1

RESPONSE OF FIRST-ORDER
RL AND RC CIRCUITS
OSMAN PARLAKTUNA
OSMANGAZ UNIVERSITY
ESKEHR, TURKEY
www.ogu.edu.tr/~oparlak
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
NATURAL RESPONSE AND
STEP RESPONSE
When an inductor or a capacitor is
abruptly disconnected from its dc source,
the currents and voltages in this circuit
are referred to as the natural response.
The currents and voltages that arise from
the sudden application of a dc voltage or
current source are referred to as the step
response.
2
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE NATURAL RESPONSE
OF AN RL CIRCUIT
t=0
I
s R
o
L
i
R
+
V
We assume that the current
source is a dc source and the
switch has been closed for a
long time before it opens at
t=0.
This means that all the currents and voltages have reached a
constant value. Thus only dc currents can exist in the circuit just
prior to the switchs being opened, and therefore the inductor
appears as a short circuit. Then all the source current I
s
appears
in the inductive branch. We denote this by i(0
-
)=I
s
.
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
R
+
V
i
L
For t>0, the circuit reduces to the one shown in
the figure.
L
di
dt
Ri + = 0
This equation is a first-order ordinary constant coefficient
differential equation.
di
dt
dt
R
L
idt
di
i
R
L
dt
dx
x
R
L
dy
i t
i
R
L
t
i t i e
i t
i t
t
t
R L t
= =
= =
=

( )
( )
( / )
ln
( )
( )
( ) ( )
0 0 0
0
3
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
We know that the current through an inductor cannot change
instantaneously. If we 0
-
to denote the time just prior to
switching, and 0
+
for the time immediately following
switching, then i(0
-
)=i(0
+
)=I
0
.
i t I e t
V t i t R I R e t
V V I R
p Vi I R e t
LI e t
R L t
R L t
R L t
R L t
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )
( / )
( / )
( / )
( / )
=
= =
= =
= =
=

+
+
+

0
0
0
0
2 2
0
2 2
0
0
0 0 0
0
1
2
1 0





Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
TIME CONSTANT
The coefficient of t in the e
-(R/L)t
term (R/L) determines the rate at
which the current or voltage approaches zero. The reciprocal of
this ratio is the time constant of the circuit.

=
=

L
R
i t I e t
t
( )
/
0
0
t e
t /
.
.
.
.
.

0368
2 0135
3 0 0497
4 0 0183
5 0 0067
4
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
e xp (-t)
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Note that when the elapsed time exceeds five time constants,
the current is less than 1% of its initial value. Thus after five
time constants of switching, the currents and voltages have
reached their final values. For first-order circuits with 1%
accuracy, the phrase a long time implies that five or more
time constants have elapsed. The response shown in the
figure is referred to as the transient response. The response
that exists a long time after switching has taken place is called
the steady-state response.
5
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
t=0
2H 10
+
V
o
i
L
0.1
40
2
i
o
20A
The switch has been in the circuit has been closed for a long time
before it is opened at t=0. Find i
L
(t), i
o
(t), and V
o
(t) for t>0. Find
the percentage of the total energy stored in the 2H inductor that is
dissipated in the 10 resistor.
Since the switch has been closed for a long time prior to t=0, the
circuit has reached to dc steady-state and inductor is short
circuit. Then, i
L
(0
-
)=20A.
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Since the current through inductor cannot change instantaneously,
i
L
(0
+
)=i
L
(0
-
)=20A. Circuit for t>0 becomes
10
+
V
o
i
L
40
2
i
o
2H
The equivalent circuit seen by
the inductor
R
L R s
i t e A t
eq
eq
L
t
= + =
= = =
=

2 40 10 10
2 10 0 2
20 0
5
( || )
/ / .
( )

for
i t i t
i t e A t
V t i t e V t
o L
o
t
o o
t
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
=
+
=
= =
+
+
10
10 40
4 0
40 160 0
5
5
for
for
6
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
p t
V
e W t
t e dt J
Li J
o t
t
L
10
2
10
10
10
0
2
10
2560 0
2560 256
0
1
2
0
1
2
2 400 400
256
400
100 64%

( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )( )
( )
= =
= =
= = =
=
+

for

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

EXAMPLE
15
+
V
o 10
40
4
8A 4A
5H
20H
i
1
i
2
i
3
t=0
The initial currents in the inductors are shown in the figure.
The switch is opened at t=0. a) Find i
1
, i
2
, and i
3
for t>0
b) Calculate the initial energy stored in the inductors.
c) Determine how much energy is stored in the inductors as
t
d) Show that the total energy delivered to the resistive
network equals the difference between the results of a and b)
7
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Parallel inductors reduce to an equivalent of 4H with an initial
current of 12A. The resistive network reduces to an equivalent
resistance of 8. Then, for t>0, circuit becomes
12A
4H
8
+
V
o
i
i t e t
L
R
V t i t e t
i t e dx
e t
t
eq
eq
o
t
x
t
t
( ) . sec
( ) ( )
( )
. .
/
= = = =
= =
=
=

12
4
8
05
8 96 0
1
5
96 8
16 9 6 0
2
1
2
0
2

A 0
V
A
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
i t e dx
e t
i t
V t
e A t
x
t
t
o t
2
2
0
2
3
2
1
20
96 4
16 2 4 0
10
15
25
576 0
( )
. .
( )
( )
.
=
=
= =

A

( ) ( ) ( )( ) 0
1
2
5)(64
1
2
20 16 320 = + = J
As and t i A i A
J

= + =
, . .
( ) ( . ) ( )( . )
1 2
2 2
16 16
1
2
5)(16
1
2
20 16 32
8
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

R
t
t
t
pdt e dt
e dt
e
J
J
= =
= =

=
= =

0
2
0
4
0
4
0
8 12
1152 1152
4
288
0 322 32 288
( )( )
( ) ( )
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE NATURAL RESPONSE
OF AN RC CIRCUIT
+
t=0
R
R
1
C
V
g
a
b
The switch has been in position a for
a long time. Then the circuit made up
of V
g
, R
1
and C reaches a dc steady-
state circuit where the capacitor is an
open circuit. The voltage across the
capacitor at t=0
-
is V
g
.
R
C
i
+
V
t>0
Because there can be no instantaneous
change in the capacitor voltage, the initial
voltage across the capacitor is V(0
+
)=V
g
9
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
C
dV
dt
V
R
V t V e t
V V V V V
V t V e t RC
i t
V t
R
V
R
e t
p Vi
V
R
e t
t RC
g
t
t
t
+ =
=
= = = =
= =
= =
= =

+
+
0
0 0
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ,
( )
( )
/
/
/
/

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

EXAMPLE
+
t=0
240
k
10k
0.5
F
x
y
100V
60k
32k
+
+
V
c
V
o
The switch in the
circuit has been in
position x for a long
time. At t=0, it
moves to position y
Find V
c
(t), V
o
(t), and i
o
(t) for t>0. Find the total energy dissipated
in the 60 k resistor.
At t=0
-
, the circuit reaches to dc steady-state. Capacitor is open
circuit and V
c
(0
-
)=100V. Because the voltage across the capacitor
cannot change instantaneously V
c
(0
+
)=100V. The equivalent
resistance seen by the capacitor is (240||60)+32=80 k
10
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
The time constant is R
eq
C=80x10
3
x0.5x10
-6
=40 ms.Then,
V t e V t
V t V t e V t
c
t
o c
t
( )
( ) ( )
=
=
+
=

+
100 0
48
48 32
60 0
25
25


The expression for V
o
(t) is valid for t>0
+
, because V
o
(0
-
)=0. Thus
we have an instantaneous change in the voltage across the 240k
resistor.
i t
V t
e mA t
p i t e mW t
p dt mJ
o
o t
k o
t
k k
( )
( )
( )( )
.
=

