Transient Response: Analyzing Current with Thevenin's & Mesh/Nodal Analysis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around analyzing the transient response of a circuit involving a capacitor using Thevenin's theorem and nodal analysis. Participants explore how to incorporate initial conditions, specifically the initial voltage across the capacitor, into their calculations for current flow after a switch is closed.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their approach to finding the current through the capacitor for t > 0 using Thevenin's equivalent, noting the initial capacitor voltage vc(0) = 3V.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on whether to include the initial voltage in the nodal analysis and how it affects the current equation for the capacitor.
  • There is a question about the redundancy of the initial voltage when applying Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) at the node.
  • A participant mentions that for transient analysis, initial conditions should be included, indicating that they take the form of voltage or current sources for capacitors and inductors.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the treatment of initial conditions in their analyses. There is no consensus on whether the initial voltage should be included in the nodal analysis or how it influences the equations used.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the implications of initial conditions on their calculations, but the exact mathematical steps and assumptions remain unresolved. The discussion reflects differing interpretations of how to model the initial conditions in circuit analysis.

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Homework Statement


http://s741.photobucket.com/user/pforpashya/media/studybitch/untitled_zps4cac3f38.png.html?filters[user]=137200878&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Well I already got the solution and also verified answer in simulation.

My question is, while solving for t>0 current through capacitor I obtained using Thevenins eq.
while writing equation for vth i have to consider vc(0)=3v with the open circuited vth while applying mesh analysis.

Now if i try to do with nodal analysis and if i apply kcl at middle node do i have to consider the v(0)=3v in series with capacitor if no then please tell me why?
 
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pforpashya said:

Homework Statement


http://s741.photobucket.com/user/pforpashya/media/studybitch/untitled_zps4cac3f38.png.html?filters[user]=137200878&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Well I already got the solution and also verified answer in simulation.

My question is, while solving for t>0 current through capacitor I obtained using Thevenins eq.
while writing equation for vth i have to consider vc(0)=3v with the open circuited vth while applying mesh analysis.

Now if i try to do with nodal analysis and if i apply kcl at middle node do i have to consider the v(0)=3v in series with capacitor if no then please tell me why?
Hi pforpashya. Welcome to Physics Forums.

I'm not sure that I understand your question accurately. I believe that you wish to know when and why to include the initial capacitor voltage in the analysis, is that correct?

For the first step in your analysis you determined the potential on the capacitor at time t = 0 (just before the switch K is closed). That becomes the initial potential on the capacitor for the next steps in the analysis. Since you're only looking to find the capacitor current you don't really care where the initial capacitor voltage ends up in the modelling process.

If you choose to use a Thevenin equivalent model for the analysis, then you can either treat the capacitor and its initial voltage as the load that is separated from the circuit when you build the model, or you can take the uncharged capacitor as the load and leave its initial voltage with the rest of the circuit when you create the Thevenin model. So the choices are:

attachment.php?attachmentid=61131&stc=1&d=1377432284.gif


In the top circuit, the initial capacitor voltage Vo remains with the load and the Thevenin voltage Vth depends only on the 5V source in your circuit. In the bottom circuit, Vo has been folded into the Thevenin model, so V'th depends upon both the 5V source and Vo.

Does that help you?
 

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Thnks for your reply.

i have to verify answer with Nodal analysis. When I am applying nodal analysis in the middle node what will be the equation of current flowing through capacitor?


if i consider node to be v1 then current through capacitor is 0.5 d/dt(v1-3)? or 0.5d/dt (V1)?...the battery present due to initial condition, is it becoming redundant when i apply kcl?

In same way is it true for inductor, that current initially flowing through inductor not considered when applying kvl to that loop,just it is utilize to calculate k?
thanks in advance
 
Last edited by a moderator:
pforpashya said:
Thnks for ur reply.

i have to verify answer with Nodal analysis. When I am applying nodal analysis in the middle node what will be the equation of current flowing through capacitor?


if i consider node to be v1 then current through capacitor is 0.5 d/dt(v1-3)? or 0.5d/dt (V1)?...the battery present due to initial condition, is it becoming redundant when i apply kcl?

In same way is it true for inductor, that current initially flowing through inductor not considered when applying kvl to that loop,just it is utilize to calculate k?
thnx in advance

For transient response, the initial conditions should be included in the analysis. For capacitors and inductors these take the form of voltage sources and/or current sources.
 

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