Voltages in RLC Circuits: Explained

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of inductors in a circuit and the confusion surrounding the notation -L*(di/dt) in the equation for inductor voltage. The expert explains that inductors do not have a voltage drop, but rather impose an EMF in the opposite direction according to Faraday's law. The expert also clarifies that an ideal conductor has no resistance and the equation E-L*(di/dt)-Ri=0 only applies to a DC source with the switch closed at t=0.
  • #1
vrc
32
0
oké, I'm ghaving a hard time with this one, bt it should be really simple acutally:

picture shows RLC circuit:

RLC_series_circuit.jpg



by kirchhoff law we can stat that:

+V-R*i(t)-(1/C)*integral(i*dt)-L*(di/dt)=0

I do understand V, R*i(t) and )-(1/C)*integral(i*dt), because those voltage physically are there with that polarity ( they have given energie by the work done by the source

However, the voltage across the coil, i don't get, L*(di/dt), this is the formula for de induced voltage by the coil itself, because i(t) is function of time and there fore by de law of Lenz must be in induced currect to oppose the increase of induction (given by di(t)).

So why they don't write down: Ecoil=E0-L*(di/dt), because the voltage E0 which was already there has a different polarity than the induced voltage (induced voltage is producd by the coil...)

Am I totally confusing funamentalistic issues here ?

thank !
grtz
 
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  • #2
Before the circuit is connected there is no Ecoil or E0 so you cannot say that the voltage on the coil was already there.

Connect the circuit to the voltage V, and now you have 3 things happening.

The voltage on the resistor is equal to i(t)*R - that is easy.

The voltage on the capacitor starts out as zero and gradually increases as the capacitor charges or Vc = 1/C * integral ( i*dt) . You can also say the current going into the capacitor is C*dv/dt. The current starts out at some value I.

For the inductor, the current starts out as zero, but the voltage starts out depending on the other values of R at some value Ecoil. What is Ecoil.
Well the voltage on the capacitor is zero as it is just beginning to charge.
The inductor opposes any change in current, so the starting current is zero.
Thus the voltage across the resistor is zero.

So your equation reduces to V = Ecoil.
Or, V=Ecoil=Ldi/dt.

If as you suggest what they write down, you would have
v = Ecoil=E0-Ldi/dt.
which doesn't make much sense now. ( ie V-E0 = 0 = Ldi/dt )

I agree that it should be simple but for some reason it takes more brain power to figure out inductors than capacitors.
 
  • #3
hey,

first thank you for you're respons, grateful

suppose in my picture the start voltage of de ac source at t= 0 is has a + pole above, so the start currect goes clockwise

as I understood:
* t=0 the currect is only dependt on the value of R , because the capacitor must charge first
and de inductor will not react because there wille be no change in currect

* because of the V/R , a start currect will flow, so the coil willl have a voltage across it( it's also just a wire = resistance) ,
called Ecoil; because we know that a difference in current will produce a difference in magnetic field (produced by the coil) and
this will produce a current

* the direction of the current will be that it opposes the the difference in magnetic field (produced by the first difference in current, V/R), where the current flows to , we call the positive pole

* so calling Ecoil=L*di/dt, the first voltage on the inductor Ecoil must bequal to the induced voltage, I do understand that becaause an intial current di will give an initial voltage dVcoil, so the opposed voltage dVL will be equal to it

so in the circuit the call VL=-L*di/dt, because of de induced voltage has a oppossed voltage

and what if there was already a voltage across the inductor ?

sorry for all my question, but I do want to get my head clear of this, important stuff...

thank you !
 
Last edited:
  • #4
it's hard to explain my confusing, so I did a little drawing,
I wrote most of the way I see it, the blew + pole at the inductor is because the di' will flow to th resistor, so create (it's ofcource created voltage) an electric field

Only do I not understand why in the formula for the inductor voltage they used the notation
-L*di/dt...


RL.jpg


I hope this is a correct intertretation !

thank you

grtz
 
  • #5
You need to use Faraday's law to properly understand inductors.

What is often misunderstood about inductors is that there is no voltage drop across an ideal inductor, it imposes an EMF in the opposite direction. Kirchhoff's law does not hold for inductors.

What does hold is:
[tex]\oint_C \vec{E} \cdot \vec{dr} = -\frac{\partial \phi_B}{\partial t}[/tex]

In the case of an inductor
[tex]-\frac{\partial \phi_B}{\partial t} = -L \frac{\partial i}{\partial t}[/tex]

Hopefully this makes sense, just remember that Kirchhoff's law does not hold for inductors.
 
  • #6
my course state that for a dc source whit the switch closed at t=0:

E-L*(di/dt)-Ri=0

Mau I also assume that an ideal conductor has no resistantce,otherwise a voltage would be acrros it!
There I didn't saw my fault, because I was thanking about an inductor as a comonent with a resistance. Ofcourse the ideal conductor does not exist because there always will be some resistance.

thank you vm!
 

FAQ: Voltages in RLC Circuits: Explained

What is an RLC circuit?

An RLC circuit is an electrical circuit that contains a resistor (R), inductor (L), and capacitor (C) in series or parallel. These three components interact with each other to produce a wide range of electrical responses.

What is voltage in an RLC circuit?

Voltage, also known as electromotive force, is the potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit. In an RLC circuit, voltage can be measured across each individual component or across the entire circuit.

What is the significance of voltages in RLC circuits?

Voltages in RLC circuits play a crucial role in understanding the behavior and performance of the circuit. The voltage across each component determines its current flow and the interaction between the components can affect the overall voltage of the circuit.

How does voltage change in RLC circuits?

In an RLC circuit, voltage can change depending on the frequency of the input signal and the values of the components. At resonance, the voltage across the inductor and capacitor becomes zero, while the voltage across the resistor remains constant.

What is the relationship between voltage and current in RLC circuits?

The voltage and current in an RLC circuit are related by Ohm's Law (V=IR) and the impedance (Z) of the circuit. The voltage and current may be in-phase or out-of-phase, depending on the frequency and values of the components. This relationship is important in understanding the power and energy dissipation in an RLC circuit.

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