ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 2
ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS: SERIES RC
CIRCUITS

2TSY2122

SCORE

ITEM MEMBER STUDENT NUMBER YEAR LEVEL

NO.

1 Declarador, Gian Kervin S. 201410751 4th Year

2 Lasaleta,Roniel C. 201410001 4th Year

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 Date of Submission: February 2, 2022

Instructor: Engr. William G. Buenaventura

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 Electrical Circuits 2 Manual

ACTIVITY 1

IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS: SERIES RC CIRCUITS

1.1 Program Outcomes (POs) Addressed by the Activity

a. ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
b. ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
c. ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
d. ability to communicate effectively

1.2 Activity’s Intended Learning Outcomes (AILOs)

At the end of this activity, the student shall be able to:
a. measure properly the voltage and current in a series RC circuit.
b. calculate the voltage and current in a series RC circuit.
c. evaluate results by comparing measured and calculated values.

1.3 Objectives of the Activity

The objectives of this activity are to:
1. determine the characteristics of series RC circuits by using calculated and measure
values.
2. verify the results with an oscilloscope.
1.4 Principle of the Activity

When the capacitors are in series, the total capacitive reactance (XCT) is the sum of the
individual reactances. XCT = XC1 + XC2 + XC3 + …

Capacitive reactance increases as the number of capacitors in series increases, resulting

in lower circuit current and higher circuit impedance. Also, as the capacitive reactance increases,
the phase angle between the applied voltage and circuit current increases.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 The same amount of current flows through each component in a series RC circuit. Figure
1.1-1 shows a series RC circuit. To determine circuit impedance (Z), calculate total resistance
and total capacitive reactance, and combine them with the square-root-of-the-sum-of-the-squares
method.

Figure 1.1-1

The applied voltage (Vac), Z, and Ohm’s law are then used to calculate circuit current.

I= Vac/ Z

I= 8/ 4070

I= 0.00197 A pk-pk

You calculate the voltage drop across individual components from the circuit current (I),
the resistance or capacitive reactance of the individual component under the test, and Ohm’s law.
For example, the voltage drop across C1 (Vc1) is found as follows.

Vc1 = (I) (XC1)

Vc1 = (0.00197) (1000)

Vc1 = 1.97

Vpk-pk

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 As with RL circuits, the square root of the sum of the squares of the individual voltage
drop in series RC circuit equals the applied voltage. For the circuit in Figure 1.1-1, you can
determine Vac with the following equation.

Figure 1.1-2 shows this relationship in a phasor diagram. Due to the capacitive
reactance, the resultant phasor (Vac) is located in the fourth quadrant of the x-y coordinate
system.

1.5 Materials/Equipment

1 – F.A.C.E.T. Base Unit

1 – AC1 FUNDAMENTALS Circuit Board
2 – 15 Vdc Power Supply
1 – Oscilloscope, dual trace
1 – Generator, sine wave
1 – Multimeter

1.6 Circuit Diagrams / Figures / Source Codes (if Applicable)

Figure 1. Title

1.7 Procedure/s

1. Turn off the power sources. Insert the AC FUNDAMENTALS circuit board into the base
unit. Install the GENERATOR BUFFER if required. Turn on the power sources.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

2. Locate the CAPACITIVE/ CAPACITIVE REACTANCE circuit block, and connect the
circuit shown in Figure 1.1-3. Adjust V GEN for a 10 VPK-PK’ 1 kHz sine wave.

3. Measure and record the voltage drop across R1 and C3. Use the ADD-INVERT method to
measure VR1. Can you find the resultant of these two voltages (VGEN) by adding them
together?
VR1=8.2V, VC3 =4.4V,VGEN = 10V

4. Determine the square root of the sum of the squares of VR1 and VC3. Does the resultant
equal the magnitude of the 10 Vpk-pk applied voltage

VGEN = 9.31 V

5. Measure the circuit current (I) by using the current sensing resistor R2. Record your
result in Table 1.1-1.
SERIES RC SERIES RC CIRCUIT
CIRCUIT WITH TWO
WITH SINGLE CAPAITORS (C1 & C2)
CAPACITOR (C3)
I 4.56mA 2.84mA
Z 2.193kΩ 3.519kΩ
θ 46.5° 63.77°

Table 1.1-1.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 6. Determine the value of Z from I (measured in step5) and VGEN. Record your result in
Table 1.1-1.

7. Measure the phase angle (θ) between the circuit current (represented by the voltage
across R2) and the applied generator voltage. Use the applied voltage (VGEN) as a
reference. Record your results in Table 1.1-1.

8. Connect the circuit shown in Figure 1.1-4 (essentially add a capacitor in series with
original circuit). Adjust V GEN for a 10 Vpk-pk , 1kHz sine wave.
9. Calculate and record below (not in Table 3.1-1) XCT’ RT’ and Z [XC1 = XC2 = 1/ (2𝜋fC),

XCT = 3.183kΩ, RT = 1500Ω, Z = 3519Ω

10. Calculate and record circuit current (I = VGEN/ Z). I = 2.84mA
11. Measure the circuit current. Record your result in Table 1.1-1. Did the added series
capacitor increase or decrease the circuit current? I = 2.71mA, Decreases
12. Determine the Z [Z (measured) = VGEN / I (measured)]. Record your result in Table
1.1-1. Did the added series capacitor increase or decrease the circuit impedance?
Z = 3520Ω , Increases

