EE 200 – Electronic Circuits Implementation
Lab #2
AC MEASUREMENTS
Poyraz Emel
26547
Session E
18.03.2021
Spring 2020/2021
Introduction
The goal of this experiment was to observe the voltage across resistance and
capacitor in RC circuit and finding half-power point’s value in simulation.One of
our aim is comparing differences between capacitor and inductor. Another aim is
to observe Vc+VL and VL voltages which are dependent with frequency in the
circuit which has resistance, capacitor and inductor. With increasing and
decreasing frequency, we will simulate circuits in Ltspice. Finally, we will compare
our results.
Data/Results
Part 1. Frequency response of RC and RL circuits
a) Build the series RC circuit in Figure 1 (R = 1 kΩ and C = 47 nF). From the input apply a 5 Vpp sine
wave. Put two labels both at the input and at the output so that you will observe the input and
the output signal at the same time.
b) Produce a plot of Vout/Vin (both magnitude and phase). To do this you have to create AC analysis
simulation. Set the AC magnitude of the input as 1 and check the output magnitude of your signal vs
frequency. Show your simulation environment and show your output graph.
c) Find the 3-dB frequency (or the half-power point).
Part 2. Frequency response of series RLC circuits
a) Build the series RLC circuit in Figure 2. Use R = 40 Ω, L = 1 µH and C = 1 nF.
b) Now you will perform a transient simulation. In the simulation environment, label two nodes as
shown in Figure 4. You have to define an expression to see the voltage signal across the capacitor alone.
Press the right click on one of the output signals. Change the expression as a difference between the
output signal 1 and output signal 2.
c) Measure the resonant frequency, f0, of the circuit. How did you find the resonance?
Resonant Frequency = 1/2π(LC)^1/2
= 1/2x3.14x[(10e-9x10e-6) ^1/2]= 5.035MHz
d) Apply a 5 Vpp signal from the input source. Obtain the magnitude of |VC+VL|, |VL| and |VC| at 0.1f0,
0.5f0, 0.8f0, f0, 1.5f0, 3f0, 10f0
e) Find the upper and lower 3-dB frequencies, fH and fL. What is the bandwidth? What is the quality
factor?
Bandwidth= fh-fl = -6.267MHz
Quality factor = f0/Bandwidth = 5.035/-6.267= -0.803
Discussion and Analysis
Part 1
First, I created circuit with sine wave which has 5 Vpp. If peak to peak value is 5, as we see in the signals
peak value will be 5/2=l2.5l V. Then, I added two labels which are Vin and Vout. Vin is in the left side of
resistance, Vout is in the between capacitor and resistance. I simulated the circuit with transient
simulation and observed Vin and Vout signals at the same time.
Part 2
In the experiment that we conducted in the second part, we learned that "cut off frequency" is-3dB.We
learned to calculate "resonant frequency" in the Circuit combined with RC and RL circuits. By simulating
the AC circuit, we then installed, we observed the change of voltage passing through the capacitor and
inductor depending on the frequency.
Conclusion
I observed RL and Rc circuits and their behaviors. In the first part, I created RC circuit in Ltspice
with ac analysis. Then I simulated RC circuit and observed AC signal waves. In addition, we
could point out and zoom in -3dB point from the graph of the simulation which called half
power point. In second part, I created circuit which has capacitor and inductor and simulated
this circuit with transient simulation. In this simulation, our aim was observing the voltages
across capacitor and inductor. After we found resonant frequency. Finally, we experienced that
voltage across capacitor and inductor can be changed by frequency. When we increase
frequency, inductor has more voltage because of reactance of inductor which is XL= 2πfL. On
the other hand, if we decrease frequency, we see that inductor has more voltage because of
capacitor which is XC = 1/2πfC.
Post Lab Assignment
1. What are the differences between the frequency response of series RC and RL circuits?
RL circuit is High-pass filter. On the other hand, RC circuit is Low-pass filter.
2. Which component is dominant in the equivalent impedance of series resonant circuit at very low
and very high frequencies (compared to f0).
Inductor has more dominant than capacitor in high frequency.Because XL=2πfL so inductor more
dominant in high frequency on the other hand capacitor more dominant than inductor in low frequency.
Because XC = 1/2πfC so capacitor more dominant in low frequency.
3. Are the measured values of VC + VL in Figure 2 at resonance any different than what you obtained
in prelab? What is the reason?
I found VC +VL = 0 at resonant frequency with hand-calculation. In simulation of Ltspice, we see that VC
+ VL almost zero. In the beginning of simulation, capacitor be more dominant than inductor. Because
inductor needs time to charge.
4. In Part 2 why cannot we connect the oscilloscope probe between the capacitor terminals directly to
measure VC?
If we connect oscilloscope probe between the capacitor terminals directly to measure Vc, it will be short
circuit and we measure nothing. Because oscilloscope work respect ground.
