Problem: in the figure shown below, the switch K is kept first at position 1 and

steady state condition is reached. At t=0, the switch is moved to position 2. Find the
current in both the cases.

Sol) when the switch is at 1, the steady state becomes

i= 100/10+20 = 3.33A
As soon as the switch is moved to position 2 at t=0, the LR circuit starts decaying and
the decay current is given by
i= I

where I is the initial steady state current and is time constant L/R
i= 3.33

= 3.33

A.

Problem: In the figure shown below steady state condition is reached

with 100V d.c. source. At t=0, switch K is suddenly opened. Find the
expression of the current through the inductor after t=0.5sec.

Sol) At steady state condition of close position of switch k,

Ist.st = 100/40||40 = 5A
Thus ist.st, the current from 100V d.c. source is 5A when K is closed .As the circuit
paths cd and ef, both have same resistance, hence, the current in each branch is 2.5A.
As soon as K is opened, the source is removed and LR circuit starts discharging. The
decay current is given by
i= 2.5

where = L/R
= 2.5

= 1.14

or, i = 2.5

at t=0.5 sec,
2.5

Problem: In the figure shown below, the switch is closed at position 1 at

t=0. At t=0.5 msec. the switch is moved to position 2. Find the expression
for the current in both the conditions.

Sol) At position 1 of the switch,

50i + 0.5 = 10
500i + 5

= 100

(p+100)i = 20
The complete solution of equation (a) consists of the complementary
function (ic) and the particular solution (ip)
Therefore i=ic + ip

But ic = c
ip =
i= c

+ =c

+ 0.2

However, at t=0, i=0 (due to presence of inductor)

Using this initial condition,
i =c + 0.2 or 0 = c+ 0.2
c = -0.2
Hence i= -0.2
= 0.2(1-

+ 0.2
)

After time interval of t=0.5msec.

I= 0.2 (1-

) = 9.754 x

= 9.75mA

With switch in position 2, the applied voltage is 5V, polarity being the
same to that of the earlier condition.
Here 50i + 0.5

= 5 or 100i +

Or, (p+ 100)i = 10

Here also i=ic + ip

ic = c e-100(t-t)
ip = V/R = 5/50 = 0.1A
Therefore i= c e-100(t-t) + 0.1
However, at t=t, i was 9.75mA.
Hence 9.75 x 10-3 = c + 0.1
Or c = -0.09

= 10

Thus i= -0.09 e-100(t-t) + 0.1A

Problem: In the figure shown below a d.c. voltage of 100v is applied in
the circuit and the switch K is open. the switch k is closed at t=0. Find the
complete expression for the current.

Sol) As soon as the switch is closed at t=0, the mesh equation becomes
20i + 0.1

= 100

(p+200)i=1000
The complete solution i is given by
i=ic + ip
ic = c
ip =
i= c

= =100/20 = 5A

+5

However, before switching operation, the steady state current in the

circuit is [ V/(20 + 10) ] i.e. 3.33A
Due to the presence of inductor,
At t=0, i=3.33A
Thus i=c+5 or 3.33 = c+5 or c= -1.67

Hence the complete solution is

I= -1.67

+ 5A

2.2 LC circuit:

As you can see it is a combination of C and L elements. Suppose if the capacitor is

initially fully charged and the switch is closed, both the current in the circuit and the
charge on the capacitor oscillates between maximum and minimum values. And this
is why LC circuit is referred by LC oscillations. The electrostatic energy stored in the
capacitor is transferred to inductor and transformed into magnetic field energy and
vice versa. This oscillation of energy or current takes places infinite times if there are
no resistive elements. But in practical as the zero resistance is not possible, the current
eventually dies down to zero after certain number of oscillations.
Let us consider the ideal case, when there is no resistance in the circuit. Assume that
the initial charge on capacitor is Qmax and the switch is closed just after t=0.
Initially as the capacitor is fully charged the total energy U in the circuit is stored in C
in form of electro field.
Total energy

