Electric Circuits

General & Particular Solutions

Vineet Sahula
sahula@ieee.org

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 1/13

Linear Diff. Eq.

di(t)
+ a1 i(t) = v(t)
a0
dt
dn i
dn1 i
di
a0 n + a1 n1 + ... + an1 + an i = v(t)
dt
dt
dt
v(t) is forcing function or excitation

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 2/13

Integrating Factor
di
+ Pi = Q
dt
Using Integrating Factor (I.F.) eP t we get
eP t

di
+ P ieP t = QeP t
dt

d
(ieP t ) = QeP t
dt
Solving leads to
Z
ieP t =
QeP t dt + K
i = eP t

QeP t dt + KeP t
R

For P being a function of time, I.F. will be e

P dt

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 3/13

Network solution
I part is Particular integral & II part is Complementary function
Z
i = eP t QeP t dt + KeP t
Q is forcing function & K is arbitrary constant
Thus, with t i.e. Steady State
lim KeP t = 0

i() = lim i(t) = limt eP t

t

QeP t dt

Whereas, with t 0 i.e. Initial condition

Z
i(0) = lim i(t) = limt0 eP t QeP t dt + K
t0

In case, P & Q are constants,

Q
i(0) =
+ K = K2 + K
P
Q
i() =
+ K = K2
P
In general,
i(t) = iP + iC = iss + it

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 4/13

Example
For an RL circuit under switched-on condition
di
di
L dt
+ Ri = V i.e. dt
+R
Li =
R
P
t
i=e
QeP t dt + KeP t

i=

V
R

+ Ke

V
L

with P =

R
L

&Q =

V
L

Rt
L

Tt

In general, when P & Q are constants, i = K2 + K1 e

In case, P & Q are constants,
K2 = i()
K2 + K1 = i(0)
K1 = i(0) i()
Tt

i = i() [i() i(0)]e

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 5/13

Example-2
L

R1

R2
V

Determine current when K is CLOSED at t = 0 and later after

steady state is reached when K is OPENED
at t = 0 i() =
i(0) =
i=

V
R1 +R2
V
R1

V
R1

&T =

L
R1
R t
L1

R1
R1 +R2 e

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 6/13

More Complicated Networks

Networks described by one time-constant ?
Simple circuits having simple RC or RL combinations
Containg single L or C, but in combination of any number
of resistors, R
Networks, which can be simplified by using equivalence
conditions so as to represented by a single equivalent
L/C/R
Solve many examples !!

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 7/13

Initial Conditions in Networks

Resistor: VR = iR the current changes instanteneously, if the voltage
changes instanteneously
diL
Inductor: vL = L didtL ,
dt for L is finite, hence current CANNOT
change instanteneously; BUT an arbitrary voltage may appear
across it
dvC
Inductor: iC = C dvdtC ,
dt for C is finite, hence voltage
CANNOT change instanteneously; BUT an arbitrary current may
appear across it

Element

Equivalant ckt at t = 0

Open Ckt (OC)

Short Ckt (SC)

L, I0

Current source I0 in parallel with OC

C, V0

Voltage source V0 in series with SC

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 8/13

Final Conditions in Networks

Element, IC

Equivalant ckt at t =

Open Ckt (OC)

Short Ckt (SC)

L, I0

Current source I0 in parallel with SC

C, V0

Voltage source V0 in series with OC

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 9/13

Two special cases- Initial Conditions

A loop or mesh containing a VOLTAGE source Vs with only
capacitors,
implying a virtual short-circuit across Vs ;
Imagine infinite current to flow through capacitors so as to
charge them to appropriate voltages instanteneously
In a dual situation: A node connected with a CURRENT
source Is with only Inductors in other branches
implying a virtual open-circuit across Is ;
Imagine infinite voltage across Is to exist so as to drive
finite FLUX in all the inductors to bring appropriate current
in them instanteneously

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 10/13

Second Order Diff. Equations

d2 i
di
a0 2 + a1 + a2 i = v(t)
dt
dt
To satisfy the equation, the solution function MUST be of such
form that all three terms are of SAME form.
i(t) = kemt
a0 m2 kemt + a1 mkemt + a2 kemt = 0
Charateristic Equation, a0 m2 + a1 mk + a2 k = 0
p
a1
1
m1 , m2 = 2a0 2a0 a21 4a0 a2
i(t) = k1 em1 t + k2 em2 t

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 11/13

Solving Second order Diff. Eqns.

roots may simple (real), equal OR complex (conjugate)
Simple roots i(t) = k1 em1 t + k2 em2 t
Equal roots m1 = m2 = m
i(t) = k1 emt + k2 temt
Complex (conjugate) roots m1 , m2 = j
i(t) = k1 et e+jt + k2 et ejt
i(t) = et (k1 e+jt + k2 ejt )
i(t) = et (k3 cos t + k4 sin t)
i(t) = et k5 cos(t + )

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 12/13

ng Second order Diff. Eqns.- Initial Conditio

Two constatns k1 & k2 need be evaluated
This requires two IC to be formulated
First IC is computed as either i(0+) OR v(0+), whichever
is independent/unknown [i is independent in a series
circuit; v is independent in a parallel circuit ]
Second IC is based on first order differential of the same
dv
di
(0+)
parameter, (0+) or
dt
dt

First & Higher Order Differential Equations p. 13/13