How Does Capacitor and Resistor Parallel Impedance Vary with Frequency?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the impedance of capacitors and resistors in parallel and series configurations, particularly in the context of audio circuits. Participants explore how impedance varies with frequency and the implications of these variations in circuit design.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the mathematical expressions for impedance in both parallel and series configurations, questioning how these expressions reflect the behavior of the circuit at different frequencies. There are attempts to clarify nomenclature and correct previous statements regarding impedance calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into their calculations and questioning each other's reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding the correct formulation of impedance, but no consensus has been reached on the implications of the derived expressions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the depth of exploration into the concepts. There are indications of confusion regarding the correct application of formulas and the definitions of terms used in the discussion.

flash
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I know the impedance of a capacitor is,

[tex] \frac {1}{j \omega C}[/tex]

so in an audio circuit it let's more high frequency energy through, which is obvious looking at the equation. When a capacitor is in parallel with a fixed resistor, I worked out the magnitude of the impedance of the pair to be

[tex] \frac{R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + (\omega C)^2}}[/tex]

and this pair should still have lower impedance at higher frequencies, right?
So my question is, how does this expression reflect this? I just can't see it.
 
Last edited:
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flash said:
I know the impedance of a capacitor is,

[tex] \frac {1}{j \omega C}[/tex]

so in an audio circuit it let's more high frequency energy through, which is obvious looking at the equation. When a capacitor is in series with a fixed resistor, I worked out the magnitude of the impedance of the pair to be

[tex] \frac{R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + (\omega C)^2}}[/tex]

and this pair should still have lower impedance at higher frequencies, right?
So my question is, how does this expression reflect this? I just can't see it.

first caps and inductors have reactance, the resistance plus reactance is the impedance of the circuit. just correcting a nomenclature mistake.

second i have no idea how you got that for the total impedance of the circuit

[tex] V=I|Z|[/tex]

[tex] |Z|= \sqrt{R^2 + (\chi _c)^2}}[/tex]
[tex] |Z|= \sqrt{R^2 + (\frac{1}{j \omega C})^2}}[/tex]

as you see with omega in the denominator as freq goes down impedance goes to infinity
 
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ice109 said:
second i have no idea how you got that for the total impedance of the circuit
ahhh i meant parallel, sorry

I got it like this:
[tex] \frac {1}{Z_eq} = \frac {1}{R} + \frac {1}{j \omega C}[/tex]

[tex] Z_eq = \frac {R \omega C}{R + j \omega C}[/tex]

[tex] |Z_eq| = \frac {R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + ( \omega C )^2}}[/tex]

Thanks for your help with this.

edit: should the second term in the first equation be jwC, not 1 on? could be my problem :confused:
 
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flash said:
ahhh i meant parallel, sorry

I got it like this:
[tex] \frac {1}{Z_eq} = \frac {1}{R} + \frac {1}{j \omega C}[/tex]

[tex] Z_eq = \frac {R \omega C}{R + j \omega C}[/tex]

[tex] |Z_eq| = \frac {R \omega C}{\sqrt{R^2 + ( \omega C )^2}}[/tex]

Thanks for your help with this.

edit: should the second term in the first equation be jwC, not 1 on? could be my problem :confused:
a high pass filter is a cap and a resistor in series though
 
The circuit I'm working on has a number of capacitors that can be switched in parallel with a resistor to give different frequency response depending on which one you select.

I reworked the above as:
[tex] \frac {1}{z_{eq}} = \frac {1}{R} + j \omega C[/tex]

which gives
[tex] |z_{eq}| = \frac {R}{\sqrt{1 + ( \omega CR)^2}}[/tex]
 
Last edited:

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