Calculating Time for Inductor Voltage to Drop to 13 V in RL Circuit

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an RL circuit where participants are attempting to calculate the time it takes for the voltage across an inductor to drop to 13 V after a switch is thrown. The context includes initial current and voltage calculations based on circuit components.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the initial current and voltage across the inductor, with one participant attempting to use an exponential decay formula to find the time for the voltage to reach 13 V. Questions arise regarding the values used in calculations and the correctness of the approach.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on calculations and questioning the values used. There is an exploration of different interpretations of the voltage calculations, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach or final answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific values derived from the circuit components, and there is mention of a lack of visual aids to clarify the setup. The original poster's calculations are being scrutinized for potential errors in the resistance value used.

Punchlinegirl
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One application of an RL circuit is the generation of time varying high-voltage from a low-voltage source as shown in the figure.
1257 ohms

14 ohms 2 H (switch) b
a
12.6 V.
Sorry, I couldn't get the picture, but here's a rough idea.. it's in a circuit.
What is the current in the circuit a long time after the switch has been in position "a"?
I got this part... it was 0.9 A
Part 2 says: Now the switch is thrown quickly from "a" to "b". Compute the initial voltage across the inductor.
I got this too.. it was 1143.9 V
Part 3 says: How much time elapses before the voltage across the inductor drops to 13 V? Answer in units of ms.

I used the equation [tex]I= I_0 e^ (-R/L)t[/tex]
and then figured out that [tex]V= I_0 Re^(-R/L)t[/tex]
so 13.0 V=(0.9)(1143.9)e^(1143.9t/2)
solving for t gave me 7.64 ms which isnt' right.. can someone please help me?
 
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You're putting in 1143.9 for the resistance in the last equation? Are you just a factor of 0.9 low on the correct answer?
 
I tried using just 1143, but it still isn't right.
 
Maybe show in a bit more detail how you got 1143V. A picture would definitely help, if you could just upload some simple DOC or PDF file.
 
https://hw.utexas.edu/tmp/mq389/1145320743Xuj.pdf
I don't know if this will work. I found the 1143 V by:
first I calculated the initial current with was 0.9 A.
then I figured out the voltage from the 14 ohm resistor by using IR.
V= (14)(0.9)= 12.6 V
then I did the same thing for the larger resistor
V= (1257)(0.9)=1131.3 V
Then to get the total voltage, I added these together..
1131.3+12.6=1143.9 V.
so that's why I was using it to find how much time it would take.
 
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