Physics Lesson 16.16.1 - Recap on the Series RLC Circuit

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Welcome to our Physics lesson on Recap on the Series RLC Circuit, this is the first lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of The Series RLC Circuit, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Recap on the Series RLC Circuit

As explained in the previous tutorial, a series RLC circuit contains all three elements - a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor - connected in series in the same conducting wire. This means the electromotive force produced by the source produces three separate voltages across each component, as shown in the figure.

Physics Tutorials: This image provides visual information for the physics tutorial The Series RLC Circuit

We denote the maximum voltages across each component as ΔVR(max), ΔVL(max) and ΔVC(max) respectively.

In the previous tutorial, we have also explained that the current is in phase with voltage only at the resistor; the current in the inductor leads the voltage by one quarter of a cycle (π/2) while in the capacitor, current is behind the voltage by a quarter of a cycle (π/2). Since there is the same current flowing throughout the circuit (i.e. the current is in phase in all components), the maximum voltage produced by the source will not be the arithmetic sum of the three maximum individual voltages, i.e.

∆V_source(max) ≠ ∆V_R(max) + ∆V_L(max) + ∆V_C(max)

This is because voltages are not in phase with each other. However, when considering the instantaneous voltages ΔV(t) for each component, we have

∆V(t)_source = ∆V_r (t) + ∆V_L (t) + ∆V_c (t)

The last equation is always true and you can consider the loop rule to convince yourself about this.

As for the current flowing in the circuit at any instant, we can write

i(t) = i_max ∙ sin⁡(ω_d ∙ t-φ)

In this tutorial we will explain how to find the current amplitude i_max and the phase constant φ, and investigate how they depend on the driving angular frequency ωd. For this, we will use the phasor diagrams, which - as explained in the previous tutorial - represent a simplified version of current and voltage representation, especially in the actual context, where these values change continuously with time.

You have reached the end of Physics lesson 16.16.1 Recap on the Series RLC Circuit. There are 5 lessons in this physics tutorial covering The Series RLC Circuit, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

More The Series RLC Circuit Lessons and Learning Resources

Magnetism Learning Material
Tutorial ID	Physics Tutorial Title	Revision Notes	Revision Questions
16.16	The Series RLC Circuit
Lesson ID	Physics Lesson Title	Lesson	Video Lesson
16.16.1	Recap on the Series RLC Circuit
16.16.2	The Current Amplitude
16.16.3	The Phase Constant
16.16.4	Resonance in a Series RLC Circuit
16.16.5	Effective Values of Alternating Current and Voltage

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Continuing learning magnetism - read our next physics tutorial: Power in an Alternating Circuit. Transformers

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