First order circuits

-Circuits that contain only one energy Types:

storage element (capacitor or inductor):-
-Can be described using only a first order RC (resistor and capacitor)
differential equation. RL (resistor and inductor)
Source-Free circuits
This is a circuit where all independent
sources have been disconnected from the
circuit after some switch action.
The voltages and currents in the circuit
typically will have some transient
response due to initial conditions (initial
capacitor voltage and initial inductor
currents),
RC Circuits

• An RC circuit is a circuit that

has both a resistor (R) and a
capacitor (C)
RC Circuits
• The differential equation of an RC
RC
Circuits
• The natural response refers
to the behavior (in terms of
voltages and currents) of the
circuit, with no external
excitation sources
• The voltage response of the
RC circuit is an exponential
decay of Vo -> natural
response
RC
Circuits
• At t=0, the initial condition is
satisfied; as t increases, the
voltage approaches zero
• The rapidity with which the
voltage decreases is
expressed in terms of the
time constant
• Time constant (τ)- time
required for the response to
decay to a factor of 1/e or
36.8% of its initial value
 • The key to working with a source-free RC circuit
is finding:
RC Circuits • The initial voltage across the capacitor.
V(0)=Vo
• The time constant .
RL Circuits

An RL Circuit has at least one resistor (R) and one inductor

(L).
-Parallel or series
RL Circuits • The differential equation of the series
RL circuit
RL Circuits

The natural response of the RL circuit is an

exponential decay of the initial current.

RL Time Constant (τ): time constant -> τ = L / R

represents the time it takes for the current in
the inductor to reach approximately 63.2% of
its final value when subjected to a step change
in current.
RL Circuits

The natural response of the RL circuit is an

exponential decay of the initial current.

RL Time Constant (τ): time constant -> τ = L / R

represents the time it takes for the current in
the inductor to reach approximately 63.2% of
its final value when subjected to a step change
in current.
RL
Circuits