MacPhail School of Energy (MSE)
Electronics Engineering Technology (ENT)
ELTR 270 - Electronic Devices and Circuits I
Solutions - Practice Problems - First Order Filters
Habib Islam
ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
Problem 1
The input to a basic RC first-order low-pass filter with fc = 25 kHz is a 250 mVpp sinusoid.
Calculate the output voltage from the filter using both an exact analysis (ie, M (f )) and the
‘idealized’ (ie, IMR) approach at the following frequencies: 0.01fc , 0.1fc , 0.5fc , fc , 2fc , 10fc ,
and 100fc .
Solution
The input-output relationship of the RC low-pass filter is given as follows.
−jXC
Vout = Vin
R − jXC
Vout −jXC / − jXC 1 1
= = =
Vin (R − jXC )/ − jXC 1 − R/jXC 1 + jR/XC
Vout 1 1
Av = = =
Vin 1 + jR/(1/2πf C) 1 + jf /(1/2πRC)
1
Av = (1)
1 + jf /fc
Using exact analysis, the magnitude response of the RC low-pass filter is given by
1
M (f ) = |Av | = v
u !2 (2)
u
t1 + f
fc
!2 !2
f f
For f << fc , << 1. In that case, 1 + ≈ 1 and equation(2) can be approximated
fc fc
as
IM R(f )|f <<fc = 1 (3)
Note that for f = fc the dB value of (2) becomes zero. Therefore, for f = fc ,
equation (3) is used for calculating the gain.
!2 !2 !2
f f f
For f >> fc , >> 1. In that case, 1 + ≈ and equation(2) can be approx-
fc fc fc
imated as
1 fc
IM R(f )|f >>fc = v = (4)
u
u f
!2 f
t
fc
Problem 1 continued on next page. . . 2
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f 0.01fc
At f = 0.01fc , = = 0.01. Applying this value to (2) and (3), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 249.9875 mVpp
1 + (0.01)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = 250 mVpp
f 0.1fc
At f = 0.1fc , = = 0.1. Applying this value to (2) and (3), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 249.7953 mVpp
1 + (0.1)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = 250 mVpp
f 0.5fc
At f = 0.5fc , = = 0.5. Applying this value to (2) and (3), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 223.6068 mVpp
1 + (0.5)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = 250 mVpp
f fc
At f = fc , = = 1. Applying this value to (2) and (3), we get
fc fc
1
Vout = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 176.7767 mVpp
1 + (1)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = 250 mVpp
f 2fc
At f = 2fc , = = 2. Applying this value to (2) and (4), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 111.8034 mVpp
1 + (2)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = (0.5)(250 mVpp ) = 125 mVpp
f 10fc
At f = 10fc , = = 10. Applying this value to (2) and (4), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 25.2739 mVpp
1 + (10)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = (0.1)(250 mVpp ) = 25 mVpp
Problem 1 continued on next page. . . 3
ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
f 10fc
At f = 100fc , = = 100. Applying this value to (2) and (4), we get
fc fc
1
Vout,exact = M (f )Vin = q × (250 mVpp ) = 2.24999 mVpp
1 + (100)2
Vout,approx = IM R(f )Vin = Vin = (0.01)(250 mVpp ) = 2.5 mVpp
Problem 2
Calculate the gain (in dB) of a first-order low-pass filter an octave below fc and at an octave
above fc using both an exact analysis (ie, M (f )) and the approximate IMR approach. Take
Rth = 2.7 kΩ and C = 680 pF.
Solution
Applying 20 log to (2), the exact dB gain for a low pass filter can be written as
!2
1 = −10 log 1 +
f
M (f, dB) = 20 log10 q 10
(5)
1 + (f /fc )2 fc
Applying 20 log to (3) and (4), the approximate dB gain for a low pass filter can be written
as
IM R(f, dB)|f <<fc = 20 log10 (1) = 0 dB (6)
! !
fc f
IM R(f, dB)|f >>fc = 20 log10 = −20 log10 (7)
f fc
Note that equation (6) is also true for f = fc .
