TRANSIENT CIRCUITS

Transients are generated in Electrical circuits due to abrupt changes in the

operating conditions when energy storage elements like Inductors or
capacitors are present. Transient response is the dynamic response during
the initial phase before the steady state response is achieved when such
abrupt changes are applied.

A circuit having a single

energy storage element i.e.
either a capacitor or an
Inductor is called a Single
order circuit and it’s
governing equation is called a
First order Differential
Equation.
 Kirchhoff’s loop law states that the algebraic sum of the voltage
drops in a simple closed electric circuit is zero.

• R = Resistance (Ohms)
• C = Capacitance (Farads)
• L = Inductance (Henries)
• E(t) = Electromotive Force, emf (Volts)
• I = Current (Amperes)
σ 𝑽𝑫 − σ 𝑽𝑹 = 𝟎
Elements of Electric Circuits:

Voltage
Element Symbol Unit
Drop
𝑉
Resistor, R Ohm (Ω) IR Ohm’s Law: 𝐼 =
𝑅

𝑑𝐼
Inductor, L Henry (H) 𝐿
𝑑𝑡
𝑄 1 𝑡
V = ‫׬‬0 𝐼 𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Capacitor, C Farad (F) 𝐶
𝐶

• E(t) = Electromotive Force, emf (Volts)

𝑑𝑄
• I = Current (Amperes), 𝐼 = 𝑑𝑡

By Kirchhoff’s 𝑸 𝒅𝑰
𝑹𝑰 + +𝑳 −𝑬 𝒕 =𝟎
Law: 𝑪 𝒅𝒕

Kirchoff’s loop law states that the algebraic sum of the

voltage drops in a simple closed electric circuit is zero.
 Example: Use this law to derive a DE for the current I in a simple circuit consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, an
inductor, and an electromotive force (usually a battery or a generator) connected in series.

By Kirchhoff’s 𝑸 𝒅𝑰
𝑹𝑰 + + 𝑳 − 𝑬 𝒕 = 𝟎 𝑑𝐼 1 𝑑𝑄 𝑑 2 𝐼 𝑑𝐸 𝑡
Law: 𝑪 𝒅𝒕 𝑅 + +𝐿 2− =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
L,R,C are constants
𝑑𝐼 1 𝑑 2 𝐼 𝑑𝐸 𝑡
Q, I, E(t) are variables 𝑅 + 𝐼+𝐿 2− =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
The relationship between Q and I is 𝑅 𝑑𝐼 1 𝑑 2 𝐼 1 𝑑𝐸 𝑡
𝑑𝑄 + 𝐼+ 2− =0
𝐼= 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝐿 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡

Differentiating the eq’n wrt t using this relation, 𝑑 2 𝐼 𝑅 𝑑𝐼 1 1 𝑑𝐸 𝑡

+ + 𝐼 =
𝑑 1 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝐼 𝑑 𝑑𝑡 2 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶 𝐿 𝑑𝑡
𝑅 (𝐼) + (𝑄)+𝐿 − 𝐸 𝑡 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
DE for the current I
 𝑄

Example: Derive a DE for the charge on the capacitor in the RCL circuit.

By Kirchoff’s 𝑸 𝒅𝑰
𝑹𝑰 + + 𝑳 − 𝑬 𝒕 = 𝟎
Law: 𝑪 𝒅𝒕

𝑑𝑄 𝑄 𝑑2𝑄
𝑅 + +𝐿 2 −𝐸 𝑡 =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡
𝑅 𝑑𝑄 1 𝑑2𝑄 1
+ 𝑄+ 2 − 𝐸 𝑡 =0
𝐿 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝐿

𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝐼 𝑑 2 𝑄
𝐼= , thus = 𝒅𝟐 𝑸 𝑹 𝒅𝑸 𝟏 𝟏
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2 + + 𝑸 = 𝑬 𝒕
𝒅𝒕𝟐 𝑳 𝒅𝒕 𝑳𝑪 𝑳

DE for the charge on the capacitor

SINGLE ORDER CIRCUIT:

Example: Use Kirchhoff’s loop law to derive a DE for the current in a simple circuit consisting
of a resistor, an inductor, and an electromotive force connected in series.