=
= =
= =
+
+

60 10
0
60 10 60 0
12
3
25
60
2 3 50
60 60
0

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

EXAMPLE
+
+
24V
4V
250k
i(t)
+
V(t)
+
V
1
(t)
+
V
2
(t)
t=0
5F
20F
Find V
1
(t), V
2
(t), V(t), and i(t)
for t>0. Calculate the initial
energy stored in the capacitors.
Determine the stored energy in
the capacitors as t .
V(0
+
)=V
1
(0
+
)+V
2
(0
+
)=24-4=20V. The equivalent capacitance is
4F. Therefore the time constant is Rc
eq
=1 s. Then,
V t e V t
i t
V t
e A t
t
t
( )
( )
( )
=
=

+
20 0
250 10
80 0
3


11
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
V t e dx
e V t
V t e dx
e V t
J
J
x
t
t
x
t
t
1
6
6
0
2
6
6
0
1
6
2
6
10
5
80 10 4
16 20 0
10
20
80 10 24
4 20 0
0
1
2
5 10 16 40
0
1
2
20 10 576 5760
( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )( )
( ) ( )( )
=
=
= +
= +
= =
= =

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004


1
6 2
2
6 2
1
2
5 10 20 1000
1
2
20 10 20 4000
( ) ( )( )
( ) ( )( )
= =
= =

J
J
12
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE UNIT-STEP FUNCTION
The unit-step function is zero for all values of time which are
less than zero and unity for positive values of time. The unit-
step function is not defined for t=0.
u t
t
t
( ) =
<
>

0 0
1 0
t
1
u(t)
u t t
t t
t t
( ) =
<
>

0
0
0
0
1
t
u(t-t
0
)
1
t
0
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE STEP RESPONSE OF
RL AND RC CIRCUITS
R
L
+
V(t)
+
V
s
t=0
i
The switch in the circuit closes at
t=0. Since the voltage applied to
the circuit is 0 for t<0 and V
s
for
t>0, the switch and voltage
combination can be represented as
a step function V
s
u(t). R
L
+
V(t)
+
V
s
u(t)
i
The initial current through the
inductor (circuit) is zero.
13
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
After the switch has been closed, KVL requires
V Ri L
di
dt
di
dt
Ri V
L
R
L
i
V
R
di
R
L
i
V
R
dt
di
i V R
R
L
dt
s
s s
s
s
= +
=
+
=
=

=
( )
( )
( / )
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
dx
x V R
R
L
dy
i t V R
I V R
R
L
t
i t V R
I V R
e
i t
V
R
I
V
R
e
i t
V
R
V
R
e
s
t
I
i t
s
s
s
s
R
L
t
s s
R
L
t
s s
R
L
t

=
= +
|
\

|
.
|
=

( / )
ln
( ) ( / )
( / )
( ) ( / )
( / )
( )
( )
( )
0
0
0
0
0
14
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Ti me (sec.)
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e
Step Response
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0
0. 1
0. 2
0. 3
0. 4
0. 5
0. 6
0. 7
0. 8
0. 9
1
From: U(1)
T
o
:

Y
(
1
)
63.2% 86.5%
95% 98.2% 99.3%
Slope=1/T
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
+
24V
t=0
8A
10
200
mH
+
V
L
i
2
a b
The switch in the circuit
has been in position a for
a long time. At t=0, the
switch moves to position
b.
a) Find i(t) for t>0, b) What is the initial voltage across the inductor
just after the switch has moved to position b. c) How many
milliseconds after the switch has been moved does the inductor
voltage equal 24 V? d) Plot both i(t) and V
L
(t)
15
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Since the switch has been in position a for a long time, the circuit
reaches to dc steady-state before the switch is moved to position
b. The inductor is short circuit at t=0
-
and I
0
=-8A.
For t>0, circuit becomes
+
24V
200
mH
+
V
L
i
2
b This circuit reaches to steady-state as
t . At infinity, inductor is short
and current becomes 24/2=12A The
time constant of the circuit is
200/2=100 ms.Then,
i t e
e A t
t
t
( ) ( )
/ .
= +
=

