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Q.A fascinating behaviour of the series RLC circuit is the phenomenon of resonance.

a) Explain Resonance in an LCR circuit.
(2)
b) Draw a graphical representation of variation of current amplitude i_m with frequency ω.
(1)
c) What do you mean by sharpness of resonance? Explain it. (2)
Kerala DhseKerala DHSE Plus Two Board 2014Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Figure — Part (b) explicitly asks to 'Draw a graphical representation of variation of current amplitude im with frequen
Figure — Part (b) explicitly asks to 'Draw a graphical representation of variation of current amplitude im with frequen

A series LCR circuit resonates when the inductive and capacitive reactances cancel, giving minimum impedance and maximum current; the current-vs-frequency plot is a peak centred at ω0; and the peak's sharpness is quantified by the quality factor Q.

a) Resonance in a series LCR circuit

For a series LCR circuit driven by an AC source v=vmsin⁡ωtv = v_m\sin\omega t, the current amplitude is

im=vmZ,Z=R2+(XL−XC)2,XL=ωL, XC=1ωCi_m = \frac{v_m}{Z}, \qquad Z=\sqrt{R^2+(X_L-X_C)^2}, \quad X_L=\omega L,\ X_C=\frac{1}{\omega C}

As ω\omega is varied, ZZ is smallest exactly when XL=XCX_L = X_C, i.e. at ωL=1ωC\omega L = \dfrac{1}{\omega C}, giving the resonant angular frequency

ω0=1LC\omega_0 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}

At ω=ω0\omega=\omega_0, Z=RZ=R (purely resistive), so the current amplitude is at its MAXIMUM value im=vm/Ri_m = v_m/R, and voltage and current are exactly in phase.

b) im vs ω graph

The plot of current amplitude imi_m against driving frequency ω\omega is a single peaked (bell-shaped/resonance) curve: imi_m is small at low ω\omega (circuit dominated by XCX_C), rises to a sharp maximum of vm/Rv_m/R exactly at ω=ω0\omega=\omega_0, then falls again at higher ω\omega (circuit dominated by XLX_L).

c) Sharpness of resonance

The "sharpness" describes how narrow/peaked the resonance curve is, i.e. how selectively the circuit responds near ω0\omega_0. It is quantified by the quality factor:

Q=ω0LR=1ω0RC=ω02ΔωQ = \frac{\omega_0 L}{R} = \frac{1}{\omega_0 RC} = \frac{\omega_0}{2\Delta\omega} …

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