Solution:

𝒅𝑰
𝑹𝑰 + 𝑳 − 𝑬 𝒕 = 𝟎
𝒅𝒕
𝑑𝐼
𝐿 + 𝑅𝐼 − 𝐸 𝑡 = 0
𝑑𝑡
emf

𝑑𝐼 𝑅 1
+ 𝐼= 𝐸 𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝐿 𝐿

RL Circuit DE for the current

Linear FODE
Example :
Asimple series RL circuit has an emf of 3 sin 2t 𝑉, a resistance of 10 Ω, an inductance of
0.5 𝐻. Derive a DE for the current in the system

Solution:
𝟏𝟎 𝜴 𝒅𝑰 𝑹 𝟏
+ 𝑰= 𝑬 𝒕
𝒅𝒕 𝑳 𝑳
𝑑𝐼 10 1
+ 𝐼= (3 sin 2𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 0.5 0.5
emf 𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒕 𝟎. 𝟓𝑯
𝒅𝑰
+ 𝟐𝟎 𝑰 = 𝟔 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒕
𝒅𝒕
Example: Use Kirchhoff’s loop law to derive a DE for the charge on the capacitor of a circuit
circuit consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and an electromotive force connected in
series.

Solution:
𝑸
𝑹𝑰 + + −𝑬 𝒕 = 𝟎
𝑪

𝑑𝑄 𝑄
𝑅 + −𝐸 𝑡 =0
emf 𝑑𝑡 𝐶

𝑑𝑄 1 1
+ 𝑄= 𝐸 𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐶 𝑅
RC Circuit
DE for Q
Linear FODE
Example :
A series RC circuit has an emf of 400 cos 2𝑡 𝑉, a resistance of 100 Ω, and a capacitance of 0.01 𝐹.
Derive a DE for the charge on the capacitor.

Solution: 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝜴 𝒅𝑸 𝟏 𝟏
+ 𝑸= 𝑬 𝒕
𝒅𝒕 𝑹𝑪 𝑹

𝑑𝑄 1 1
+ 𝑄= (400 cos 2𝑡)
emf 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝒕 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭 𝑑𝑡 (100)(0.01) 100

𝒅𝑸
+ 𝑸 = 𝟒 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕
𝒅𝒕

RC Circuit
Example :
Derive a DE for the current in the circuit of the previous example.

Solution: 100 Ω 𝒅𝑸
+ 𝑸 = 𝟒 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕
𝒅𝒕
𝑑𝑄
Using the relationship 𝐼 = ,
𝑑𝑡

emf 400 cos 2𝑡 0.01 𝐹 𝑑 𝑑𝑄 𝑑 𝑑

+ 𝑄 = (4 cos 2𝑡)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝐼
+ 𝐼 = −8 sin 2𝑡
RC Circuit 𝑑𝑡
Example :
An RL circuit has an emf of 5 𝑉, a resistance of 50Ω, and inductance of 1𝐻, and no initial current.
Find the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡.
Solution:
𝑑𝐼 50𝑡
𝑒 + 50𝐼(𝑒 50𝑡 ) = 5(𝑒 50𝑡 ) Note: Current is the
𝐸 = 5𝑉 𝑑𝑡
sum of the transient
𝑅 = 50 Ω න 𝑑 𝑒 50𝑡 𝐼 =න5(𝑒 50𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡 + න 0 and steady-state
current.
𝐿 = 1𝐻 1 50𝑡
𝑒 50𝑡 𝐼 = 𝑒 +𝑘
DE for the current: 10
𝟏
𝒅𝑰 𝑹 𝟏 𝑰= + 𝒆−𝟓𝟎𝒕 𝒌
+ 𝑰= 𝑬 𝒕 𝟏𝟎
𝒅𝒕 𝑳 𝑳 1 1
At 𝑡 = 0, 𝐼 = 0, 0 = + 𝑒 −50(0) 𝑘 𝑘 = − 10
𝑑𝐼 50 1 𝑑𝐼 10
+ 𝐼 = (5) + 50𝐼 = 5
𝑑𝑡 1 1 𝑑𝑡 ∴ the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡 is
Linear FODE 𝟏 𝒆−𝟓𝟎𝒕
𝑰= −
𝐼𝐹: 𝑒 ‫ ׬‬50𝑑𝑡 = 𝑒 50𝑡 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
 Example :
An RL circuit has an emf of 3 sin 2𝑡 𝑉, a resistance of 10 Ω, and inductance of 0.5 𝐻, and an initial
current of 6 𝐴. Find the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡.

