Calculating RC & LC Time Constants: Series vs. Parallel

[FrankJ777]

How does the relative position(series or parallel) of a resistor affect the calculation of the RC and LC time constants. In other words is a RC time constant still R$$\times$$C requardless of whether or not R and C are parallel or if R and C are in series. Same question with LC time constants, is it $$L/R$$ whether or not L and R are in series or parallel to each other. Thats how it looks in my textbook when they derive the time constant, it does seem conterintuitive to me though.

Thanks a lot.

 

[dlgoff]

The parallel RC circuit is generally of less interest than the series circuit. This is largely because the output voltage Vout is equal to the input voltage Vin ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC_circuit#Parallel_circuit"

 

[oswaler]

The relative position of a resistor does affect the calculation of RC and LC time constants. In a series circuit, the resistor and capacitor (or inductor) are connected in a sequential manner, while in a parallel circuit, they are connected in a side-by-side manner. This difference in connection affects the way the components interact with each other and ultimately affects the calculation of the time constant.

In a series circuit, the RC or LC time constant is still equal to R*C or L/R, respectively. This is because the resistor and capacitor (or inductor) are in a series connection, so the same current flows through both components. This results in the same voltage drop across each component, making the calculation of the time constant straightforward.

In a parallel circuit, however, the calculation of the time constant is a bit more complicated. In this case, the time constant is not simply R*C or L/R. Instead, it is equal to the product of the individual time constants of the resistor and capacitor (or inductor). This is because in a parallel circuit, the current splits between the two components, resulting in different voltage drops across each component. This means that the time constant for the circuit is a combination of the individual time constants of the components.

In summary, the relative position of a resistor does affect the calculation of RC and LC time constants, with the series connection resulting in a simpler calculation compared to the parallel connection. It is important to understand the connection of the components in a circuit in order to accurately calculate the time constant and understand the behavior of the circuit.