f 0.5fc
For the frequency one octave below fc , the ratio = = 0.5. Applying this value to
fc fc
(5) and (6), respectively, we get
Vout,exact (dB) = −10 log10 1 + (0.5)2 = −0.969 dB
Vout,approx (dB) = 0 dB
f 2fc
For the frequency one octave above fc , the ratio = = 2. Applying this value to (5)
fc fc
and (7), respectively, we get
Vout,exact (dB) = −10 log10 1 + (2)2 = −6.99 dB
Vout,approx (dB) = −20 log10 (2) = −6 dB
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ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
Problem 3
Sketch the Idealized Magnitude Response (IMR) and Idealized Phase Response (IPR) of an
RC first-order high-pass filter with R = 10 kΩ and C = 640 pF. Assume the filter is being
driven by a 50 Ω signal source. Use a 5-cycle log plot covering the range 10 Hz to 1 MHz with
a maximum plot depth of -50 dB. The IMR should have three plot points on its descending
slope: at fc , at a point a decade away from fc and at the ‘exit point’ of the IMR (the point
where the line exits the graph area). The IPR should have the usual three construction
points at 1/10fc , fc , and 10fc .
Solution
First, calculate the cutoff frequency as follows.
1 1
fc = = = 24.74 kHz
2πRTH C 2π(10 kΩ + 50 Ω)(640 pF)
To determine the exit point frequency (the frequency for which the gain is −50 dB), find
the maximum and minimum gain of the filter. When f → 0, the capacitor acts as an open
circuit and no current flows through R. Therefore,
vout = VR = 0
vout
Av (dB) = −20 log10 = −∞ dB
vin
Av (min,dB) = −∞ dB
When f → ∞, the capacitor acts as a close circuit and total input voltage drops across R.
Therefore,
vout = VR = vin
vout
Av (dB) = −20 log10 = 0 dB
vin
Av (max,dB) = 0 dB
In our IMR graph, the lower gain AvL = −50 dB and the upper gain AvU = 0 dB.
In the IMR graph of an RC high-pass filter, the gain increases by 20 dB/decade from below
the cutoff frequency. This is the slope of the IMR graph. Therefore,the frequency of the
Problem 3 continued on next page. . . 5
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filter where its gain is −50 dB can be calculated as follows.
∆Av dB
m=
∆ log f
AvU − AvL
20 dB =
log fU − log fL
0 dB − (−50 dB)
20 dB =
log(24.74 kHz) − log fL
50
log fL = log(24.74 kHz) − = 4.39 − 2.5 = 1.89
20
fL = 101.89 = 77.6 Hz
For an RC high-pass filter the idealized magnitude response (IMR) is given by
IM R(f, dB)|f >>fc = 0 dB (8)
!
f
IM R(f, dB)|f <<fc = 20 log10 (9)
fc
At f = fc , IM R = 0 dB.
At f = 0.1fc , IM R = 20 log10 (0.1) = −20 dB.
The IMR graph is shown in Figure 1.
The idealized phase response of an RC high-pass filter is given by
!
−1 fc
IP R(f )|f <<fc = tan = tan−1 (∞) = 90o (10)
f
!
fc
IP R(f )|f >>fc = tan−1 = tan−1 (0) = 0o (11)
f
According to (10), at f = 0.1fc , IP R = 90o .
At f = fc , IP R = tan−1 (1) = 45o .
According to (11), at f = 10fc , IP R = 0o .
The IPR graph is shown in Figure 2.
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ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
Figure 1: IMR graph for the high-pass RC filter of Problem 3.
Figure 2: IPR graph for the high-pass RC filter of Problem 3.
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ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
Problem 4
Repeat Problem 3 for a RC high-pass filter with R = 1 kΩ and C = 500 nF.
Solution
First, calculate the cutoff frequency as follows.
1 1
fc = = = 303.15 Hz
2πRTH C 2π(1 kΩ + 50 Ω)(500 nF)
To determine the exit point frequency (the frequency for which the gain is −50 dB), find
the maximum and minimum gain of the filter. When f → 0, the capacitor acts as an open
circuit and no current flows through R. Therefore,
vout = VR = 0
vout
Av (dB) = −20 log10 = −∞ dB
vin
Av (min,dB) = −∞ dB
When f → ∞, the capacitor acts as a close circuit and total input voltage drops across R.
Therefore,
vout = VR = vin
vout
Av (dB) = −20 log10 = 0 dB
vin
Av (max,dB) = 0 dB
In our IMR graph, the lower gain AvL = −50 dB and the upper gain AvU = 0 dB.
In the IMR graph of an RC high-pass filter, the gain increases by 20 dB/decade from below
the cutoff frequency. This is the slope of the IMR graph. Therefore,the frequency of the
filter where its gain is −50 dB can be calculated as follows.