Solution:
𝑑𝐼
(𝑒 20𝑡 ) + 20𝐼(𝑒 20𝑡 ) = 6 sin 2𝑡(𝑒 20𝑡 )
𝐸 = 3 sin 2𝑡 𝑉 𝑑𝑡

𝑅 = 10 Ω න𝑑 𝑒 20𝑡 𝐼 = න6 sin 2𝑡 (𝑒 20𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡 + න 0

𝐿 = 0.5 𝐻 30 3
𝑒 20𝑡 𝐼 = 101 𝑒 20𝑡 sin 2𝑡 − 101 𝑒 20𝑡 cos 2𝑡 + 𝑘
DE for the current:
𝟑𝟎 𝟑
𝑰 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝒕 − 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕 + 𝒆−𝟐𝟎𝒕 𝒌
𝒅𝑰 𝑹 𝟏
+ 𝑰= 𝑬 𝒕
𝒅𝒕 𝑳 𝑳 30 3
At 𝑡 = 0, 𝐼 = 6, 6 = 101 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2(0) − 101 cos 2(0) + 𝑒 −20(0) 𝑘
𝑑𝐼 10 1 609
+ 𝐼= (3 sin 2𝑡) 𝑘 = 101
𝑑𝑡 0.5 0.5
Linear FODE:
𝑑𝐼 ∴ the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡 is
+ 20𝐼 = 6 sin 2𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝟑𝟎 𝟑 𝟔𝟎𝟗
𝑰 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝒕 − 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝒆−𝟐𝟎𝒕
𝐼𝐹: 𝑒 ‫ ׬‬20𝑑𝑡 = 𝑒 20𝑡
Example :
An RC circuit has an emf of 400 cos 2𝑡 𝑉, a resistance of 100 Ω, and capacitance 10−2 𝐹. Initially
there is no charge on the capacitor. Find the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡.

Solution: 𝑑𝑄 𝑡
𝑒 + 𝑄𝑒 𝑡 = (4 cos 2𝑡)𝑒 𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝐸 = 400 cos 2𝑡 𝑉
𝑡
𝑅 = 100 Ω න𝑑 𝑒 𝑡 𝑄 =න(4 cos 2𝑡)𝑒 𝑑𝑡 + න 0
𝐶 = 10−2 𝐹 8 4
𝑒 𝑡 𝑄 = 𝑒 𝑡 sin 2𝑡 + 𝑒 𝑡 cos 2𝑡 + 𝑘
5 5
Using the DE for the charge on the
𝟖 𝟒
capacitor, 𝑸 = 𝟓 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟓 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕 + 𝒆−𝒕 𝒌
𝒅𝑸 𝟏 𝟏 8 4
+ 𝑸= 𝑬 𝒕 At 𝑡 = 0, 𝑄 = 0, 0 = 5 sin 2(0) + 5 cos 2(0) + 𝑒 −(0) 𝑘
𝒅𝒕 𝑹𝑪 𝑹 4
𝑑𝑄 1 1 𝑘 = −5
+ 𝑄 = 400 cos 2𝑡
𝑑𝑡 100 10−2 100 𝟖 𝟒
𝑸 = 𝟓 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟓 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕 − 𝟓 𝒆−𝒕
𝟒

𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑄
Linear FODE: + 𝑄 = 4 cos 2𝑡 Using the relationship 𝐼 = ,
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

