EXAMPLE 1

Consider the circuit when the switch is closed at t = 0 with VC(0) = 1.0 V. Solve for the current i(t) in the circuit.

Multiplying throughout by :

Taking Laplace transform:

Now in this example, we are told .

So

That is: Therefore:

NOTE:

Collecting I terms and subtracting from both sides:

Finding the inverse Laplace transform gives us

EXAMPLE 2

Solve for i(t) for the circuit, given that V(t) = 10 sin5t V, R = 4 W and L = 2 H.
So

25 = A(s2 + 25) + (Bs + C)(s + 2)

We need to solve for A, B and C.

First, let s = −2 and this gives

25 = 29A

Thus A = 25/29

Next, we equate coefficients of s2:

gives

Equating coefficients of :

gives

So

So we have
 A

EXAMPLE 3

In the circuit shown below, the capacitor is uncharged at time t = 0. If the switch is then closed, find the currents i1
and i2, and the charge on C at time t greater than zero.

NOTE: We could either:

 Set up the equations, take Laplace of each, then solve simultaneously

 Set up the equations, solve simultaneously, then take Laplace.

It is easier in this example to do the second method. In many examples, it is easier to do the first method.

For the first loop, we have:

For the second loop, we have:

Substituting (2) into (1) gives:

Next we take the Laplace Transform of both sides.

Note:

In this example, . So

Now taking Inverse Laplace:

And using result (2) from above, we have:

For charge on the capacitor, we first need voltage across the capacitor:

So, since , we have:

Graph of q(t):

EXAMPLE 4

In the circuit shown, the capacitor has an initial charge of 1 mC and the switch is in position 1 long enough to
establish the steady state. The switch is moved from position 1 to 2 at t = 0. Obtain the transient current i(t) for t > 0.
Position 1, after a `long time': A

Position 2: ( )

We apply emf, and consider the sum of the potential difference across elements.

In position 2, there is no emf.

Finding Laplace Transform:

Multiplying by :

Solving for I and completing the square on the denominator gives us:
So the transient current is:

We could transform the trigonometric part of this to a single expression:

2 cos 222.2t − 0.45 sin 222.2t = R cos(222.2t + α)

So

EXAMPLE 5

The system is quiescent. Find the loop current i2(t).

Quiescent implies i1, i2 and their derivatives are zero for t = 0, ie

i1(0) = i2(0) = i1'(0) = i2'(0) = 0.

For loop 1:

For loop 2:

Substituting our result from (1) gives:

Taking Laplace transform:

Let

So

So

Taking Inverse Laplace:

So

EXAMPLE 6

Consider a series RLC circuit where R = 20 W, L = 0.05 H and C = 10-4 F and is driven by an alternating emf given by
E = 100 cos 200t. Given that both the circuit current i and the capacitor charge q are zero at time t = 0, find an
expression for i(t) in the region t > 0.

We use the following:

and obtain:

After multiplying throughout by 20, we have:

Taking Laplace transform and using the fact that i(0) = 0:

Using Scientific Notebook to find the partial fractions:

So

So

+ cos200t − 2 sin 200t

NOTE: Scientific Notebook can do all this for us very easily. In one step, we have:

+ cos200t − 2 sin 200t

Transient part:

Steady state part:

EXAMPLE 7

A rectangular pulse vR(t) is applied to the RC circuit shown. Find the response, v(t).

Graph of vR(t):
Note: v(t) = 0 V for all t < 0 s implies v(0-) = 0 V.

Now

To solve this, we need to work in voltages, not current.

We start with .

The voltage across a capacitor is given by .

It follows that .

So for this example we have:

Substituting known values:

Then

Taking Laplace:

Since , we have:
So, taking inverse Laplace

NOTE: For the part: , we use:

So we have: