Electric Circuit Analysis

Natural response of RL Circuits

 Natural Response

 It describes the “discharging” of inductors or

capacitors through a circuit having no dependent or
independent source.
 Since no external source is involved, thus termed as
“natural” response.
 RL and RC Circuits

 A circuit that contains sources, resistors and an

inductor is called an RL circuit.
 A circuit that contains sources, resistors and a
capacitor is called an RC circuit.
 Why called First-Order Circuits

RL and RC circuits are called first-order circuits

because their voltages and currents are described
by first-order differential equations.
 Important to Remember

 Any first-order circuit can be reduced to a Thévenin (or

Norton) equivalent connected to either a single
equivalent inductor or capacitor. RTh

+
IN RN L VTh – C

 In steady state, an inductor behaves like a short circuit

 In steady state, a capacitor behaves like an open circuit
 Natural & Step Response

 The natural response of an RL or RC circuit is

its behavior (i.e., current and voltage). In this case
stored energy in the inductor or capacitor is
released to the resistive part of the network
(containing no independent sources).

 The step response of an RL or RC circuit is its

behavior when a voltage or current source (step)
is applied to the circuit.
(Note: application of a DC voltage source or current source is
referred to as a “step”.)
 Natural Response of an RL Circuit
 Consider the following circuit, for which the switch S1 is
closed S1
t=0 i +

Io L R v
–

 The current flowing in the inductor at t = 0 is Io

 Solving for the Current (t  0)
 For switch S1 is open t > 0, the circuit reduces to

i +

L R v
–

 Applying KVL to the LR circuit

VS = VL + VR; Here as Vs  0 we get 0 = VL + VR
 So

Thus we get the following first order ODE for the circuit shown
Expression for Current through an Inductor
 Expression for Current through an Inductor in
terms of Time Constant

Thus derived in the previous slide can be

written in terms of time constant as
 Expression for Voltage in an RL Circuit

Replace with the expression of current

through and inductor

The above expression can be written in terms of time constant by using

RL Natural Response Example
Question: For the circuit shown.
(a) Find the value of time constant
(b) Find expressions for voltage and current in terms of
time t.
(c) Find the value of voltage and current at time t=0
 RL Natural Response Example

(a) Solution: Value of time constant

 RL Natural Response Example

(b) Solution: Expressions for voltage and

current in terms of time t.
 RL Natural Response Example

(c) Solution:

When switch is closed, time t=0 ; = 0.008 A

Similarly,

When switch is closed, time t=0 ; = 1.6 V