13. Measure the phase angle (θ) between VGEN and the circuit current, and record your
result in Table 1.1-1. Did the added series capacitor increase or decrease the phase angle
between the applied voltage (VGEN) and circuit current?
Phase angle = 63.77 degrees , Increase

14. Do not turn off the power sources. The F.A.C.E.T. setup will be used for a review
question.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. Locate the CAPACITANCE / CAPACITIVE REACTANCE circuit block on the AC1

FUNDAMENTALS circuit board. Connect the circuit shown. In Figure 1.1-5. Adjust
VGEN for a 10V pk-pk’ 1 kHz sine wave. When CM switch 9 is activated, an unseen 0.1
µF capacitor is added in series to the circuit. While monitoring the circuit current on the
oscilloscope, place CN switch 9 in the ON position. Based on your observation of the
circuit current, you conclude that adding a series capacitor to this circuit.

a. increased circuit current

b. decreased circuit current.

c. had no effect on circuit current .

d. decreased circuit current

Turn off CM switch 9 and the power sources. Remove all circuit board connection.

2. An RC circuit containing three series-connected capacitors with reactances of 200Ω, 500Ω and
1,500Ω has a total capacitive reactance of…

a. 131Ω c. 2.2 kΩ

b. 2.5 kΩ d. 150Ω

Solution:

XCT = XC1 + XC2 + XC3 + …

XCT=200 Ω+500 Ω+1500 Ω

XCT=2.2k Ω

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

3. As capacitors are added in series,

a. circuit current decreases.

b. circuit current increases.

c. circuit impedance increases.

d. total capacitive reactance decreases.

4. The total capacitive reactance of capacitors in series is

a. determined with reciprocal formula.

b. the sum of the individual reactances.

c. the sum of the individual capacitances.

d. the reciprocal of the individual capacitances

5. As capacitors are added in series,

a. circuit impedance decreases.

b. circuit current increases

c. capacitive reactance decreases.

d. phase angle increases.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

CALCULATIONS

VGen =

VGen = 9.31v

Xc1 = Xc2 = 1/2πfC

Xc1 = Xc2 = 1/2π(1khz)(0.1^-6)
Xc1 = Xc2 = 1591.55Ω
XCT = XC1+XC2 = 3.183kΩ
RT = R1 = 1500Ω
Z=
Z = 3519Ω

I = VGEN/ Z
I = 10v/3519Ω
I = 2.84mA

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

Observations, Analysis and Conclusion
We have observed that some of the characteristics of the RC circuits are the following:
1. The size of the phase angle will be determined by the ratio between resistance and
capacitance.
2. Capacitive resistance decreases. This causes the phase angle, or shift between the applied
voltage or current, to decrease.
3. The applied source voltage and current will be out phase by some amount between 0 and
90 degrees.
4. The voltage and current phase angle’s varies on the capacitive reactance.

We therefore conclude that the capacitor affect the circuit because it lower the value of the
current within the circuit. For a capacitor, the current I leads the voltage E by 90 degrees;
therefore, the only change made is that the capacitor voltage EC lags the current I by 90 degrees
and is drawn lagging the current vector by 90 degrees.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

 Rating
Criteria Pre-initiation Initiating Implementing Refining Score
Sustaining Member1
1 2 3 4 Member2 Member3
5 Member Member5

1. Activity Member does Member Member Member Member

Conduct not follow good follows good follows good follows good follows good
and safe and safe and safe and safe and safe
laboratory laboratory laboratory laboratory laboratory
practice in the practice practice most of practice at all practice at all
conduct of some of the the time in the times in the times in the
activity. time in the conduct of conduct of conduct of
conduct of activity. activity. activity and
activity. encourages
others to do
the same.

2.Equipm Member is Member is Member is able Member is able Member is

ent unable to able to to operate to able to
Operatio operate the operate equipment and operate the operate the
n and equipment and equipment instrument with equipment and equipment
Material instruments. and supervision. instruments and
Handling instrument with ease and instruments
with much with minimum with ease and
supervision. supervision. without
supervision.
3. Data The group has The group The group has The group has The group has
Collection presented has presented presented presented
mostly presented relevant partial relevant and relevant
irrelevant data. relevant but but accurate and almost complete and
incomplete relevant data. complete but accurate data.
and accurate data.
inaccurate
data.

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

4. Data There are many There are Analysis is Analysis is Analysis is
Analysis inaccuracies in some partially correct. The correct. The
and analysis. The inaccuracies correct. The group group
Evaluatio group did not in analysis. group recognized recognized
n attempt to The group did recognized some errors some errors
make some attempt to some errors and and and
links to prior make inaccuracies in inaccuracies in inaccuracies in
knowledge. some links to the processed, the processed, the
prior manipulated manipulated processed,
knowledge. and presented and presented manipulated
data. The group data. The and
is able to make group is able presented
some links to to make some data. The
prior knowledge. links to prior group is able
knowledge. to relate
presented
data to other
knowledge.
5. Results The group has The group The group has The group has The group
Interpret no has vague clear and logical clear and has clear and
ation interpretation interpretatio interpretation logical logical
of data and has n of data and of data and/ interpretation interpretatio
invalid conclusion is attempts to of data and is n of data and
conclusion. fundamental identify trends able to draw is able to
ly flawed. from the data. some draw suitable
conclusions accurate
from the data. conclusions
from the data

Total Score

Mean Score = (Total Score / 5)

Percentage Score = (Total Score / 25) x 100%

Other Comments/ Observations:

ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS

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ACTIVITY 1: IMPEDANCE OF RC CIRCUITS