Tag: How RLC Work

With the notable exception of calculations for power (P), all AC circuit calculations are based on the same general principles as calculations for DC circuits. The only significant difference is that fact that AC calculations use complex quantities while DC calculations use scalar quantities. Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Laws, and even the network theorems learned in…

What is Conductance? In the study of DC circuits, the student of electricity comes across a term meaning the opposite of resistance: conductance. It is a useful term when exploring the mathematical formula for parallel resistances: Rparallel = 1 / (1/R1 + 1/R2 + . . . 1/Rn). Unlike resistance, which diminishes as more parallel…

Now that we’ve seen how series and parallel AC circuit analysis is not fundamentally different than DC circuit analysis, it should come as no surprise that series-parallel analysis would be the same as well, just using complex numbers instead of a scalar to represent voltage, current, and impedance. Take this series-parallel circuit for example: Example…

We can take the same components from the series circuit and rearrange them into a parallel configuration for an easy example circuit: Example R, L, and C parallel circuit. Impedance in Parallel Components The fact that these components are connected in parallel instead of series now has absolutely no effect on their individual impedances. So…

Let’s take the following example circuit and analyze it: Example series R, L, and C circuit. Solving for Reactance The first step is to determine the reactance (in ohms) for the inductor and the capacitor. The next step is to express all resistances and reactances in a mathematically common form: impedance. (Figure below) Remember that…

Before we begin to explore the effects of resistors, inductors, and capacitors connected together in the same AC circuits, let’s briefly review some basic terms and facts. Resistance This is essentially friction against the flow of current. It is present in all conductors to some extent (except superconductors!), most notably in resistors. When the alternating…