∴ the current in the circuit at any time 𝑡 is

𝐼𝐹: 𝑒 ‫𝑡 𝑒 = 𝑡𝑑 ׬‬
𝟏𝟔 𝟖 𝟒
𝑰= 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝒕 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝒕 + 𝟓 𝒆−𝒕
𝟓 𝟓
 Mixture Probelms

In general one has a rate of flow of some concentration of mixture entering a

region and a mixture leaving the region. The goal is to determine how much
stuff is in the region at a given time. This is governed by the equation
Rate of change of substance = Rate In −Rate Out
𝑑𝐴
= 𝑅𝑖 − 𝑅𝑜
𝑑𝑡

We can use the same type of reasoning to model a variety of phenomena:

chemical reactions, discharge of pollutants into a lake, injection of a drug into
the bloodstream
 Rate of change of substance = Rate In −Rate Out

𝒅𝑨
= 𝑩𝒊 𝑪𝒊 − 𝑩𝒐 𝑪𝒐
𝒅𝒕 𝑉 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑖
𝐴 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑔

where
𝑑𝐴
= rate of change of the amount of substance
𝑑𝑡
𝐵𝑖 𝐶𝑖 = flow rate of liquid entering × concentration of substance in the liquid entering
𝐵𝑜 𝐶𝑜 = flow rate of liquid exiting × concentration of substance in the liquid exiting
Example :
A 50 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛 tank of pure water has a brine mixture with concentration of 2 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛 entering
at the rate of 5 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒. At the same time, the well-mixed contents drain out at the rate of
5 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒. Find the amount of salt in the tank at time 𝑡.

Solution:
𝒅𝑨
Equation: 𝒅𝒕
= 𝑩𝒊 𝑪𝒊 − 𝑩𝒐 𝑪𝒐
𝑔𝑎𝑙
𝐵𝑖 = 5 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝐴 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑏 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝐴 𝑙𝑏
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐵𝑜 = 5 = 5 𝑚𝑖𝑛 2 𝑔𝑎𝑙 − 5 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑡 50 𝑔𝑎𝑙
𝑙𝑏
𝐶𝑖 = 2 𝐴 𝑙𝑏 𝑑𝐴 𝑙𝑏 𝐴 𝑙𝑏
𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜 = = 10 𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 10 𝑚𝑖𝑛
50 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑡
𝑉 = 50 𝑔𝑎𝑙
𝒅𝑨 𝑨 𝒍𝒃
= 𝟏𝟎 −
𝒅𝒕 𝟏𝟎 𝒎𝒊𝒏
Required: 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝑨 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕
𝑑𝐴 1
+𝐴 = 10
𝑑𝑡 10
Linear FODE
Example :
A tank contains 200 𝑔𝑎𝑙 of a solutions consisting of 50 𝑙𝑏𝑠 of salt dissolved in water. Pure water is
pumped into the tank at the rate of 3 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑠, and the well-mixed brine in the tank flows out at the same
rate. How long will it be until only 5 𝑙𝑏𝑠 of salt remains in the tank?

