THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
ND IIB

COURSE CODE: STP 212

COURSE TITLE: THERMODYNAMIS AND ELECTROMAGNECTIC
ASSIGNMENT
BY
THOMAS KEFAS
21/142183
QUESTION:
Deduce and explain the following with respect to an R-L-C series a.c circuits: (i)
the voltage, current and impendence (ii) resonance phenomenon (iii) quality
factor

FEBRUARY, 2024
 DISCUSSION OF VOLTAGE, CURRENT, AND IMPEDANCE IN RLC AC CIRCUITS,
INCLUDING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND KEY CHARACTERISTICS:

Voltage

 Voltage across each component: The voltage across each component in a series
RLC circuit has a different magnitude and a different phase relationship with the
current.
o Resistor (VR): Voltage across the resistor is in phase with the current.
o Inductor (VL): Voltage across the inductor leads the current by 90 degrees.
o Capacitor (VC): Voltage across the capacitor lags the current by 90 degrees.
 Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL): The sum of the individual voltages across the
components must equal the total applied source voltage (Vs). This is expressed in
the following voltage triangle:

Current

 Magnitude: The current flowing through each component in a series RLC circuit is
the same.
 Phase: The current acts as the reference point for the phase angle of the voltages
across each component, as described above.

Impedance

 Definition: Impedance (Z) is the total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit.

It's a combination of resistance (R) and reactance (X). Reactance is further divided
into:
o Inductive Reactance (XL): Opposition to current flow by an inductor. It increases
with frequency.
o Capacitive Reactance (XC): Opposition to current flow by a capacitor. It decreases
with frequency.
 Calculation: Impedance is calculated by combining resistance and reactances
using the impedance triangle:
 RLC impedance triang
```
Z = √(R² + (XL - XC)²)
```

 Phase Angle: The impedance triangle also represents the phase angle (Φ)
between the applied voltage and current:
 Φ = arctan((XL - XC)/R)

Resonance

A special condition in series RLC circuits is resonance. This occurs when the
inductive reactance (XL) is equal in magnitude to the capacitive reactance (XC). At
resonance:

 Impedance is minimum: The impedance equals the resistance (Z = R).

 Current is maximum: This means the circuit allows the highest current flow.
 Voltage across L and C are equal and opposite: This results in those voltages
effectively canceling each other out.
 Resonance frequency: The frequency at which resonance occurs is given by:
fr = 1 / (2π√(LC))

RESONANCE PHENOMENON AND QUALITY FACTOR IN RLC CIRCUITS

Resonance in an RLC circuit refers to the condition when the inductive reactance
(XL) and capacitive reactance (XC) cancel each other out, resulting in a minimum
impedance (Z) to the flow of current. This occurs at a specific frequency called the
resonant frequency (f_r).
 Here's a breakdown of the key points:

Effects of Resonance:

 Increased Current: At resonance, the opposition to current flow is minimized,

leading to a maximum current flowing through the circuit at the applied voltage.
 Sharpness of Resonance: The quality factor (Q) plays a crucial role in determining
the sharpness of the resonance peak. A high Q factor indicates a narrow and
intense peak in current, while a low Q factor signifies a broader and less
pronounced peak.
 Impedance Behavior: As we move away from the resonant frequency, the
reactances (XL and XC) no longer cancel out completely, and the impedance starts
to increase again.

Quality Factor (Q):

The quality factor (Q) is a dimensionless parameter that quantifies the sharpness
of the resonance peak. It represents the ratio of the energy stored in the system
at resonance to the energy lost per cycle:

Q = 2π * (Energy stored at resonance) / (Energy lost per cycle)

Higher Q signifies:

 Lower energy loss: The system resonates for a longer duration with minimal
energy dissipation.
 Narrower resonance peak: The current peak at resonance is sharper and more
pronounced.
 Greater selectivity: In applications like filters, a higher Q circuit allows for better
filtering of specific frequencies by rejecting signals outside the narrow resonance
band.

Lower Q signifies:

 Higher energy loss: The system dissipates energy more rapidly, leading to a
shorter resonance duration.
 Broader resonance peak: The current peak at resonance is wider and less distinct.
 Lower selectivity: The circuit is less effective in filtering out unwanted frequencies
surrounding the resonance frequency.
 Factors Affecting Q:

 Resistance (R): Higher resistance leads to larger energy losses, resulting in a lower
Q.
 Inductance (L) and Capacitance (C): While increasing either L or C alone can
influence the resonant frequency, their ratio (L/C) directly affects Q. A higher L/C
ratio generally leads to a higher Q.

Applications of Resonance:

Resonance is a crucial phenomenon in various applications, including:

 Tuning circuits: In radio receivers, tuned circuits are used to select specific
channels by adjusting the circuit parameters to resonate at the desired signal
frequency.
 Filters: Bandpass filters utilize resonance to allow specific frequency bands to pass
while rejecting unwanted frequencies.
 Power transfer: In power transmission lines, resonance can be used to maximize
energy transfer efficiency.

Understanding resonance and the quality factor is essential for analyzing and
designing various AC circuits, especially in applications where frequency
selectivity and efficient energy transfer are critical.