DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the Staff Member : K.Vijaya Kumar
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics and Communication
Engg.
Institution : Dr BRA GMR Polytechnic,
Rajahmundry.
Semester : III Semester
Subject : Circuit Theory
Sub. Code : EC-303
Topic : Resonance in AC Circuits and
Coupled Circuits
Duration : 50 Minitues
Sub. Topic : Q-factor of coil and capacitor circuits
Teaching Aids to be use : Diagrams& Images
EC 303.56 1
 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would able to know:

• Definition Q-factor .

• Q-factor formula.

• Q-factor for inductance (coil).

• Q-factor for capacitor.

• Q-factor in series resonance circuit.

EC 303.56 2
Recap

In the Previous session we have learnt

• Resonance in series circuits

• Condition for resonance

• Impedance and current variations with frequency

EC 303.56 3
Series Resonance VL=IXL

VL is more than
applied Voltage
V

R L C (VL-VC) V

VR VL VC
Φ

VR(=IR)
~
V= vm sinωt

Fig1 Series RLC circuit

(VC=IXC)
EC303.55 4
Series Resonance

•In series resonant circuit the voltage drops across Inductor and
Capacitor often exceed the supply Voltage by many times as
shown in fig 1
•This is due to large current flow in the circuit
•However these Voltage drops cancel each other
•This is attributed to the Q factor of the circuit

EC 303.56 5
Quality factor

• Every inductor possesses a small resistance in addition to its

inductance.

• Lower the value of this resistance R, better is the quality of the

coil.

Figure 1

EC 303.56 6
Equivalent circuit of an inductor

Figure 2

EC 303.56 7
• The quality factor or the Q-factor of an inductor at the
operating frequency ω is defined as the ratio of reactance of
the coil to its resistance.

• For a coil ωL
Q = -----
R
L is the effective inductance of the coil in Henrys.
R is the effective resistance of the coil in Ohms.
Q is dimensionless ratio.

EC 303.56 8
• Q- factor may also be defined as

Maximum energy stored per cycle

• Q = 2π -----------------------------------------
Energy dissipated per cycle

EC 303.56 9
• A sinusoidal voltage ‘V’ of frequency ω radians/second

applied to an inductor ‘L’ of effective internal resistance ‘R’

as shown.
R L

VR VL
i

~
V= vm sinωt
Figure 3

EC 303.56 10
A.C THROUGH R-L CIRCUITS
Consider a circuit consisting of pure resistance R ohms connected
in series with a pure inductance of L henries.

R L

V
VR VL
i VL

~
VR
V= vm sinωt

Fig1 R-L Circuit and Vector diagram

EC303. 6 11
• The resulting peak current through the coil be Im.

• The maximum energy stored in the inductor

1 2
LI m
2
• The average power dissipated in the inductor per cycle

2
 Im 
  R
 2

EC 303.56 12
• Hence the energy dissipated in the inductor per cycle ‘T’
2
 Im 
  R.T
 2
2
Im 1
.R.
2 f
2
1
LI m
Quality faactor, , Q = 2π
2
2
Im R
.
2 f

2πfL ωL
=
R R
EC 303.56 13
 Q of a capacitor

• The Q-factor of a capacitor at the operating frequency is the

ratio of the reactance of the capacitor to its series resistance.

1
Q=
ωCR
In this case also Q is dimensionless quantity.

EC 303.56 14
The alternative definition of ‘Q’

• On application of a sinusoidal voltage of value V volts and

frequency ω ,.

R C
+

VR VC
i

~
V= vm sinωt

Fig1 R-C Circuit and Vector diagram

EC303. 6 15
• The maximum energy stored in the capacitor.
1 2
CVmax
2
• Vmax is the maximum value across the capacitance ‘C’.

• If R << ω C.

• Then Vmax = Im
ωC

• Imax is the maximum value of current through ‘C’ and ‘R’.

EC 303.56 16
• Maximum energy stored in capacitor C is
2
1 Im
2 ω2 C

• Energy dissipated per cycle

2
Im R
2f

EC 303.56 17
 Quality factor for a series resonance circuit
• The quality factor Qs of series resonant circuit can be
obtained in terms of R,L,C.
1
• ωo =
Substituting for ωo in above equations LC
1
( )L
ωL
We find Qo = o = LC
R R
L L L
=
R LC R L C

Or 1 L
Qo =
R C
EC 303.56 18
 Q - Magnification factor of resonant Circuit

• The quality, or figure of merit, of the resonant circuit, in

sharpness of resonance, is indicated by the factor Q.

• The higher the ratio of reactance at resonance to the series

resistance, the higher is the Q and the sharper the resonance

effect.

EC 303.56 19
• For RLC circuit at the resonance the current Io
through

the series circuit equal to V/R.

• The voltage across the inductor at resonance is

V
given by (ω L) O
R
• Vi= Io . Xi =

= QoV

EC 303.56 20
• Similarly the voltage across the capacitor C is given by

V 1
Vc = Io.Xc = .
R ω oC

= Qo .V.

EC 303.56 21
• We find at resonance the voltage across L and C are equal to Q
times the applied voltage V.

• This Q may be considerably greater than unity

• The voltage across L or C may be made greater than applied

voltage.

• Because of this Q- factor is referred to as circuit magnification

factor.
EC 303.56 22
Effect of Q- factor on resonant frequency and bandwidth

Figure 5

EC 303.56 23
Example 1

A series circuit comprises a 10 resistance, a 5 μF capacitor and a

variable inductance L. The supply voltage is 206∠ 0° volts at a
frequency of 318.3 Hz. The inductance is adjusted until
the p.d. across the 10Ω resistance is a maximum. Determine for
this condition (a) the value of inductance L, (b) the p.d. across each
component and (c) the Q-factor.

EC 303.56 24
(a) The maximum voltage across the resistance occurs at
resonance when the current is a maximum. At resonance,

from which
Inductance L=

EC 303.56 25
(b) Current at resonance Ir =V/R = 206 ∠ 0°/106 ∠ 0°
= 2.06 ∠ 0° A
p.d. across resistance, VR = IrR = 2.06 0° x 10 = 206 ∠ 0° V

p.d. across inductance, VL = IXL

XL =
VL =

EC 303.56 26
p.d. across capacitor, VC = IXC =

= 200∠-900 V

(c) Q-factor at resonance, =

EC 303.56 27
 Summary

• We discussed for definition of Q-factor.

• Formula for Q- factor.

• Q-factor for an inductance.

• Q-factor for an capacitance.

• Magnification factor.

EC 303.56 28
Frequently asked Questions

• Define Q factor of a coil and capacity ?

• Define Q factor of a series resonant circuit ?

• Explain the effect of Q factor on band width of resonant circuit. ?

EC303/2

EC 303.56 29
 Quiz
• 1 . A resonant circuit has a band width of 1000Hz. If
the existing coil is replaced by a coil with lower
‘Q’. What happens to the band width.

a) increases

b) decreases

c) zero (a)

d) remain the same

EC 303.56 30
2. Q- factor for a coil

a) ω L / R

b) ω R/L

c) L/ ω R (a)
d) none

EC 303.56 31
3. Q – of a capacitor

a) 1/ ω CR

b) ω / CR (a)

c) ωC/R

d) none

EC 303.56 32