Solution:
𝑑𝐴 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝐴 𝑙𝑏
𝑔𝑎𝑙 = 3 0 − 3
𝐵𝑖 = 3 𝑑𝑡 𝑠 𝑠 200 𝑔𝑎𝑙
𝑠 𝑑𝐴 3𝐴 𝑙𝑏
𝐶𝑖 = 0 = − 200 −
𝟑𝒕
𝑑𝑡 𝑠 𝑨= 𝟓𝟎𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟎
𝑔𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝐴 3𝑑𝑡
𝐵𝑜 = 3 න =න− 200 + න 0
𝑠 𝐴
𝐴 𝑙𝑏 @ 𝒕 =? , 𝐴 = 5 𝑙𝑏𝑠,
𝐶𝑜 = 3𝑡
V=200 gal
200 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ln 𝐴 = − 200 + 𝐶 3𝑡
−200
A=50 lbs 3𝑡
5= 50𝑒
−200+𝐶
𝐴= 𝑒 1 3𝑡
−200
3𝑡 =𝑒
−200 10
𝐴= 𝐶𝑒
Required: 𝒕 =? 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑨 = 𝟓 𝒍𝒃𝒔 1 3𝑡
ln 10 = − 200
@ 𝑡 = 0, 𝐴 = 50,
𝒅𝑨
Equation: 𝒅𝒕
= 𝑩𝒊 𝑪𝒊 − 𝑩𝒐 𝑪𝒐 3(0)
− 200 𝒕 = 𝟏𝟓𝟑. 𝟓𝟏 𝒔𝒆𝒄
50 = 𝐶𝑒 𝐶 = 50
 Example :
A tank contains 8 𝐿 of water in which is dissolved 32 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 of chemical. A solution containing 2𝑔/𝐿 of
the chemical flows into the tank at the rate of 4 𝐿/min , and a well-stirred mixture flows out at the rate
of 2 𝐿/min . (a) Determine the amount of chemical in the tank after 20 minutes. (b) What is the
concentration of the chemical in the tank at that time?

Solution:
𝑑𝐴 𝐿 𝑔 𝐿 𝐴 𝑔
𝐿 = 4 𝑚𝑖𝑛 2 − 2 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑑𝑡 𝐿 8+2𝑡 𝐿
𝐵𝑖 = 4
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐿 𝑑𝐴 𝑔 𝐴 𝑔
𝑔 𝐵𝑜 = 2 = 8 𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 4+𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐶𝑖 = 2 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑡 @ 𝑡 = 0, 𝐴 = 32,
𝐿 𝐴 𝑔
𝐶𝑜 = 𝑑𝐴 1
8+2𝑡 𝐿 +𝐴 =8 Linear FODE
4 + 0 32 = 32(0) + 4(0)2 +𝐶
𝑉 =𝑉(8
=+8𝐿2𝑡)𝐿 𝑑𝑡 4+𝑡
𝐴 = 32 𝑔 1
‫׬‬4+𝑡𝑑𝑡 𝐶 = 128
𝐼𝐹: 𝑒 = 𝑒 ln(4+𝑡) = 4 + 𝑡
Required: 𝒂 𝑨 =? @ 𝒕 = 𝟐𝟎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔 4 + 𝑡 𝐴 = 32𝑡 + 4𝑡 2 + 128
න 𝑑 (4 + 𝑡)𝐴 =න8(4 + 𝑡)𝑑𝑡 + න 0
𝒃 𝑪𝒐 =? @ 𝒕 = 𝟐𝟎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝟑𝟐𝒕+𝟒𝒕𝟐 +𝟏𝟐𝟖
𝑨= 𝟒+𝒕
𝒅𝑨 4 + 𝑡 𝐴 = 32𝑡 + 4𝑡 2 +𝐶
Equation: 𝒅𝒕
= 𝑩𝒊 𝑪𝒊 − 𝑩𝒐 𝑪𝒐
 𝐿
𝐵𝑖 = 4
𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐿
𝑔 𝐵𝑜 = 2
𝐶𝑖 = 2 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐿 𝐴 𝑔
𝐶𝑜 = 8+2𝑡 𝐿
𝑉 = (8 + 2𝑡) 𝐿
𝐴 = 32 𝑔

Required: 𝒂 𝑨 =? @ 𝒕 = 𝟐𝟎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒃 𝑪𝒐 =? @ 𝒕 = 𝟐𝟎𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔

𝑨 𝒈
𝟑𝟐𝒕+𝟒𝒕𝟐 +𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝑪𝒐 = 𝟖+𝟐𝒕 𝑳
𝑨= 𝟒+𝒕
296
32(20)+4(20)2 +128 3
𝐴= 𝐶𝑜 = 8+2(20𝑚𝑖𝑛)
4+20

𝟐𝟗𝟔 𝒈 296 1 𝑔
𝑨= 𝐶𝑜 = 3
∙ 48 𝐿
𝟑 𝑳
𝟑𝟕 𝒈
𝑪𝒐 = 𝟏𝟖 𝑳