12 8 12
12 20 0
0 1
10

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
V t L
di
dt
e e V t
V V
e
t ms
L
t t
L
t
( ) . ( )
( )
ln .
= = =
=
=
= =
+
+

0 2 200 40 0
0 40
24 40
1
10
40
24
5108
10 10
10

16
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
-0 .1 0 0 .1 0 .2 0 .3 0 .4 0 .5
-1 0
-5
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
V L (t)
i (t)
-8
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE STEP RESPONSE OF
AN RC CIRCUIT
I
s
R
C
i
+
V
c
t=0
The current through the RC
circuit is 0 for t<0 and I
s
for t>0,
therefore it can be replaced by a
step current source as I
s
u(t).
I
s
u(t) R
C
i
+
V
c
C
dV
dt
V
R
I
dV
dt
V
RC
I
C
V t I R V I R e t
c c
s
c c s
c s s
t RC
+ = + =
= +

( ) ( )
/
0
0
17
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
+
+
1 2 8k 40k
160
k
20k
60k
40V
75V
0.25
F
+
V
c
i
The switch in the circuit has been in position 1 for a long time. At
t=0, the switch moves to position 2. Find V
c
(t) and i(t) for t>0.
V V V
c c
( ) ( ) 0
60
20 60
40 30 0
+
=
+
= =
t=0
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
+
8k 40k
160
k
75V
0.25
F
+ i
V
c
Let us determine the
Norton equivalent
seen by the capacitor.
V V
R k
i
V
R
mA
TH
TH
sc
TH
TH
=

+
=
= + =
= =

=
160 10
40 160 10
75) 60
8 40 160 40
60
40 10
15
3
3
3
( )
(
( || )
.

18
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
40k
1.5mA 0.25
F
+
V
c
V t e
e V t
i t C
dV
dt
e
e mA t
c
t
t
c t
t
( ) ( ( ))
( ) ( . )( )
.
= +
= +
= =
=

+
60 30 60
60 90 0
0 25 10 9000
2 25 0
100
100
6 100
100


Capacitor will be open as
t . V
c
()=-40*1.5=-60V
The time constant is
0.25*10
-6
*40*10
3
=10ms.
Then,
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
A GENERAL SOLUTION FOR STEP
AND NATURAL RESPONSES
The describing equations for RL and RC circuits have a
common form as
dx
dt
x
K + =

K could be zero.
Because the sources in the circuit are constant, the final value
of x will be constant and dx/dt=0. Then, the final value of x is
x
f
=K. Solution of the differential equation becomes
| |
x t x x t x e
f f
t t
( ) ( )
( )/
= +

0
0

t
0
is the time of switching.
19
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
PROCEDURE
1) Identify the variable of interest for the circuit.
2) Determine the initial value of the variable.
3) Calculate the final value of the variable.
4) Calculate the time constant for the circuit.
5) Then the solution is written as
| |
x t x x t x e
f f
t t
( ) ( )
( )/
= +

0
0

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
90V
+
40V
+
20
60
400k
0.5
F
+
V
c
a
b
t=0
i
The switch has been
in position a for a
long time. At t=0, it
moves to b. Find
V
c
(t) and i(t) for t>0.
The switch has been in position a for a long time, circuit
reaches to dc steady-state at t=0
-
and the capacitor looks like
an open circuit. V
c
(0
-
)=-[(60)/(60+20)]40=-30V=V
c
(0
+
).
After the switch has been in position b for a long time, circuit
reaches to dc steady-state as t . Capacitor looks like an
open circuit. V
cf
=90V
20
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
=RC=(400x10
3
)(0.5x10
-6
)=0.2s
V
c
(t)=90+(-30-90)e
-5t
=90-120e
-5t
V t0
i(0
+
)=[90-(-30)]/(400x10
3
)=300 A
i
f
=0 (capacitor is open circuit, no current flows through the
circuit).
i(t)=0+(300-0)e
-5t
A
To find how long the switch must be in position b before the
capacitor voltage becomes zero, solve 120e
-5t
=90.
e
5t
=(120/90). t=57.54 ms.
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
7.5mA
+
V
o
i
20k
30k
0.1F
t=0
The switch has been open
for a long time. The initial
charge on the capacitor is
zero.
At t=0, the switch is closed. Find i(t) and V
o
(t) for t0.
i mA i
ms
i t e mA t
f
t
( )
. ( )
( )( . )
( )
0
75 20
20 30
3 0
50 10 01 10 5
3 0
3 6
200
+

