
2. to obtain the period of oscillation, setting
time, peak overshoot, rise time, peak time,
delay time from the step response and
comparing these value with the theoretical
values .
3. to adjust the value so that a critical
response of RLC circuit can be obtained.
4. to compare the critical resistance with the
theoretical resistance we get.
APPARATUS :
1. Breadboard
2. variable resistor
3. jumpers
4. multimeters
5. capacitor of 0.22 µF
6. inductance of 2 H
7. digital storage oscilloscope
8. function generator
9. dc power supply

THEORY:
If we apply KVL in the loop we get
VR + VL + VC = VS
The current flowing in the circuit is given by :
Substituting in this equation we get

Assuming the homogeneous solution

and by substituting into above
equation we get

By defining :
α= R/2L : damping rate
 He
re we have 3 cases:
1. Roots real and distinct – over
damped condition
2. Roots real and equal – critically
damped condition
3. Roots complex conjugate – under
damped condition
Set up :
OBSERVATION TABLE

Sr.n resista tf ts tp Mp
o. nce
1. 470Ω 21.2 5.80 2.40 192
ms ms ms mv
2. 5kΩ 2.5 7.1m 4.40 344
 ms s ms mv
3. 10kΩ 4.4 9.5m 5.4m 328
ms s s mv

Where
tf =rise time
ts = setting time
tp = time of peak overshoot
Mp = peak overshoot
DSO SCREENS:
CONCLUSION AND FURTHER
DISCUSSION:
CONCLUSION:
Hence we were able to measure
various damping condition in the step
response in a series RLC circuit and
were able to measure the different
time domain specification from a DSO
apparatus.

SOURCE OF ERRORS:
1. Loose connection
2. Resistance in wire and change due
to temperature.
3. Deviation due to tolerance in
values.
4. Difference in actual resistance,
capacitance or inductance for
measured values
5. Connections changed while circuit
is powered

PRECAUTIONS:
 Insulated tools should be used
 Proper shoes should be worn
 Circuit should be not left powered
on for the long time.
 Electric wire should be properly
snipped.