U = Uc + UL =

At t=0 the current in the circuit I=0 and hence energy stored in inductor is zero.
After the switch is closed, the rate at which charges leave or enter the capacitor plates
is equal to the current in the circuit. As the capacitor begins to discharge after the
switch is closed, the energy stored in its electric eld decreases. The discharge of the
capacitor establishes a current in the circuit, and thus inductor starts storing some
energy in form of magnetic eld of the inductor. Hence, electric eld energy of the
capacitor is transferred to the magnetic eld of the inductor. When the capacitor is
fully discharged, there is zero energy stored in it. At this moment, the current reaches
its maximum value, and all of the energy is transformed into magnetic field and is
stored in the inductor. Now, the current continues in the same direction, decreasing in
magnitude, with the inductor getting discharged and eventually capacitor becoming
fully charged. But the polarity of capacitor plates is now opposite to the initial
polarity. This is followed by another discharge until the circuit returns to its original
state of maximum charge Q and the plate polarity
The oscillations of the LC circuit are analogous to the mechanical oscillations of the
spring mass system. Many of those concepts are applicable to LC oscillations. In LC

circuit the energy oscillates between

whereas in spring mass system

the energy oscillates between

The LC system starts with maximum charge on capacitor and the mechanical system
starts with a small displacement from its equilibrium position.
In case of mechanical system,
Total energy

U = K.E + Usp =

Similar to LC circuit, for spring mass system is considered to be ideal. In ideal case of
any mechanical system there must be no friction between the mass and the floor it is
rested on.

The figure below illustrates the energy oscillations in LC circuit and spring mass
system.

We have assumed that the circuit resistance is zero i.e no energy is dissipated . and
hence the total energy must remain constant all the time.
Hence

= 0.
(

= 0 (1)

We know that,

Substituting the above relationships in equation (1)

=0

It can be deduced from math, that the solution of the above equation has a general
form of
)

Q = Qmax cos(

Where Qmax is the maximum charge of the capacitor and the angular frequency

is

Note that the angular frequency of the oscillations depends only on the inductance and
capacitance of the circuit.
As the Q is varying sinusoidally , the current in the circuit also varies sinusoidally.
The expression for current is given by,
I=

= - Qmax sin(

To determine the value of the phase angle, using the initial conditions at t=0, I=0
0=

Qmax sin( )
Hence the final expressions for Q and I are
)

Q = Qmax cos(
I = - Qmax sin(

) = - Imax sin(

And thus the expressions for energy stored in capacitor and inductor are given by

Uc =

cos(

UL =

sin(

Total energy

U = Uc + U L =

cos(

)+

sin(

During oscillation of energy, the maximum energy stored in capacitor

must be

equal to maximum energy stored in inductor

. This is because the same energy is
being oscillated between both the elements satisfying energy conservation. It is
mathematically expressed as

And hence total energy U = Uc + UL =

cos(

)+

sin(

) =

=
2.3 RLC series circuit:
We now consider a practical circuit consisting of an inductor,
capacitor and a resistor connected in series as shown in the figure below.

Let us assume that the initial charge on capacitor is Qmax before the switch is closed.
Once the switch is closed and a current is set up, the total energy stored in the
capacitor and inductor can be found out by previously derived equations. But in this
case, the total energy of the circuit is not constant, like it was in LC circuit. This is
because of the resistor element in the circuit, which causes energy dissipation across it
in for of heat and radiations.
As the energy loss across the resistance is
given by

the rate of change of total energy is

In the above equation, the negative sign indicates that the energy U of the circuit is
decreasing with time. It can rewritten as,

We know the fact that

. Substituting this in above equation we get,

Dividing the whole equation by I, we get

The solution of the above equation has a general form of

Q = Qmax

+ )

is referred as damping factor.

is the angular frequency of the damped oscillations. Where

the natural damping frequency

o is

The analogies between electrical and mechanical systems illustrated below.

Electrical circuit
Charge (Q)

Q x

Mechanical
systems
Displacement (x)

Current (I)

Iv

Velocity (v)

Potential difference(V) VF
Resistance (R)

Rb

Capacitance (C)

Ck

Energy in capacitor
Energy in inductor
Energy
dissipated
across resistor
RLC

Uc=
U l=

Force (F)

Viscous dampi
coefficient (b)
Spring constant (
U =
K.E =

R b
=0

Potential
ener
stored in spring
Kinetic
ener
stored in mass
Energy loss due
friction
Spring mass

Problem: The resistance of coil L1 is 30Ohm and that of coil L2 is 15Ohm . Find the
voltage across the capacitor assuming steady state dc.

Sol) As it is mentioned at steady state, replace each coil with a short circuit and the
capacitor with an open circuit. The voltage across C is the same as the voltage across
R2

Vc =

60 = 20V

Problem: In the circuit shown below, the switch is moved from a to b at t=0.
Determine the initial conditions of i,

at t =0+.

