Study of a Series L-C-R Resonant Circuit

Aim:
1. Study the variation of current along with impedance of L and C with respect to input
frequency
2. Draw the Resonance curve
3. Determination of the Bandwidth
4. Determination of Q-factor of the circuit
Theory: In a series resonant circuit the three elements (R,L and C) are connected in series
across an alternating supply.

Fig:1 Fig: 2

Figure: 1 shows a series resonant L-C-R circuit driven by an ac source of constant output
r.m.s. voltage 𝑉𝑖 . If 𝑓 be the frequency and 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 be the angular frequency of the source
then the r.m.s. value of current (𝐼) flowing through the circuit is given by,
𝑉𝑖
𝐼=
√𝑅𝑡2 + (𝜔𝐿 − 1 )2
𝜔𝐶
where, 𝑅𝑡 = 𝑅 + 𝑟 (resistance of the inductor coil)
𝐼 can be measured by the relation;
𝑉𝑅
𝐼=
𝑅
where, 𝑉𝑅 is the r.m.s. voltage across 𝑅.
Keeping 𝑉𝑖 fixed if the frequency of the source is gradually increased from a low value, 𝐼
at first increases, attains a maximum value and then falls as shown in fig: 2.

This curve of the current versus frequency is known as resonance curve. The current
𝐼attains a maximum value 𝐼0 at a frequency 𝑓0 called resonant frequency and is given by,

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 1
𝜔0 𝐿 =
𝜔0 𝐶
1
Or, 𝑓0 =
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
If L is unknown but C is known then the value of L can be determined from the above
equation, after knowing 𝑓0 experimentally.
The bandwidth (BW) of a resonant circuit is defined as the total number of cycles below
and above the resonant frequency (𝑓0 ) for which the current is equal to or greater than 70.7%
of its resonant value.
In the response curve (fig: 2) 𝑓1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓2 are the two half-power frequencies at which the
𝐼0
current falls to or 70.7% of the maximum current value.
√2
Therefore, the bandwidth of the circuit can be written as;
Bandwidth (BW) = Upper half-power frequency – Lower half-power frequency
= 𝑓2 − 𝑓1
The response (current) falls from its maximum value on either side of 𝑓0 . The rate of fall
of response with departure of ‘𝑓’ from 𝑓0 i.e. sharpness of resonance is usually expressed in
terms of Q-factor. The Q-factor is defined by,
𝑓0
𝑄=
𝑓2 − 𝑓1
The Q-factor can also be found by using the relations:
𝜔0 𝐿 1 𝐿
i. 𝑄= = √
𝑅𝑡 𝑅𝑡 𝐶
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝐶 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
ii. 𝑄=
𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
If VL is the r.m.s. voltage across L then its impedance is given by;
𝑉𝐿 𝑉𝐿
𝑍𝐿 = √𝑟 2 + 𝑋𝐿2 = = . 𝑅
𝐼 𝑉𝑅
Where, r is the dc resistance of the inductor coil and 𝑋𝐿 = 𝜔𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 is the inductive
reactance.
If VC is the r.m.s. voltage across C then its impedance is given by;
𝑉𝐶 𝑉𝐶
𝑍𝐶 = √𝑟𝐶2 + 𝑋𝐶2 = = .𝑅
𝐼 𝑉𝑅
1 1
Where, rc is the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor and 𝑋𝐶 = 𝜔𝐶 = is the
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
capacitive reactance.

Apparatus:

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 i. An air-cored or ferrite-cored inductor L, a mica capacitor C and a non-inductive
resistance box R.
ii. An electronic ac voltmeter.
iii. An audio oscillator.

Procedure:
i. According to resonant frequency (𝑓0 ), make the circuit connections as shown in Fig:1
with suitable value of L, R and C.
ii. Switch on the audio oscillator and adjust its output voltage Vi to a suitable value. Set its
frequency 𝑓 to a fairly low value.
iii. Measure the voltage VR, VL and VC across R, L and C by the ac voltmeter.
𝑉𝑅
iv. Calculate current 𝐼 by using relation 𝐼 = . Also calculate ZL and ZC.
𝑅
v. Vary the frequency of the oscillator in small steps over a frequency range including 𝑓0
and in each step repeat the process of step number iii and iv.
vi. Draw the resonance curve by plotting ‘𝑓’ along x-axis and ‘𝐼’ along y-axis.
vii. Calculate bandwidth and Q-factor.

Calculation:
Considering C=0.01µF, R=R1=1000ꭥ and L=53.5mH, calculate resonant frequency (𝑓0 )
1
𝑓0 =
2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
Experimental Data:
A. Data for different voltages as a function of frequency:
(Considering C=0.01µF, R=R1=1000ꭥ, L=53.5mH and value of input ac voltage = 1.36v)
Table-I
Source r.m.s. Voltages (volt) r.m.s.
Sl. current ZC=VC/𝑰 ZL=VL/𝑰
Frequency
No. VR VC VL 𝑽 in ꭥ in ꭥ
(kHz) 𝑰= 𝑹
𝑹
1 1 0.08 1.39 2.60
2 1.5 0.13 1.42 2.61
3 2 0.17 1.46 2.60
4 2.5 0.24 1.53 2.62
5 3 0.30 1.62 2.58
6 3.5 0.37 1.75 2.58
7 4 0.46 1.90 2.58
8 4.5 0.57 2.09 2.57
9 5 0.71 2.33 2.55
10 5.5 0.88 2.66 2.54

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 11 6 1.08 2.94 4.30
12 6.5 1.24 3.06 4.28
13 7 1.31 2.95 4.25
14 7.5 1.24 2.57 4.22
15 8 1.10 2.13 4.19
16 8.5 0.97 1.74 4.16
17 9 0.85 1.43 4.12
18 9.5 0.74 1.24 4.09
19 10 0.66 1.05 4.05
20 10.5 0.61 0.90 4.00
21 11 0.55 0.77 3.95
22 11.5 0.50 0.68 3.92
23 12 0.46 0.62 3.87
24 12.5 0.44 0.55 3.83
25 13 0.41 0.49 3.80

B. Calculation of bandwidth from resonance curve:

Value of lower half-power frequency:
Value of upper half-power frequency:
Value of bandwidth (BW):
C. Calculation of Q-factor from resonance curve:
𝑓0 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝐶 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝜔0 𝐿 1 𝐿
𝑄= or 𝑄 = or 𝑄 = = √
𝑓2 −𝑓1 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝑡 𝑅𝑡 𝐶

Graph:

Precaution and Discussion:

1. The ac voltmeter must have good frequency response.

2. The audio oscillator must have low output impedance with good amplitude stability.
3. The input voltage (Vi) may change with the change in frequency. So it should be checked
regularly.
4. Smaller is the value of R, larger is the value of Q and sharper is the resonance.
5. The current 𝐼 can be measured directly if an ac milliammeter having good frequency
response is available.
6. The voltage across C is Q times higher than input Vi. So it may be dangerously high when
Q is large. So Vi should be kept small.

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