University of M’sila

Technology Faculty
Experiment lab: Waves and Vibrations

Experiment 02:
Resonance in a Series RLC Circuit

Experiment progression:
This report is prepared by:

Full name Remarks Group

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

Resonance in a
Series RLC Circuit

Objectives:

 To study a series RLC circuit and its comportment with sinusoidal voltage
supply
 After this lab experiment, the student will be able to define resonance
frequency in RLC circuit

Background:

Fig. 1 shows a series RLC circuit contains a resistor (R), an inductor (L) and a capacitor
𝝎
(C) connected in series with sinusoidal voltage source 𝑣𝑆 of frequency 𝟐𝝅𝒔 .

vR vL vC
vS

Fig. 1 RLC circuit

Applying Kirkoff’s law we get:

𝑣𝑅 + 𝑣𝐿 + 𝑣𝑐 = 𝑉𝑆 sin(𝜔𝑠 𝑡)

𝑑𝑖 1
𝑅𝑖 + 𝐿 + ∫ 𝑖 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑉𝑆 sin(𝜔𝑠 𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
after derivation it we get the equation of motion for the voltage

𝑑 2 𝑖 𝑅 𝑑𝑖 1 𝜔𝑠 𝑣𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
+ + 𝑖= cos(𝜔𝑠 𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶 𝐿
This differential equation is a second order and written the following form

𝑑 2 𝑖𝑐 𝑑𝑖𝑐 𝜔𝑠 𝑣𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑥
2
+𝛾 + 𝜔𝑛2 𝑖𝑐 = cos(𝜔𝑠 𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝐿

Therefore, the natural angular frequency 𝝎𝒏 of the series RLC circuit is given as

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

1
𝜔𝑛 = = 2𝜋𝑓𝑛
√𝐿𝐶
𝝎
Note: we should differentiate between frequency of the voltage source 𝟐𝝅𝒔 and natural
𝝎𝒏
frequency .
𝟐𝝅
We can also write the electrical equation in form of complex quantities.
1
𝑉𝑆 = 𝑉𝑅 + 𝑉𝐿 + 𝑉𝐶 = 𝐼. (𝑅 + 𝑗(𝐿𝝎𝒔 − ))
𝐶𝝎𝒔

The total impedance is

1
𝑍 = 𝑅 + 𝑗(𝐿𝝎𝒔 − )
𝐶𝝎𝒔

The phase between current and voltage is given as

1
(𝐿𝝎𝒔 − 𝐶𝝎 )
𝒔
𝜑 = tan−1 ( )
𝑅
And the magnitude of 𝑍 is

1 2
𝑍 = √𝑅2 + (𝐿𝝎𝒔 − )
𝐶𝝎𝒔

The magnitude of the current 𝐼 is

𝑉𝑆
𝐼=
1
√𝑅2 + (𝐿𝝎𝒔 − 𝐶𝝎 )2
𝒔

Resonance frequency
𝝎
Resonance frequency occurs when the frequency of the voltage source 𝟐𝝅𝒔 mouches the
𝝎𝒏
natural frequency of the circuit. Plus, at resonance frequency, the inductive
𝟐𝝅
impedance effect cancels the capacitive impedance effect because at 𝝎𝒔 = 𝝎𝒏 they
have same impedances but in opposite direction.

So, at resonance frequency we have:

 The value of resonance frequency 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

𝜔𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝜔𝑠 𝜔𝑛 1
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠 = = = =
2𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋√𝐿𝐶
 Total impedance takes the min value, and it is purely resistive 𝑍𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑅
2
1
𝑍 = √𝑅2 + (𝐿𝝎𝒓𝒆𝒔 − ) | =𝑅
𝐶𝝎𝒓𝒆𝒔
1
𝝎𝒓𝒆𝒔 =
√𝐿𝐶

 The current delivered to the load is at its maximum amplitude while the impedance is
at its minimum 𝑍𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑅

𝑉𝑆 𝑉𝑆 𝑉𝑆 √2𝑉𝑆,𝑅𝑀𝑆
𝐼= = = =
1 𝑍𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑅 𝑅
√𝑅2 + (𝐿𝝎𝒓𝒆𝒔 − 𝐶𝝎 )2 |
𝒓𝒆𝒔 1
𝝎𝒓𝒆𝒔 =
√𝐿𝐶

 This current magnitude changes according to the variation of 𝜔𝑠 , can be represented in

function of 𝜔𝑠 , see Fig. 2

Fig. 2 Current magnitude variation in function of source voltage frequency

Three cases are possible when the variation of the frequency of the source according
1
to the sign of (𝐿𝜔𝑠 − 𝐶𝜔 )
𝑠

1
 (𝐿𝜔𝑠 − 𝐶𝜔 ) > 0 this means that the inductive reactance is greater than the
𝑠

capacitive reactance; therefore, the circuit behaves as an inductive with the

current lagging the voltage of the source.

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

1
 (𝐿𝜔𝑠 − 𝐶𝜔 ) = 0 this means that the inductive reactance is equal to the
𝑠

capacitive reactance but have opposite sign. (read the paragraph of the
resonance frequency) the current is in phase with the voltage
1
 (𝐿𝜔𝑠 − 𝐶𝜔 ) < 0 the capacitive reactance is greater than the inductive reactance
𝑠

with the current leading the voltage.

The summary of the above is illustrated in the Fig. 3

𝑉𝑠 I 𝑉𝑠
𝐼= 𝐼=
𝑍 𝑅
vR vR
𝝎 𝒔 = 𝝎𝒏

vs vL At Resonance vs
frequency

vC

The frequency vs is not The frequency vs is

equal to natural circuit equal to natural circuit
frequency frequency

𝒁 = 𝑹 + 𝒋(𝑿𝑳 − 𝑿𝑪 ) At resonance frequency

𝟏 𝑿𝑳 = 𝑿𝑪
= 𝑹 + 𝒋(𝑳𝝎𝒔 − )
𝑪𝝎𝒔 𝒁 = 𝑹 + 𝒋(𝟎)
Fig. 3 RLC circuit behavior at resonance circuit
𝜔𝑟𝑒𝑠
1. Calculate resonance frequency 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠 = ((R = 1 kΩ, L = 25.92 mH, C = 0.1 µF))
2𝜋
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2. When occurs resonance frequency in RLC circuit?
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3. What happens to inductive and capacitive impedances at resonance?

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

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4. Why does resonance lead to maximum current flow in the RLC circuit?
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Experimental procedure

To well understand resonance frequency phenomenon in series RLC circuit we need

to implement the RLC circuit shown in Fig. 4. To check the resonance frequency, we
have to verify the phase between source voltage and the current through the resistor,
and these are some tools to be used:

 Oscilloscope
 Function Generator (Alternating source where pick-to-pick is 4v)
 Resistor R = 1 kΩ,
 Coil inductor L = 25.92 mH and
 Capacitor C = 0.1 µF.

I
Oscilloscope

vL vC
vS
vR ch1 ch2 ch3 ch4

GND of
oscilloscope

Fig. 4 Circuit to be implemented

1- Implement the circuit and then complete this table

f(kHz) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
UR(V)
I(A)

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 Resonance in Series RLC Circuit

2- Sketch the curve 𝐼 = 𝑓(𝑓𝑠 )

Fig. 5 Paper graph to draw 𝐼 = 𝑓(𝑓𝑠 )

3- Deduce the resonance frequency and compare this value with theoretical value

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4- Determine the bandwidth ∆𝑓 = 𝑓2 − 𝑓1 where the frequency f is corresponding to
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥
RMS value of the current at resonance frequency 𝐼RMS =
√2

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𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠
5- Deduce the quality factor 𝑄 = ∆𝑓
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