FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

ENGINEERING

ECC3115
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT 9

RC CIRCUIT

LECTURER: DR. MAKHFUDZAH MOKHTAR

OBJECTIVE
To study the response of RC circuits when energized and de-energized by an independent
voltage source (square wave input signal).

EQUIPMENT
1. Multisim simulator
2. Function generator
3. Oscilloscope
4. Resistor 3.3k ohm
5. Capacitor 0.1 uF, 0.22 uF and 1 uF
6. Breadboard
7. Crocodile clips
8. BNC crocodile clips
PROCEDURES
1. The control on the function generator is set to output a square wave with amplitude
of 5V and a frequency of 100Hz.
2. The output of the function generator is connected to channel 1 of the oscilloscope.
3. The scope is adjusted to auto trigger and to use internal triggering off channel 1.
4. Different portion of the voltage trace can be view in a trigger slope button on the
scope.
5. The time base and amplitude controls are used to adjust the scope display.
6. The circuit in Figure 1 is constructed.
7. The function generator is adjusted to provide 5V (peak), 100Hz symmetrical square
wave.
8. The display of the first half of the input square wave and voltage across the capacitor
is saved.
9. The time constant of the circuit is determined by observing the waveform.
10. The measurement is repeated for the second half of the input signal.
11. The experiment is done by following combinations:
Fixing R and varying C:
1. R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1uF
2. R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.22uF
3. R=3.3k ohm ; C=1uF
Fixing C and varying R:
1. R=1k ohm ; C=0.1uF
2. R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1uF
3. R=8k ohm ; C=0.1uF

Simulation
Multisim is used to obtain the results as in the experiment set up.
RESULT
Fixing C and Varying R

R=1k ohm ; C=0.1uF

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1uF

R=8k ohm ; C=0.1Uf

Fixing R and Varying C

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1uF

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.22uF

R=3.3k ohm ; C=1uF

MULTISIM

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1uF

R=8k ohm ; C=0.1uF

 R=3.3k ohm ; C=1uF

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.22uF

DISCUSSION
Capacitor voltage will increase which will decrease the voltage resistor VR across the
resistor. The capacitor will then charge more slowly as charging current are reduced slightly.
This continue until capacitor has charged while there is no current flow in this circuit. The
amount of time for C become full charged will vary on values of R and C. During the first
half cycle , the capacitor is being energized and de-energized for the next half cycle. The
capacitor behave as an open circuit in the presence of constant voltage. It is shows in figures
below.
Fixing R and varying C

R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1Uf R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.22uF

R=3.3k ohm ; C=1uF

Fixing C and Varying R

R=1k ohm ; C=0.1Uf R=3.3k ohm ; C=0.1Uf

R=8k ohm ; C=0.1uF

CONCLUSION
A power source connected in series with a resistor will produce a
constant current . the same power source in series with capacitor will produce
a time-varying current, which decays gradually to zero as the capacitor charges
up. If the power source is removed and the circuit reconnected without power
source , a current will flow for a short time in the opposite direction as the
capacitor discharges.