Experiment 5

APPLIED PHYSICS

SERIES RESONANT CIRCUIT

5.1

OBJECTIVES:
1. Take observations for series RLC circuit for different values of Resistances and plot
resonance curve.
2. Determine its resonance frequency and Q factor.

5.2

SAFETY NOTES:
1. Do not touch buttons and knobs of function generator and oscilloscope unnecessarily.
2. Make connections carefully and call teacher to check the connections before turning
on the input signal.

5.3
1.
2.
3.
4.
6.4

EQUIPMENTS/ REQUIREMENTS:
1 Function Generator
1 Oscilloscope
1 Digital Multimeter
Capacitor 0.1F, Inductor, Resistances 10and 100 (1 each)
THEORY:

When inductor and capacitor are used in an ac circuit, inductive reactance X L increases as
the frequency of applied voltage is increased, but capacitive reactance X C decreases with
higher frequencies. At a certain frequency, called the resonance frequency f r, the XL becomes
equal to XC. This case of equal and opposite reactance is called resonance, and the circuit is
called resonant circuit. Since,

X C 1 2fC and X L 2fL

At resonant frequency (f = fr)

XL = X C

fr

1
2 LC

Series Resonant circuit:

In series RLC circuit, at low frequencies, there is large capacitive
reactance XC so very small current will flow through the circuit
and minimum voltage drop across R and L. Since voltage across
capacitor VC and voltage across inductor V L opposes each other
diametrically, so, the total reactive voltage is V L - VC. At very high
frequencies, inductor L will be an open circuit, and again very
small current will flow. However, at intermediate frequencies,
both XC and XL will be moderate, and the difference between
them will be small. At resonance, that difference will be zero, and
only R will limit the current flowing in the circuit. At resonance
maximum current will flow through the circuit so this circuit is also
called acceptor circuit.

Lab Instructor Arshia Aijaz

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(1)

Experiment 5

APPLIED PHYSICS

Q Magnification factor of Resonant Circuit:

The sharpness of resonance curve describe the quality, or figure of merit, is indicated by the
factor Q. higher the sharpness higher the Q magnification factor. In series RLC circuit,

1
R

L
C

(2)

Since the series resistance limits the amount of current at resonance so lower the resistance
R sharper the increase to maximum current at resonant frequency and higher the Q factor.
Q factor can also be calculated by using bandwidth.
Q = fr/f
(3)
Where, f is the bandwidth of resonance curve.
Band Width of Resonance Curve:
The width of group of frequencies centered around resonant frequency that gives a response
of 70.7% of the maximum or more is called bandwidth of the tuned circuit.
f = f2- f1
(4)

5.5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6

REFERENCES:
Basic Electronics, GROB
Physics by Halliday Resnick and Krane.
www.play-hookey.com/ac_theory/ac_rlc_series.html
www.wikipedia.com
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:

Lab Instructor Arshia Aijaz

Page|52

Experiment 5

5.7

APPLIED PHYSICS

PROCEDURE:
6Make connections as shown in figure.
1. Use R = 100.

2. Increase the frequency from 2 kHz to 20 kHz of input signal and read output peak-topeak signal (Vp-p) on oscilloscope as shown in figure 5.4
3. Use appropriate frequency intervals, say 3kHz before and after resonance, and
smaller intervals say 0.4 Hz, near the resonance.
4. Repeat observations for R = 10.
5. Use back of the sheet for calculations
5.8

OBSERVATIONS:
Frequency
kHz

Output Voltage
(Volts)
10
100

5.9

GRAPH:
Plot graphs of amplitude versus frequency using your observations for each
resistance (10, 100). Determine resonance frequency and bandwidth.

5.10

CALCULATIONS:
From graph, resonance frequency, fr = _________kHz.

For R=10:
From graph f1 = __________ kHz and f2 =__________ kHz.
Band width f = f2 - f1=__________ kHz.
Value of Q factor using graph (Q = fr / f) is __________

Lab Instructor Arshia Aijaz

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Experiment 5

5.11

APPLIED PHYSICS

For R=100:
From graph f1 = __________ kHz and f2 =__________ kHz.
Band width f = f2 - f1=__________ kHz.
Value of Q factor using graph (Q = fr / f) is __________
RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Lab Instructor Arshia Aijaz

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