What is the Relationship Between Bandwidth and RLC Circuit Parameters?

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The discussion focuses on deriving the relationship between bandwidth and RLC circuit parameters, specifically how to transition from the maximum current equation to the bandwidth formula. The user initially struggles with manipulating the impedance equation and correctly identifying the resonant frequencies, ultimately realizing that the two solutions for angular frequency correspond to the conditions of the circuit's current being at half its maximum value. The conversation highlights the importance of considering both positive and negative roots when solving quadratic equations, as negative angular frequencies are not physically meaningful. The user concludes that only the positive solutions are valid, leading to the correct expression for the bandwidth. Understanding these relationships is crucial for analyzing RLC circuits effectively.
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Homework Statement

and

Homework Equations




I am trying to get from:

I_{max}=\sqrt{2}I=\frac{V}{\sqrt{R^2+(\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C})^2}}

to:

\Delta\omega=\omega_1-\omega_2=\frac{R}{L}

The Attempt at a Solution



From the equation above:
\sqrt{R^2+(\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C})^2}=\frac{V}{\sqrt{2}I}

Square the above:
R^2+(\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C})^2=\frac{V^2}{2I^2}

Subtract from both sides R squared and square root:
\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C}=\sqrt{\frac{V^2}{2 I^2}-R^2}

Now, I want to put it in the form of quadratic equation, so I multiply omega:
\omega^2 L-\frac{1}{C}=\omega \sqrt{\frac{V^2}{2 I^2}-R^2}

Now I am stuck. It is not like I can turn V/I=R because that I there is root square mean current, and even if I did, I would end up with an imaginary term. The answer is not imaginary, nor complex.
 
Last edited:
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What do ω1 and ω2 represent?
 
They represent the two solutions of angular frequency when the current of the circuit is 1/sqrt(2) of the resonance current (Imax).

The current is resonant when:

\omega=\frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}

That is because it turns this:

I=\frac{V}{\sqrt{R^2+(\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C})^2}}

into this:

I=\frac{V}{R}
 
Last edited:
Okay, I looked further into it, and my mistake was to assume that the first equation was equal to Imax, so instead, I changed it like this:

\frac{I_{max}}{\sqrt{2}}=I=\frac{V}{\sqrt{R^2+(\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C})^2}}

Doing the same process from above gives me:
\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C}=\sqrt{\frac{V^2}{I^2}-R^2}

But since I=Imax/sqrt(2), that gives me:
\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C}=\sqrt{\frac{2 V^2}{I_{max}^2}-R^2}

I can finally turn V/Imax into R:
\omega L-\frac{1}{\omega C}=\sqrt{2 R^2-R^2}=R

I set up the quadratic polynomial:
\omega^2 L-\frac{1}{C}-\omega R=0

And then the formula:
\omega_1=\frac{R+\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}
and
\omega_2=\frac{R-\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}

But now I have another problem. When I subtract both solutions, the R/2L term disappears and that leaves the term in the squareroots.
 
I didn't actually work this out, but I can see how this works from the original equation for the impedance. You're looking at the wrong two roots. One frequency should satisfy

\omega L - \frac{1}{\omega C} = +R

while the other satisfies

\omega L - \frac{1}{\omega C} = -R

Somewhere along the way, you took a square root, and you need to consider both the positive and negative roots.
 
Oh right, thanks. One more problem, though, that leaves me with 4 solutions. The two of them is the one mentioned in my last post above, and two of them would be with the Rs in front shifted into negative.
 
Just to help you visualize the four solutions:

\omega_1=\frac{R+\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}

\omega_2=\frac{-R+\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}

\omega_3=\frac{R-\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}

\omega_4=\frac{-R-\sqrt{R^2+4 \frac{L}{C}}}{2L}
 
Last edited:
The sign on two of those is negative. You can toss those solutions.
 
I see that if I subtract omega 1 with 2, that gives me the correct solution, but why do I toss out omega 3 and 4, though? Why wasn't the negative R tossed out? It seems completely arbitrary.
 
  • #10
In the expression for ω3, is the radical less than or greater than R? Similarly, what's the sign of ω4?
 
  • #11
Oh, because in those cases, angular frequency would turn out negative, and there is no such thing. It would turn out negative because R^2 is being added by 4L/C, and since without the 4L/C, the square root term would be R, then that square root term must be greater than the R outside the square root. Thanks!
 

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