RC Filtering Circuits: Terminals, Vin, Vout & Ground Explained

In summary, the top terminals in a filter circuit diagram represent the input voltage, while the bottom terminals represent the return only. The voltage across the left two terminals is V_{in}\;, and the voltage across the right two terminals is V_{out}\;. When measuring voltage, the red probe is placed on the top terminal and the black probe on the bottom terminal.
  • #1
Stickybees
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Heya! I've got a lab practical tomorrow to do with RC circuits, what do the terminals at the top and bottom of a filter circuit diagram mean, I'm assuming Vin and Vout is the voltage in and then 0V/ground, but what do the bottom two terminals correspond to?
rclo.gif

Cheers
 
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  • #2
Stickybees said:
Heya! I've got a lab practical tomorrow to do with RC circuits, what do the terminals at the top and bottom of a filter circuit diagram mean, I'm assuming Vin and Vout is the voltage in and then 0V/ground, but what do the bottom two terminals correspond to?
rclo.gif

Cheers

The bottom left and right are the return only. [itex]V_{in}\;[/itex] is input voltage across the left two terminals from the top terminal to the bottom terminal on the left. [itex]V_{out}\;[/itex] is the output voltage across the right two terminals from the top terminal to the bottom terminal on the right.

Remember when you measure voltage, you need to measure between two terminals. You put the red probe on the top terminal and the black probe on the bottom terminal. Hope that help.
 

FAQ: RC Filtering Circuits: Terminals, Vin, Vout & Ground Explained

What is the purpose of a RC filtering circuit?

A RC filtering circuit is used to filter out unwanted frequencies from an input signal, resulting in a cleaner output signal. This is achieved by using a combination of a resistor (R) and a capacitor (C) in the circuit.

What are the main components of a RC filtering circuit?

The main components of a RC filtering circuit are the resistor (R), the capacitor (C), the input terminal (Vin), the output terminal (Vout), and the ground (GND). The resistor and capacitor work together to filter the signal, while the input and output terminals allow the signal to enter and exit the circuit. The ground serves as a reference point for the circuit.

How does a RC filtering circuit work?

A RC filtering circuit works by using the resistor and capacitor to create a low pass filter. This means that high frequencies are attenuated or reduced, while low frequencies are allowed to pass through. The resistor limits the flow of current, while the capacitor stores and releases charge, resulting in a filtered output signal.

What is the difference between Vin and Vout in a RC filtering circuit?

Vin refers to the input terminal of the circuit, where the signal enters. Vout refers to the output terminal of the circuit, where the filtered signal exits. Vin is the input signal, while Vout is the filtered output signal after passing through the RC filtering circuit.

How does the value of the resistor and capacitor affect the filtering in a RC filtering circuit?

The value of the resistor and capacitor determine the cutoff frequency of the filter. The cutoff frequency is the frequency at which the input signal is attenuated by 3dB (half of its original amplitude). A smaller resistor value or a larger capacitor value will result in a lower cutoff frequency, allowing lower frequencies to pass through the filter. A larger resistor value or a smaller capacitor value will result in a higher cutoff frequency, allowing higher frequencies to pass through the filter.

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