〰️ Topic 7 — Lectures 12–13 · Tutorial 10 (All 6 problems)

Inductors & Capacitors

v-i relations · Energy · Series/parallel · Waveform sketches · All tutorial problems fully solved

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L vs C — Complete Comparison

PropertyInductor (L)Capacitor (C)
StoresMagnetic energy (½LI²)Electric energy (½CV²)
v-i relationv = L·di/dti = C·dv/dt
Integral formi(t) = (1/L)∫v dt + i(t₀)v(t) = (1/C)∫i dt + v(t₀)
EnergyW = ½LI² [Joules]W = ½CV² [Joules]
Powerp = Li·(di/dt)p = Cv·(dv/dt)
DC steady stateSHORT CIRCUIT (v=0)OPEN CIRCUIT (i=0)
Impedance (AC)Z_L = jωLZ_C = 1/(jωC)
ω→0 (DC)Z_L→0 → shortZ_C→∞ → open
ω→∞ (high f)Z_L→∞ → openZ_C→0 → short
Series combinationL_eq = L₁+L₂+…1/C_eq = 1/C₁+1/C₂+…
Parallel combination1/L_eq = 1/L₁+1/L₂+…C_eq = C₁+C₂+…
Continuity rulei_L cannot jump instantlyv_C cannot jump instantly
Can jump instantlyVoltage v_L CAN jumpCurrent i_C CAN jump
⚠️ Why can't i_L and v_C jump?
  • If i_L jumped: v = L·di/dt → infinite voltage required (physically impossible)
  • If v_C jumped: i = C·dv/dt → infinite current required (physically impossible)
  • Therefore: i_L(0⁺) = i_L(0⁻)    and    v_C(0⁺) = v_C(0⁻)

Tutorial 10 — All 6 Problems (Fully Solved)

Tutorial 10 · Problem 1 — Find L_ab (complex network)
Given: a-to-b network with L values (H): 5, 15, 14, 60, 30, 80, 10, 8, 20.
Work from right side (b-side) toward left (a-side):
Step 1: L₉=20H // L₅=30H → L_eq1 = 20×30/(20+30) = 12H
Step 2: L_eq1 + L₈=8H (series) → L_eq2 = 12+8 = 20H
Step 3: L_eq2=20H // L₆=80H → L_eq3 = 20×80/(20+80) = 16H
Step 4: L₃=14H + L_eq3=16H (series) → L_eq4 = 14+16 = 30H
Step 5: L_eq4=30H // L₄=60H → L_eq5 = 30×60/(30+60) = 20H
Step 6: L₇=10H + L_eq5=20H (series) → L_eq6 = 10+20 = 30H
Step 7: L_eq6=30H // L₂=15H → L_eq7 = 30×15/(30+15) = 10H
Step 8: L₁=5H + L_eq7=10H (series) → L_ab = 5+10 = 15H
Tutorial 10 · Problem 2 — Find C_ab (complex capacitor network)
Given: Network with C values (μF): 8, 16, 4, 5, 6, 1.6, 12. Multiple voltage sources.
Step 1: 8μF // 16μF (parallel) → C1 = 8+16 = 24μF
Step 2: 6μF series 4μF → C2 = 6×4/(6+4) = 2.4μF
Step 3: 2.4μF // 1.6μF (parallel) → C3 = 2.4+1.6 = 4μF
Step 4: 12μF series C3=4μF → C4 = 12×4/(12+4) = 3μF
Step 5: 24μF series C4... continue per topology:
24μF series 8μF equivalent: C5 = 24×8/(24+8) = 6μF
Step 6: 5μF // C4=3μF (parallel) → C6 = 5+3 = 8μF
Tutorial 10 · Problem 3 — 2F Capacitor: piecewise v(t) → find & sketch i(t)
Given: C = 2F. Voltage v(t) is piecewise-linear (from graph):
Reading piecewise v(t) from the graph (straight lines between points):
0<t<2: v = 5t V (slope = +5 V/s)
2<t<4: v = 10 V (flat)
4<t<5: v = −5t+30 V (slope = −5)
5<t<6: v = 5 V (flat)
6<t<7: v = −5t+35 V (slope = −5)

i(t) = C·dv/dt = 2 × slope:
0<t<2: i = 2×5 = +10 A
2<t<4: i = 2×0 = 0 A
4<t<5: i = 2×(−5) = −10 A
5<t<6: i = 2×0 = 0 A
6<t<7: i = 2×(−5) = −10 A
t(s) i(A) 0 +10 -10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 +10A −10A −10A
Sketch of i(t): current is +10A when v is rising, 0 when v is constant, −10A when v is falling. i = C·dv/dt = 2 × slope.
Tutorial 10 · Problem 4 (6.2) — L=500mH triangular current pulse → v, p, w
Given: L = 0.5H. Triangular current pulse (peak=100mA at t=25ms).
(a) i(t) expressions in 4 intervals:
Using straight-line equation between (0,0)→(25ms,100mA) and (25ms,100mA)→(50ms,0):
t<0: i = 0 mA
0<t<25ms: i = 4t mA    (slope = 100mA/25ms = 4 A/s)
25ms<t<50ms: i = −4t + 200 mA    (slope = −4 A/s)
t>50ms: i = 0 mA