∆Av dB
m=
∆ log f
AvU − AvL
20 dB =
log fU − log fL
0 dB − (−50 dB)
20 dB =
log(303.15 Hz) − log fL
50
log fL = log(303.15 Hz) − = 2.48 − 2.5 = −0.02
20
fL = 10−0.02 = 0.95 Hz
Problem 4 continued on next page. . . 8
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For an RC high-pass filter the idealized magnitude response (IMR) is given by (8) and (9).
At f = fc , IM R = 0 dB.
At f = 0.1fc , IM R = 20 log10 (0.1) = −20 dB.
The IMR graph is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: IMR graph for the high-pass RC filter of Problem 4.
The idealized phase response of an RC high-pass filter is given by (10) and (11).
According to (10), at f = 0.1fc , IP R = 90o .
At f = fc , IP R = tan−1 (1) = 45o .
According to (11), at f = 10fc , IP R = 0o .
The IPR graph is shown in Figure 4.
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Figure 4: IPR graph for the high-pass RC filter of Problem 4.
Problem 5
Repeat Problem 3 for a RL low-pass filter with R = 330 Ω and L = 34.1 mH.
Solution
First, calculate the cutoff frequency as follows.
RTH 330 Ω
fc = = = 1.54 kHz
2πL (2π)(34.1 mH)
To determine the exit point frequency (the frequency for which the gain is −50 dB), find the
maximum and minimum gain of the filter. When f → 0, the inductor acts as a short circuit
and the total input voltage drops across R. Therefore,
vout = VR = Vin
Vout
Av (dB) = 20 log10 = 20 log10 (1) = 0 dB
Vin
Av (max,dB) = 0 dB
When f → ∞, the inductor acts as an open circuit and no current flows through the circuit.
Problem 5 continued on next page. . . 10
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Therefore,
vout = VR = 0
vout
Av (dB) = −20 log10 = −∞ dB
vin
Av (min,dB) = −∞ dB
In our IMR graph, the lower gain AvL = −50 dB and the upper gain AvU = 0 dB.
In the IMR graph of an RL high-pass filter, the gain decreases by 20 dB/decade from above
the cutoff frequency. This is the slope of the IMR graph. Therefore,the frequency of the
filter where its gain is −50 dB can be calculated as follows.
∆Av dB
m=
∆ log f
AvL − AvU
−20 dB =
log fU − log fL
−50 dB − 0 dB
−20 dB =
log fU − log(1.54 kHz)
50
log fU = log(1.54 kHz) + = 3.19 + 2.5 = 5.69
20
fU = 105.69 = 489.8 kHz
For an RL low-pass filter the idealized magnitude response (IMR) is given by
IM R(f, dB)|f <<fc = 0 dB (12)
!
f
IM R(f, dB)|f >>fc = 20 log10 (13)
fc
At f = fc , IM R = 0 dB.
At f = 0.1fc , IM R = 20 log10 (1) = 0 dB.
The IMR graph is shown in Figure 5.
The idealized phase response of an RL low-pass filter is given by
!
−1 f
IP R(f )|f >>fc = − tan = − tan−1 (∞) = −90o (14)
fc
!
−1 f
IP R(f )|f <<fc = tan = tan−1 (0) = 0o (15)
fc
Problem 5 continued on next page. . . 11
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Figure 5: IMR graph for the RL low-pass filter of Problem 5.
According to (14), at f = 10fc , IP R = −90o .
At f = fc , IP R = − tan−1 (1) = −45o .
According to (15), at f = 0.1fc , IP R = 0o .
The IPR graph is shown in Figure 6.
Problem 6
Design an RC low pass filter to have a cutoff frequency of 500 Hz using a resistor of 1.2 kΩ.
Then sketch the resulting magnitude and phase plots for a frequency range of 0.1fc to 10fc .
Solution
Given fc = 500 Hz and R = 1.2 kΩ, calculate C as follows.
1
fc =
2πRC
1 1
C= = = 0.265 µF
2πRfc (2π)(1.2 kΩ)(500 Hz)
Problem 6 continued on next page. . . 12
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Figure 6: IPR graph for the RL low-pass filter of Problem 5.
The voltage gain of this low-pass filter is given by
R 1 1
Av = = =
R − jXC 1 − jXC /R 1 + jR/XC
1
=q
1 + (R/XC )2 ∠tan−1 (R/XC )
1
=q ∠− tan−1 (R/XC )
1 + (R/XC )2
At f = 0.1fc = 50 Hz,
1
XC = = 12.012 kΩ
(2π)(50 Hz)(0.265 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.995
u
t1 + 1.2 kΩ
12.012 kΩ
!