+
=
+
= =
= =
=

V t i t
e V t
t
0
3 3
200
20 10 75 10
150 60 0
( ) ( . ( )) =
=

+

21
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
+
7.5
3H
15H
i
1
i
2
6H
120V
+
V
0
t=0
There is no energy stored
in the circuit at the time
the switch is closed.
i
0
Find i
0
, V
0
, i
1
, and i
2
.
First, we should determine the equivalent inductance of
inductors and mutual inductor.
3H
15H
6H
V
0
+
i
0
i
a
+

+ =
+

+

=
V
d i i
dt
di
dt
di
dt
d i i
dt
d i i
dt
di
dt
o
o a a
a a o o a a
3 6 0
15 3 6 6 0
( )
( ) ( )
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
3 3
3 6 0
1
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
2
0
0
di
dt
di
dt
V
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
V
di
dt
L H
a
o
a a o
o
o
o
eq
+ =
+ = =
= =
=
( )
+
7.5
1.5
H
120V
+
V
0
t=0 i
0
= = =
=
=
=

+
L
R
s
i e A t
V i
e V t
eq
o
t
o
t
15
75
0 2
16 16 0
120 75
120 0
5
0
5
.
.
.
.


22
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
3 6 6 15 3
80 2
40 8 8 0
24 24 0
1 2 1 2 1 2
1 2
1 2
5 2
2
5 5
0
1 2
5
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
i i i
di
dt
di
dt
di
dt
e
di
dt
i e dx e A t
i i i e A t
o
o
t
x t
t
o
t
+ = + =
= + = +
=
= = +
= =

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
SEQUENTIAL SWITCHING
Whenever switching occurs more than once in a circuit, we
have sequential switching.
+
4
60V
12 6 18
150
mH
t=0 t=35ms
+
V
L
i
L
The two switches in the circuit have been closed for a long time.
At t=0, switch 1 is opened. The, 35 ms later, switch 2 is opened.
Find i
L
(t) for t0. What percentage of the initial energy stored in
the inductor is dissipated in the 18, 3, and 6 resistors.
3
23
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
For t<0, both switches are closed for a long time causing the
inductor to short-circuit the 18 resistor. The circuit at t=0
-
is
+
4
60V
12 6
i
L
(0
-
)
3
After making several source transformations i
L
(0
-
) is determined
to be 6A. For 0 t 35 ms, 4 , 12 and 60 V source are
disconnected from the circuit. The circuit becomes
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
6 18
150
mH
+
V
L
i
L
3
The equivalent resistance
seen by the inductor is
(3+6)||18=6. The time
constant of the circuit is
(150/6)x10
-3
=25 ms
i t e A t ms
L
t
( ) =

6 0 35
40

When t=35ms, the value of the inductor current is
i e A
L
( ) .
.
35 10 6 148
3 1 4
= =

24
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
When switch 2 is opened, the circuit reduces to
6
150
mH
+
V
L
i
L
3
The time constant is
(150/9)x10
-3
=16.67ms
i t e A t ms
L
t
( ) .
( . )
=

148 35
60 0 035

The 18 resistor is in the circuit when t< 35ms. During this
interval
V t
d
dt
e e V <t< m
p
V
e W t ms
L
t t
L t
( ) . ( ) = =
= = < <

