☰ Contents · Physics

Ohm's law for a series RLC circuit

Lessons 17 · 1 lessons · N. Sh. Turdiyev, K. A. Tursunmetov, A. G. Ganiyev, K. T. Suyarov, J. E. Usarov, A. K. Avliyoqulov. Physics Grade 11, 1st edition. Niso Poligraf Publishing House, Tashkent, 2018
17

Ohm's law for an AC circuit with a resistor, a coil and a capacitor in series

Textbook: pp. 59–61
GoalApply Ohm's law for a series R–L–C circuit, Iₘ = Uₘ/Z, Z = √(R² + (X_L – X_C)²), and the phase shift tanφ = (X_L – X_C)/R using a vector diagram.
New words
impedance Z · to‘la qarshilik Znet reactance · reaktiv qarshilikphasor (vector) diagram · vektor diagrammavoltage triangle · kuchlanishlar uchburchagi
Explanation

In a series circuit of a resistor R, a coil L and a capacitor C the same current flows through all elements: i = Iₘcosωt. The element voltages have different phases: in the resistor in phase with the current (U_R = Iₘ·R), in the coil leading the current by π/2 (U_L = Iₘ·X_L), in the capacitor lagging by π/2 (U_C = Iₘ·X_C). On the vector diagram U_L and U_C point in opposite directions, so the total voltage amplitude is Uₘ = √(U_R² + (U_L – U_C)²). This gives Ohm's law for the whole circuit: Iₘ = Uₘ/Z, where the impedance Z = √(R² + (X_L – X_C)²) = √(R² + (ωL – 1/(ωC))²) and X_L – X_C is the net reactance. The phase shift between voltage and current is tanφ = (X_L – X_C)/R: if X_L > X_C the voltage leads the current (inductive circuit), if X_L < X_C it lags (capacitive circuit). Energy is turned into heat only in the active resistance; in reactive elements energy is exchanged with the source. The voltage across an element can exceed the source voltage.

Worked examples
R = 30 Ω, X_L = 70 Ω, X_C = 30 Ω, Uₘ = 100 V. X = X_L – X_C = 40 Ω; Z = √(30² + 40²) = 50 Ω; Iₘ = 100/50 = 2 A; tanφ = 40/30 = 4/3, φ ≈ 53°: the voltage leads the current.
R = 8 Ω, X_L = 5 Ω, X_C = 20 Ω, Uₘ = 34 V. X = –15 Ω; Z = √(8² + 15²) = 17 Ω; Iₘ = 2 A. U_R = 16 V, U_L = 10 V, U_C = 40 V; check: √(16² + (10 – 40)²) = √1156 = 34 V. The 40 V across the capacitor exceeds the source voltage (34 V); φ is negative, so the current leads the voltage.
Class activity

In your notebook draw a vector diagram to scale: the current vector on the horizontal axis, U_R along it, U_L upwards, U_C downwards. Use the values of Example 1 (U_R = 60 V, U_L = 140 V, U_C = 60 V), measure the resultant Uₘ with a ruler and compare it with the calculated 100 V.

Practice
1
What is the formula for the impedance of a series R–L–C circuit?
2
R = 12 Ω, X_L = 20 Ω, X_C = 15 Ω. What is Z in Ω?
3
With Z = 13 Ω and Uₘ = 26 V what is Iₘ in A?
4
Why can the voltage across a capacitor or a coil be larger than the source voltage?