In this explainer, we will learn how to calculate the resonant frequency of simple resistive-capacitive-inductive circuits.
A circuit containing a resistor (R), inductor (L), and capacitor (C) connected to an alternating potential difference source is shown in the following figure.
The alternating potential difference source alternates a particular frequency, .
The impedance of the circuit is affected by the frequency of the alternating potential difference. Increasing the frequency of the alternating potential difference increases the inductive reactance and decreases the capacitive reactance (but not equally). The impedance of a circuit depends on the absolute difference between the inductive and capacitive reactance of the circuit.
The impedance of a series alternating current circuit with inductance and capacitance is given by a formula.
Formula: Impedance
The impedance, , of a circuit is given by where is the resistance of the circuit, is the inductive reactance of the circuit, and is the capacitive reactance of the circuit.
The resonant frequency of a circuit is the frequency of an applied alternating potential difference that generates the greatest current in the circuit.
Alternating potential difference frequencies near the resonant frequency generate currents close to the magnitude of the resonant frequency current, while frequencies further from the resonant frequency generate lesser-magnitude currents.
The following figure shows how the maximum current in a circuit varies with frequency.
From the formula for impedance, we can see that when it must be the case that which corresponds to the minimum impedance of the circuit. The current is greatest for this impedance.
The value of capacitive reactance is given by a formula.
Formula: Capacitive Reactance
The capacitive reactance, , of a circuit with capacitance that is carrying an alternating current with a frequency is given by
The value of inductive reactance is given by a formula.
Formula: Inductive Reactance
The inductive reactance, , of a circuit with inductance that is carrying an alternating current with a frequency is given by
For minimum impedance, it must be the case that
This equation can be rearranged as follows: where is the resonant frequency of the circuit.
We hence obtain the formula for resonant frequency.
Formula: Resonant Frequency
The resonant frequency, , of a circuit with inductance and capacitance is given by
Let us now look at some examples.
Example 1: Determining the Resonant Frequency of a Circuit
What is the resonant frequency of the circuit shown in the diagram? Give your answer to one decimal place.
Answer
The resonant frequency, , is given by
Substituting the values given in the question, we obtain
To one decimal place, is 3.1 Hz.
Example 2: Determining the Peak Current in a Circuit Oscillating at Its Resonant Frequency
A circuit containing a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor in series has a resonant frequency of 372 Hz. The resistor has a resistance of 440 ฮฉ and the capacitor has a capacitance of 112 mF. The peak voltage across the circuit is 28 V. What is the peak current in the circuit when an alternating current in the circuit has a frequency of 372 Hz? Give your answer to two decimal places.
Answer
The resonant frequency of the circuit is stated to be 372 Hz.
The question requires the peak current to be determined.
The peak applied potential difference is stated to be 28 V. To determine the peak current, the impedance of the circuit must be determined.
The impedance, , of a circuit is given by where is the resistance of the circuit, is the inductive reactance of the circuit, and is the capacitive reactance of the circuit.
The values of and are not stated. We can find these values from the formulas for the capacitive and inductive reactance of a circuit, and the resonant frequency of the circuit,
However, as the circuit is oscillating at its resonant frequency, it must be the case that and, hence, that
To find the greatest current, we need only divide the greatest potential difference across it by :
To two decimal places, is 0.06 A.
Example 3: Determining the Capacitance of a Circuit Oscillating at Its Resonant Frequency
A circuit containing a capacitor and an inductor in series has a resonant frequency of 575 kHz. The inductor in the circuit has an inductance of 1.25 H. What is the capacitance of the capacitor? Give your answer in scientific notation to two decimal places.
Answer
The capacitance of the capacitor is related to the resonant frequency of the circuit, which is given by where is stated to be 1.25 H and is stated to be 575 kHz, which is Hz.
The formula must be rearranged to make the subject, as follows:
Substituting the known values, we obtain
In scientific notation, to two decimal places, is F.
Example 4: Determining the Inductive Reactance of a Circuit Oscillating at Its Resonant Frequency
A circuit containing a capacitor and an inductor in series has a resonant frequency of 155 kHz. The capacitor in the circuit has a capacitance of 215 ยตF. What is the inductive reactance of the circuit? Give your answer in scientific notation to two decimal places.
Answer
The inductive reactance of the circuit is given by where is stated to be 155 kHz, which is Hz, and is the inductance of the inductor.
The value of is not stated. It can, however, be found using the resonant frequency of the circuit, which is given by where is stated to be 215 ยตF, which is F.
The formula for resonant frequency must be rearranged to make the subject, as follows:
Substituting known values, we obtain
We can substitute this value into
In scientific notation, to two decimal places, is ฮฉ.
This question can also be solved by recalling that at the resonant frequency of a circuit, the capacitive and inductive reactances are equal, and so the capacitive reactance could have been calculated instead of the inductive reactance. The capacitive reactance can be determined simply from the frequency and capacitance of the circuit, by rearrangement of the formula as the values of and are both given in the question.
Let us now summarize what has been learned in this explainer.
Key Points
- The resonant frequency of an alternating current series circuit that has inductance and capacitance is the frequency at which an applied alternating potential difference generates the greatest current.
- At the resonant frequency of an alternating current circuit, the impedance of the circuit equals the resistance of the circuit.
- The resonant frequency, , of an alternating current circuit is given by where is the inductance of the circuit and is the capacitance of the circuit.