Sol: At t =0- , switch S is at position a. The RL network is in steady state. Hence

L=2H acts as a short circuit.
IL(0-) =

= 0.01 A = IL(0+)

Also Vc (0-) = 0 = Vc (0+)

Because current through L cannot change instantaneously
I(0+) = IL(0+) = 0.01A
0+ , switch S is moved to position b as shown in the figure below.

For all t

Applying KVL to the above circuit, we get

( )

1000 I(t) + 2

( )

( )

=0

As we have already noted that Vc (0-) = 0 = Vc (0+), the above equation reduces to,
( )

1000 I(t) + 2

( )

= 0 Equation (1)

Considering the case t= 0+, the equation becomes,

1000 I(0+) + 2

1000 (0.01) + 2

+
)

(0+)dt = 0

=0

during that period)

(

= -5 A/sec

Differentiating equation (1) with respect to t, we get

( )

1000

+2

( )

I(t) = 0 Equation (2)

At t = 0+, Equation (2) becomes,

(

1000

1000 (
(

+2
)+2

(5000 -

+
+

I(0+) = 0
0.01 = 0

] = -2500A/

(0+)dt =0 because dt = 0

Hence , I(0+) = 0.01

(

= -5A/sec
)

Problem: for the circuit shown below, find the intial conditions of ia, ib,

and

the potential difference across the capacitor. Assume that the circuit was in steady
state before t = 0.

Sol:
At t=0- switch S is open and the network was in steady state. So, the capacitor acts as
open circuit and the inductor act as short circuit as shown below.

As the capacitor is open circuited, the current flowing through it ia= 0.

And the inductor acts as short circuit, and the current flowing through it is given by
i2(0-) =

= 6.67A = i(0+)

Initial voltage across capacitor is given by,

Vc(0-) =

= 33.3V = Vc(0+)

For t 0+, S is closed. The 10ohm resistance gets short circuited. Applying KVL to
the loop A-B-E-F-A in the circuit we get,

-20i1-

=0

-20i1-

The value

represents the initial value of voltage across capacitor. Hence the

-100 = 0

above equation can be reduced to

20i1 + 33.33 +

20i1
At t

-100 = 0

= 66.67 equation (1)

0+, the above equation can be reduced to

20i1(0+),

= 66.67

20i1(0+) = 66.67
i1(0+) = 3.33A
Differentiating the equation (1) w.r.t t1 we get,
20

i1 =0

At t = 0+, above equation becomes,

(

20
(

i1(0+) =0

i1(0+) =
A/sec

Applying KVL to the loop A-B-C-D-E-F-A in the circuit we get,

-5i2 5i2 +

+ 100 =0
= 100

At t = 0+, above equation becomes,

5i2(0+) +

(0+) = 100

Substituting the value of i2(0+), in the above equation, we get

5(6.667) +

(0+) = 100

(0+) = 100 33.33

(0+) = 33.33A/sec
Hence at t = 0+,
i1(0+) = 3.33A
i2(0-) = 6.67A
(

A/sec

(0+) = 33.33A/sec
Vc(0+) = 0V
Problem: In the parallel RLC circuit shown below, where R=0.1, L =0.5H and C is
1F. capacitor C has an initial voltage of 10V . The switch K is closed at time t=0.
Obtain V(t).

Sol) in the parallel circuit, the Kirchhoffs current law is applied

vdt + Gv + C
[ since iL =

= 0 eq(1)
; iR = Gv, G being the conductance and ic = C dv/dt.

Differentiating equation (1)

=0
(Cp2 + Gp + 1/L)v = 0 eq(2)
The characteristic equation is then
Cp2 + Gp + 1/L = 0 or p2 + 10p + 2 = 0
P1P2 =

P1 = 4.3 P2 = -5.3
The general solution is then
V(t) = K1 e4.3t + K2e-5.3t eq(3)
At t= 0+ , v(0+) = 10V (this is due to presence of initial charge on capacitor C)
And
vdt = iL = 0
Therefore from equation (1) , at t=0+
C

+ 10 x 10 = 0 or

= -100/C = -100V/sec

Substituting v(0+) = 10 in equation (3), at t=0+

10 = K1 + K2
Again, differentiating equation (3),
( )

= 4.3 K1 e4.3t 5.3K2 e-5.3t

But at t=0+,

( )

-100 = 4.3K1 5.3K2

i.e. 4.3K1 5.3K2 = -100
4.3K1 5.3(10 K1) = -100
4.3 53 + 5.3K1 = -100
9.6K1 = -47
K1 = -4.896
Thus K2 = 14.896
Finally therefore,s
V(t) = -4.896 e4.3t + 14.896 e-5.3t V