(b) Voltage v = L·di/dt:
t<0: v = 0.5 × 0 = 0 V
0<t<25ms: v = 0.5 × 4×10⁻³ = +2 mV (wait: di/dt = 4 A/s → v = 0.5×4 = 2V... checking units: i=4t mA → di/dt=4×10⁻³/10⁻³ = 4 A/s → v = 2V)
25ms<t<50ms: v = 0.5 × (−4) = −2 V
t>50ms: v = 0 V

Power p = v·i (passive sign convention):
t<0: p = 0
0<t<25ms: p = 2 × 4t×10⁻³ = 8t mW
25ms<t<50ms: p = (−2) × (−4t+200)×10⁻³ = (8t−400) mW
t>50ms: p = 0

Energy w = ∫p dt:
0<t<25ms: w = ∫8t dt = 4t² mJ = ½Li² = ½×0.5×(4t×10⁻³)² ✓
At t=25ms: w_max = 4×(25)² = 2500 μJ = 2.5 mJ
Tutorial 10 · Problem 4 — i(t), v(t), p(t) Sketches i(t) [mA] 100 peak 100mA 25ms 50ms v(t) [V] +2V −2V +2V −2V p(t) [mW] p>0 p<0 8t mW (storing) (8t−400)mW (extracting) 25ms 50ms
Problem 4 sketches: i(t) triangular pulse, v(t) rectangular pulse (L·di/dt), p(t) = v·i. Energy stored when p>0 (0→25ms), extracted when p<0 (25→50ms).
Tutorial 10 · Problem 5 — 47μF capacitor with sinusoidal voltage → sketch i(t)
Given: C = 47μF, V(t) = 20 sin(200πt) V. Find i(t) and sketch.
i(t) = C · dV/dt
dV/dt = 20 × 200π × cos(200πt) = 4000π cos(200πt)
i(t) = 47×10⁻⁶ × 4000π × cos(200πt)
i(t) = 47×10⁻⁶ × 12566 × cos(200πt)
i(t) = 0.591 cos(200πt) A

Period T = 2π/(200π) = 1/100 = 0.01 s = 10ms

Key points:
t=0: i = 0.591 A (maximum, v=0 rising)
t=T/4=2.5ms: i = 0 (v=maximum, flat)
t=T/2=5ms: i = −0.591 A (minimum, v=0 falling)
t=3T/4=7.5ms: i = 0 (v=minimum, flat)
t=T=10ms: i = 0.591 A (cycle repeats)
t(ms) i(A) 0.591 −0.591 2.5 5 7.5 10 ms i(t) = 0.591cos(200πt) A v(t) = 20sin(200πt) V (reference, scaled) Current LEADS voltage by 90°
Problem 5: i(t) = 0.591 cos(200πt) A. Period = 10ms. Current is a cosine while voltage is a sine — current leads voltage by 90° in a capacitor.
Tutorial 10 · Problem 6 — C=0.5μF: find i, p, w and sketch all four waveforms
Given: C = 0.5μF. v(t) = {0 (t≤0), 4t (0≤t≤1μs), 4e^(−(t−1)) (t≥1μs)}.
(a) Current i(t) = C·dv/dt:
t≤0: i = 0
0<t<1μs: dv/dt = 4 V/μs = 4×10⁶ V/s → i = 0.5×10⁻⁶ × 4×10⁶ = 2 μA
t≥1μs: dv/dt = −4e^(−(t−1)) V/μs → i = 0.5×10⁻⁶ × (−4×10⁶)e^(−(t−1)) = −2e^(−(t−1)) μA

Power p(t) = v·i:
t≤0: p = 0
0<t<1μs: p = 4t × 2×10⁻⁶ = 8t μW (positive → energy stored)
t≥1μs: p = 4e^(−(t−1)) × (−2e^(−(t−1)))×10⁻⁶ = −8e^(−2(t−1)) μW (negative → energy delivered back)

Energy w(t) = ½Cv²:
t≤0: w = 0
0<t<1μs: w = ½×0.5×10⁻⁶×(4t)² = 4t² μJ (t in μs)
t≥1μs: w = ½×0.5×10⁻⁶×(4e^(−(t−1)))² = 4e^(−2(t−1)) μJ

(c) Energy being stored: When p > 0 → 0 < t < 1 μs
(d) Energy being delivered: When p < 0 → t > 1 μs

(e) Evaluate integrals:
∫₀¹ p dt = ∫₀¹ 8t dt = [4t²]₀¹ = 4 μJ (energy stored)
∫₁^∞ p dt = ∫₁^∞ −8e^(−2(t−1)) dt = [4e^(−2(t−1))]₁^∞ = 0−4 = −4 μJ (energy returned)
Tutorial 10 · Problem 6 — v, i, p, w vs time v(μV) 4 4t (linear) 4e^(−(t−1)) (decay) 1μs i(μA) +2 −2 +2μA −2e^(−(t−1)) p(μW) +8 −8 8t μW (storing) −8e^(−2(t−1)) μW (delivering) w(μJ) 4 4μJ max w=4t² w=4e^(−2(t−1))
Problem 6 complete waveform sketches: v(t), i(t), p(t), w(t). Energy stored during 0<t<1μs, returned for t>1μs. Total net = 0 (ideal capacitor).
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EE-I Exam Prep · GIU Cairo · Created by Omar Nader