015 6 36 0 35
18
72 0 35
40 40
18
2
80
s

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

18
80
0
0 035
80
0
0 035
2 8
72
72
80
09 1 84527
= =

= =

e dt e
e mJ
t t
.
.
.
. ( ) .
The initial energy stored in the 150 mH inductor is

L
J mJ ( ) ( . ) .
( . / ) .
0
1
2
015)(36 2 7 2700
84527 2700 100 3131%
= = =
=
25
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
For 0<t<35 ms, the voltage across the 3 resistor is
V
V
e
e
dt e mJ
L t
t
3
40
3
80
0
0 035
2 8
9
3 12
144
3
0 6 1 56351

=
|
\

|
.
| =
= = =

.
.
. ( ) .
For t>35 ms, the current in the 3 resistor is equal to i
L
. Then

3
60 0 035 2
0 035
3 148 54 73

= =

( . ) .
( . )
.
e dt mJ
t
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004

3
56351 54 73 618 24
618 24
2700
100 229%
T
mJ = + =
=
. . .
.
.
Because the 6 resistor is in series with the 3 resistor, the
energy dissipated and the percentage of the initial energy stored
will be twice that of the 3 resistor.

6
1236 48
1236 48
2700
100 458%
T
mJ =
=
.
.
.
26
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
UNBOUNDED RESPONSE
A circuit response may grow, rather than decay, exponentially with
time. This type of response is called an unbounded response and
it is possible if the circuit contains dependent sources. In that case,
the Thevenin resistance seen by the inductor and capacitor may be
negative. This negative resistance generates a negative time
constant, and the resulting currents and voltages increase without
limit.
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
5F
+
V
o
20k
10k
i
a
7i
a
t=0
10V
+
When the switch is
closed, the voltage across
the capacitor is 10V. Find
the expression for V
o
for
t0
We should determine R
Th
seen by the capacitor. Connect a
dummy voltage source V
T
across the terminals of the capacitor.
10k
i
a
7i
a
+
V
T
i
T
i
V V V
mA
R
V
i
k
T
T T T
Th
T
T
= +
= =
10
7
20 20
5
27
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
For t0, the differential equation
describing the given circuit is
5F
+
V
o
-5k
t=0
10V
+
( )
( )
5 10
5
10 0
40 0
10 0
6 3
40
=
=
=

dV
dt
V
dV
dt
V
V t e V t
o o
o
o
o
t

Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
Assume that capacitor short-circuits when its terminal voltage
reaches 150 V. How many milliseconds elapse before the
capacitor short-circuits?
150 10
15
40 15
67 7
40
40
=
=
=
=
e
e
t
t ms
t
t
a
a
a
a
ln
.
28
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
THE INTEGRATING AMPLIFIER
+ +
+
V
o
V
s
R
s
C
f
i
f
i
s
i i
v v
i
V
R
i C
dV
dt
f s
s
s
s
f f
o
+ =
= =
= =
+
0
0
,
dV
dt R C
V
V t
R C
V dy V t
o
s f
s
o
s f
s o o
t
t
o
=
= +

1
1
( ) ( )
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
EXAMPLE
+
+
V
o
+ 5V
0.1F
+
100k
8V
10V
a
b
At the instant the switch makes
contact with terminal a, the voltage
across the capacitor is 5V. The
switch remains at a for 9 ms then
moves to terminal b. How many
milliseconds after making contact
with terminal a does the opamp
saturate?
V dy t V
V ms V
o
t
o
= = +
= + =

5
1
10
10 5 1000
9 5 9 4
2
0
( ) ( )
( )
-6V
6V
+
29
Circuit Analysis I Osman Parlaktuna Fall 2004
The expression for the output voltage after the switch moves
to terminal b
V dy
t t V
o
t
=
= =

4
1
10
8
4 800 9 10 112 800
2
9 10
3
3
( ) ( . )
During this interval, the voltage is decreasing. Therefore opamp
will saturate when V
o
=-6V
112 800 6 215 . . = = t t ms
s s