Lab # 12 Multistage Passive Low Pass Filter

Objective:
To become familiar with Multistage Passive Low Pass Filter.
Part – 1:
To design a first order, second order and third order RC low pass filter circuit by using three
single stage RC filter circuits with cutoff frequency of 4.8KHZ, also draw the Bode Plot.
Part – 2:
To design RL low pass & high pass filter circuit with cutoff frequency of 5KHZ, also draw the
Bode Plot.

PRE-LAB:

(Study textbook Chapter 14 topic 14.7)

Introduction:
The single stage RC filter is a low pass filter: low frequencies are passed (have a gain of one),
while high frequencies are rejected (the gain goes to zero). This is a useful filter to remove
noise from a signal.
First Order Low Pass Filter:
A first order low- pass filter (LPF) is shown in Fig (1). It is called “1st order" because it contains
one resistor and one capacitor.

𝑅 = 330 Ω

𝐶 = 0.1 µ𝐹

Fig (1): First Order RC Low Pass Filter

Second Order Low Pass Filter:

A Second order low- pass filter (LPF) is shown in Fig (2). It is called “2nd order" because it
contains two resistors, and two capacitors. A 2nd order LPF consists of a chain of two 1st order
LPFs.
One problem with adding stages to an RC filter is that each following stage 'loads' the previous
stage. This loading bleeds some current from the previous capacitor, changing the circuit. If
you make the impedance of each stage 10 times the previous stage, this loading is less than
10%, meaning that the transfer function will be close to that from lab 1st order Low pass filter.
The value of R2 has purposely been chosen to be 10 times larger than R1; and the value of C2
has purposely been chosen to be 10 times smaller than C1. It also means that every RiCi is the
same, which makes the situation computationally easy. Every time you add on an RC into
chain, you should continue the pattern of increasing R by a factor of 10 and decreasing C by a
factor of 10. This 10rule of thumb is a very good one to keep in mind.

𝑅1 = 330 Ω 𝑅2 = 3.3 𝐾Ω
𝐶2 = 0.01 µ𝐹
𝐶1 = 0.1 µ𝐹
 Fig (2): Second Order RC Low Pass Filter

Third Order Low Pass Filter:

A third order low- pass filter (LPF) is shown in Fig (3). It is called “third order" because it
contains three resistors, and three capacitors. A 3rd order LPF consists of a chain of three 1st
order LPFs.

𝑅2 = 3.3 𝐾Ω 𝑅3 = 33 𝐾Ω
𝑅1 = 330 Ω

𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
0.1 µ𝐹 0.01 µ𝐹 0.001 µ𝐹

Fig (3): Third Order RC Low Pass Filter

The gain of this filter is approximately the gain of each stage analyzed separately (i.e. the
loading effects are ignored).
 In Lab:
Task 1: First Order RC Low Pass Filter

 Set up the circuit shown in Fig (1). Use the function generator FGEN for the supply voltage vin 10
VP-P.
 Connect channels 1 and 2 of the oscilloscope to measure Vs and Vout simultaneously.
 Vary the frequency from 500 Hz to 10 kHz in steps indicated in Table 1, and record the indicated
value. With each frequency change, make sure that Vin is still 10Vpp.

Task 2: Second Order RC Low Pass Filter

Repeat the Task 1 for the circuit shown in Fig (2), and record your result in Table 2

Task 3: Third Order RC Low Pass Filter

Repeat the Task 1 for the circuit shown in Fig (3), and record your result in Table 2
 Calculated Results

Design of First Order Filter

1
For First Stage of filter circuit = 2π∗330∗0.1µF = 4.832 KHz

1
fc1 = − − − − − − − − − −(1)
2πR1 C1

Let C1 = 0.1µF

1 1
R1 = == = 330 𝝮
2πfc1 C1 2π ∗ 4.832 KHz ∗ 0.1µF

For Second stage of filter circuit

1 1
fc2 = = = 4.832 KHz
2πR 2 C2 2π ∗ 3.3 K ∗ 0.01µF

For Third stage of filter circuit

1 1
fc3 = = = 4.832 KHz
2πR 3 C3 2π ∗ 33 K ∗ 0.001µF

ωc = 1/RC = 30.3krad/s
Results:

Task 1: First Order RC Low Pass Filter (LTspice results)

𝟏 𝑯(𝝎)
Frequency |𝑯(𝝎)| = 𝝓
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝑽𝒐 𝝎
(KHz) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩) = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
√(𝟏)𝟐 + ( ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒄
𝝎 𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 0 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -1.11 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -3.76 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -7.7 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -12.11 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -14.7 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -16.2 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -18.4 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -33.9 -90

Table 1
Task 1: First Order RC Low Pass Filter (Measured results)

𝟏 𝑯(𝝎) 𝝓
Frequency |𝑯(𝝎)| =
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝑽𝒐 𝝎
(KHz) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩) = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
√(𝟏)𝟐 + ( ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒄
𝝎 𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 0 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -1.11 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -3.76 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -7.7 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -12.11 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -14.7 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -16.2 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -18.4 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -33.9 -90

Table 1
Task 2: Task 1: 2nd Order RC Low Pass Filter (LTspice results)

𝟏 𝑯(𝝎) 𝝓
Frequency |𝑯(𝝎)| =
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝑽𝒐 𝝎
(KHz) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩) = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
√(𝟏)𝟐 + (𝝎 ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒄
𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 0 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -3.34 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -9.8 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -15.91 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -26.0 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -33.9 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -40 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -40 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -40 -90

Table 2
Task 2: 2nd Order RC Low Pass Filter (Measured results)

𝟏 𝑯(𝝎)
|𝑯(𝝎)| = 𝝓
Frequency 𝑽𝒐
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩) 𝝎
(KHz) √(𝟏)𝟐 + ( ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝝎 𝒄 𝝎𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 0 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -3.34 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -9.8 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -15.91 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -26.0 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -33.9 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -40 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -40 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -40 -90

Table 2
Task 3: 3rd Order RC Low Pass Filter (LTspice results)

𝟏 𝑯(𝝎)
|𝑯(𝝎)| = 𝝓
Frequency 𝑽𝒐
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩) 𝝎
(KHz) √(𝟏)𝟐 + ( ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝝎 𝒄 𝝎𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 -0.35 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -5.0 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -11.0 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -23 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -24.4 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -36.4 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -43.8 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -53.97 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -63 -90

Table 3
Task 3: 3rd Order RC Low Pass Filter (Measured results)
𝟏 𝑯(𝝎)
Frequency |𝑯(𝝎)| = 𝝓
𝑽𝒐 𝝎
𝝎 (𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔) 𝝎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝒍𝒐𝒈 (𝒅𝑩)
(KHz) √(𝟏)𝟐 + ( ) 𝑽𝒊𝒏 = −𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝝎 𝒄 𝝎𝒄

0.01fc=48 303.3 0.99 0 -0.57

0.1fC =480 3.03k 0.95 -0.35 -5.7
0.5fc =2.5k 15.15k 0.85 -5.0 -26.5
fc =4.8k 30.3k 0.70 -11.0 -45
2fc =9.6k 60.6k 0.44 -23 -63.3
4fc =19.2k 121.2k 0.24 -24.4 -75.9
6fc =28.8k 181.1k 0.16 -36.4 -80.5
8fc =38.4k 242.2k 0.12 -43.8 -82.8
10fc =48.8k 303k 0.09 -53.97 -84.2
100fc =480k 3030k 0 -63 -90

Table 3
 Post Lab:
Sketch Phase and Magnitude Bode Plots of measured results for 1st order Low Pass Filter on a graph
paper.

Phase:

Magnitude:
Sketch Phase and Magnitude Bode Plots of measured results for 2nd order Low Pass Filter on a graph
paper.

Phase:

Magnitude:
Sketch Phase and Magnitude Bode Plots of measured results for 3rd order Low Pass Filter on a graph
paper

Phase:

Magnitude:

Critical Analysis / Conclusion:

In this lab I had used the single-stage RC circuit filter to build a 3-stage RC low pass filter. I had learnt
that as more stages are added, the filter becomes able to better reject high frequency noise. When I
plotted on a Bode plot, the gain approaches two asymptotes: the low frequency gain approaches a
constant gain of 0 dB while the high-frequency gain drops as 20N dB/decade where N is the number
of stages. Moreover I observed that the three stage RC filter has a gain which drops much faster than
a one stage RC filter.