−1 1.2 kΩ
θ = − tan = −5.71o
12.012 kΩ
Problem 6 continued on next page. . . 13
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fc
At f = = 250 Hz,
2
1
XC = = 2.4023 kΩ
(2π)(250 Hz)(0.265 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.895
u
t1 + 1.2 kΩ
2.4023 kΩ
!
−1 1.2 kΩ
θ = − tan = −26.54o
2.4023 kΩ
At f = fc = 500 Hz,
1
XC = = 1.201 kΩ
(2π)(500 Hz)(0.265 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.707
u
t1 + 1.2 kΩ
1.201 kΩ
!
1.2 kΩ
θ = − tan−1 = −45o
1.2 kΩ
At f = 2fc = 1000 Hz,
1
XC = = 0.6 kΩ
(2π)(1000 Hz)(0.265 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.447
u
t1 + 1.2 kΩ
0.6 kΩ
!
1.2 kΩ
θ = − tan−1 = −63.43o
0.6 kΩ
At f = 10fc = 5000 Hz,
1
XC = = 0.12 kΩ
(2π)(5000 Hz)(0.265 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.0995
u
t1 + 1.2 kΩ
0.12 kΩ
!
−1 1.2 kΩ
θ = − tan = −84.3o
0.12 kΩ
Sketching of the magnitude and phase plots are shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8.
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ELTR 270 SAIT, MSE, ENT WINTER 2023
Figure 7: Magnitude response of the RC low-pass filter of Problem 6.
Figure 8: Magnitude response of the RC low-pass filter of Problem 6.
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Problem 7
Design an RC high-pass filter to have a cutoff frequency of 2 kHz, given a capacitor of
0.1 µF. Choose the closest commercial value for R, and the recalculate the resulting cutoff
frequency. Sketch the normalized gain Av = Vo /Vi for a frequency range of 0.1fc to 10fc .
Solution
Given fc = 2 kHz and C = 0.1 µF, calculate R as follows.
1
fc =
2πRC
1 1
R= = = 795.77 Ω
2πCfc (2π)(0.1 µF)(2 kHz)
R = 795.77 Ω ⇒ 750 + 47 = 797 Ω
Using the nominal values of R, recalculate fc as
1 1
fc = = = 1.997 kHz
2πRC (2π)(797 Ω)(0.1 µF)
The voltage gain of this high-pass filter is given by
−jXC 1 1
Av = = =
R − jXC 1 − R/jXC 1 + jXC /R
1
=q
1 + (XC /R)2 ∠− tan−1 (XC /R)
1
=q ∠tan−1 (XC /R)
1 + (XC /R)2
At f = 0.1fc = 199.7 Hz,
1
XC = = 7970 Ω
(2π)(199.7 Hz)(0.1 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.0995
u
t1 + 7970 Ω
797 Ω
!
−1 7970 Ω
θ = tan = 84.3o
797 Ω
Problem 7 continued on next page. . . 16
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At f = 0.5fc = 998.5 Hz,
1
XC = = 1594 Ω
(2π)(998.5 Hz)(0.1 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.4472
u
t1 + 1594 Ω
797 Ω
!
−1 1594 Ω
θ = tan = 63.4o
797 Ω
At f = fc = 1997 Hz,
1
XC = = 797 Ω
(2π)(1997 Hz)(0.1 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.707
u
t1 + 797 Ω
797 Ω
!
−1 797 Ω
θ = tan = 45o
797 Ω
At f = 2fc = 3994 Hz,
1
XC = = 398.48 Ω
(2π)(3994 Hz)(0.1 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.8944
u
t1 + 398.48 Ω
797 Ω
!
−1 398.48 Ω
θ = tan = 26.56o
797 Ω
At f = 10fc = 19970 Hz,
1
XC = = 79.7 Ω
(2π)(19970 Hz)(0.1 µF)
1
Av = |Av | = v
u !2 = 0.995
u
t1 + 79.7 Ω
797 Ω
!
−1 79.7 Ω
θ = tan = 5.71o
797 Ω
Sketching of the magnitude and phase plots are shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10.
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Figure 9: Magnitude response of the RC high-pass filter of Problem 7.
Figure 10: Magnitude response of the RC high-pass filter of Problem 7.
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