Engineering Solving a Second Order Circuit for Capacitor Voltage

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving a second-order circuit for capacitor voltage using nodal analysis and differential equations. The user initially struggles with deriving the correct equations from scratch, ultimately arriving at the correct form: v'' + v' + 4v = 0, indicating complex conjugate roots and an underdamped circuit. The user identifies their mistake in substituting component values, specifically using C=0.25 instead of C=1 and L=1 instead of L=0.25, which led to an incorrect solution.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of second-order differential equations
  • Familiarity with nodal analysis in electrical circuits
  • Knowledge of underdamped systems in circuit theory
  • Proficiency in substituting values in equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of differential equations for RLC circuits
  • Learn about the characteristics of underdamped, overdamped, and critically damped systems
  • Explore advanced nodal analysis techniques for circuit analysis
  • Review the implications of complex conjugate roots in circuit response
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineering students, circuit designers, and anyone involved in analyzing second-order circuits and their responses.

Vishera
Messages
72
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement



upload_2014-10-10_11-20-43.png

upload_2014-10-10_11-20-49.png

Homework Equations



Here is the technique I am using:

upload_2014-10-10_11-21-43.png


The Attempt at a Solution



img001.jpg

img002.jpg

[/B]
I understand how to solve the problem using the technique provided by the solution but I was wondering where I messed up in the technique that I used. I prefer the second technique because there is less memorization.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Did you have a question? The provided solution looks pretty thorough except that they didn't explicitly state the steady-state solution.
 
gneill said:
Did you have a question? The provided solution looks pretty thorough except that they didn't explicitly state the steady-state solution.

The problem is that the provided solution doesn't derive the differential equations from scratch. It uses equations that we are supposed to memorize. I would prefer to just solve the problem from scratch instead of plugging in and chugging. I am trying to derive the differential equations from scratch and I did so but my final solution is incorrect.
 
When I do nodal analysis I see:
$$\frac{v}{R} + \frac{1}{L} \int v\;dt + C \frac{dv}{dt} = 0 $$
Clear the integral by differentiating the whole thing:
$$\frac{1}{R} \frac{dv}{dt} + \frac{1}{L} v + C \frac{d^2 v}{dt^2} = 0$$
$$\frac{d^2 v}{dt^2} + \frac{1}{R C} \frac{dv}{dt} + \frac{1}{L C} v = 0$$
Plugging in component values and changing notation:
RC = 1
LC = 1/4

thus:

v'' + v' + 4v = 0

So you have complex conjugate roots, not a double real root. This makes sense since the circuit is underdamped.
 
gneill said:
When I do nodal analysis I see:
$$\frac{v}{R} + \frac{1}{L} \int v\;dt + C \frac{dv}{dt} = 0 $$
Clear the integral by differentiating the whole thing:
$$\frac{1}{R} \frac{dv}{dt} + \frac{1}{L} v + C \frac{d^2 v}{dt^2} = 0$$
$$\frac{d^2 v}{dt^2} + \frac{1}{R C} \frac{dv}{dt} + \frac{1}{L C} v = 0$$
Plugging in component values and changing notation:
RC = 1
LC = 1/4

thus:

v'' + v' + 4v = 0

So you have complex conjugate roots, not a double real root. This makes sense since the circuit is underdamped.

I just did it this way and it seems to be correct. Is there anything I did wrong with my method?

Actually, I think I figured out what I did wrong. I substituted C=0.25 instead of C=1 and I substituted L=1 instead of L=0.25. Opps.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K