Sinusoidal Response of Series Circuits GATE Study Material in PDF

In the previous article we discussed the basic parameters of periodic waveforms like
average value, RMS Value, Peak Factor and Form Factor. In these free GATE Notes,
we will see the behaviour of sinusoidal series RL, RC and RLC circuits at steady state.
That is, we will see the Sinusoidal Response of Series Circuits.
This free GATE material can be used for GATE EC, GATE EE, IES, BARC, BSNL, DRDO
and other exams. You can have these GATE notes downloaded as PDF to have your
preparation made easy, and so you ace your exam.
Dont forget to read up on the important concepts you will need to build the basics of
this topic.

Recommended Reading
Basic Network Theory Concepts
Source Transformation & Reciprocity Theorem
Kirchhoffs Laws, Node and Mesh Analysis (EE)
KCL, KVL in Electrical Networks (EC)
Nodal & Mesh Analysis (EC)
Voltage Division in Series Circuit (EE)
Voltage and Current Division, Star to Delta Conversion (EC)
Thevenin Norton Equivalencies (EE)
Thevenin, Norton & Tellegen Theorems
Superposition Theorem
Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
1|Page

Network Transients 1
Network Transients 2
Network Transients 3
AC Transients
Magnetically Coupled Circuits
Duality of Networks
Network Theory Revision Test 1
Parameters of Periodic Wave Forms

We already know that i. Absence of transients will indicate the steady state of a network.
ii. Practically its takes 5 ( = time constant) seconds to reach the steady state.
iii. Analysis of steady state is generally carried out by using phasor diagrams.

Network in Steady State

Network in Phasor Domain

The above circuit in phasor domain is given by

2|Page

Example:
Determine the steady state current iR(t) in the following figure

Solution:
iR (t) can be calculated by using superposition theorem
Case 1: When 5 V is active
In steady state for DC, capacitor acts as an open circuit whereas inductor acts like a
short circuit.
5

iR (t) = 1 = 5A
Case 2: When 10cost is active
Transforming the network into Phasor Domain then we get

Apply Nodal analysis then we get

3|Page

V
j

+ 1 + (V 100)j = 0

jV + V + jV 1090 = 0
V = 1090
iR 2 =

1090
1

= 1090 = 10 cos(t 90) = 10 sin t

iR (t) = iR1 (t) + iR 2 (t) = 5 + 10 sin t

In this article we will mainly discuss about series RL, RC and RLC circuits.

Series RL Circuit

VR = IR
VL = I.L90
Phasor Diagram:

V = VR2 + VL2
V

= tan1 (VL ) = impedance angle (or) admittance angle

R

Power factor = cos =

4|Page

VR
V

(lagging)

Lagging means current I lags the voltage V

Series RC Circuit

VR = I. R
1

VC = I. jC = I. Xc 90
Phasor Diagram:

V = VR2 + VC2
V

= tan1 (VC ) = impedance angle (or) Admittance angle

R

Power factor = cos =

VR
V

(leading)

Leading means the current I leads the voltage V.

Series RLC Circuit

5|Page

VR = I. R
VL = I. jL = I. XL 90
V = I.

1
= I. XC 90
jC

The phasor Diagram for series RLC circuit can be analysed in three cases
Case 1: If VL > VC

V = VR2 + (VL VC )2
VL VC
= tan1 (
) = impedance angle = admittance angle
VR
Power factor = cos =

VR
V

(lagging)

Lagging means the current I lags the voltage V

Case 2: If VL < VC

6|Page

V = VR2 + (VC VL )2
VC VL
= tan1 (
)
VR
Power factor = PF = cos =

VR
V

(Leading)

Leading power factor means current I leads the voltage V

Case 3: If VL = VC

Here = 0 power factor = cos = 1 (unity) i.e. same as DC case.

Note:
In all the above phasor circuits always the angle between Voltage, V and Current, I is
7|Page

Example:
Determine the value of I in the given circuit

Solution:
We know V = VR2 + (VL VC )2
Here VL = VC = 100 V
V = VR2 + 02 = VR
But VR = I. R
200 = I. 40
I = 50A

Example:
Determine the power factor of the given circuit, it the power dissipated in 10 resistor
is 20 watt

Solution:
2
Given P10 = 20 = IRMS
.R

8|Page

2
20 = IRMS
. 10 IRMS = 2
2
(10 + 20) = 60 watt
Total power Dissipated = IRMS

Total power delivered = Vrms . Irms . cos

100
2

2 cos = 60

cos =

60
= 0.6
100

Hence power factor = cos = 0.56

So far we have seen the behaviour of series RL, series RC and series RLC circuits at
steady state. In the next article we will discuss about the behaviour of parallel RL, RC
and RLC circuits in steady state.
Did you like this article on Sinusoidal Response of Series Circuits? Let us know in the
comments. You should also read some articles like
Controllers
Compensators
Nyquist Plot
Bode Plot
Polar Plot

9|Page