LC Oscillator: An electronic

mass on a spring
Chapter 31.1 – 31.2
Learning Goals:
• Understand concepts
• LC Circuit Properties
• RLC Circuit (no AC current)
• Problem Solving
 LC Circuit
• Suppose we connect a charged capacitor to an
inductor with no battery or resistor
• The capacitor discharges as a current through the inductor
• The inductor keeps the current flowing until the other plate
of the capacitor becomes charged
• This plate then discharges backwards through the inductor
• This process will cycle over and over
• Like a mass on a spring assuming no damping (no
resistance)
 Circuit Properties
• Energy
• Will shift from electrical energy in
the capacitor to magnetic in the
inductor
• Sum must be constant
• Charge
• Charge on the capacitor will vary
sinusoidally from max to zero to
negative max
• Electrons switch plates
• Current
• Current in the circuit will vary
sinusoidally from max one way to
zero to max the other way
 Oscillation Frequency
• The rate at which the charge moves back and forth
depends on the values of L and C
• Like all sinusoidal patterns, we can define an angular
frequency
w = 1/(LC)½
• Given in radians per second
• There are 2p radians in a complete cycle
• The frequency f, (in cycles per second or Hertz) is w/2p
• The value of w tells us how rapidly the properties of
the circuit cycle
• This frequency is often referred to as the natural frequency of
the system
 Current and Charge
• Let us call i the current at a given time and I the
maximum current
• Similarly, q is the charge at a given time and Q is the
maximum charge
• i or (q) depends on I or (Q) times the sinusoidal
factor
q = Q cos (wt + f)
i = -I sin (wt +f)
• Where f is the phase constant
• The “shift” of the sine wave
• Note that I and Q are related
I = wQ
 Generating the q and i Equations
• The voltage of the inductor is equal to the
opposite voltage of the capacitor.
𝒅𝒒
• So, VL = -VC and =𝒊
𝒅𝒕
𝒅𝒊 𝒒 2
𝒅 𝒒 𝒒 2
𝑳
𝒅𝒕
=−
𝑪 𝑳 =− 𝒅𝒒 𝒒 𝟐
𝒅 𝒕𝟐 𝑪 =− =−𝝎 𝒒
𝒅 𝒕 𝑳𝑪
𝟐

where
This is a Harmonic Oscillator equation!
 Energy
• The capacitor stores electrical energy
UE = (1/2)CV2 = q2/2C
• The inductor stores magnetic energy
UB = Li2/2
• We can substitute our expressions for i and q
UE = (Q2/2C) cos2 (wt+f)
UB = (Q2/2C) sin2 (wt+f)
LC Oscillations Figure
 Energy Variations
• Unlike q and i, U is always positive
• Energy does not depend on which way the current goes or
which plate is charged
• Both energies have the same maximum = Q2/2C
• They always sum to Q2/2C
• The total amount of energy in the system
• They are 180 degrees out of phase with each other
• When one is a maximum the other is zero
 Simple Harmonic Motion
• An LC oscillator is very similar to a
mechanical oscillator
• Velocity and position vary sinusoidally
• Energy swaps back and forth between potential and
kinetic
• Parameterized by an angular frequency that
depends on two key properties (spring constant and
mass)
 Damping
• We have been assuming that no energy
is lost in the oscillations
• It will go on forever with total energy never
changing
• In reality the circuit has some
resistance that dissipates the energy
• Energy, current and charge decrease
with time
• Just like a damped mechanical oscillator
 Understanding Damping
• Use Kirchoff’s Loop rule: 𝑳 𝒅𝒊 + 𝒊𝑹+ 𝒒 =𝟎
𝒅𝒕 𝑪
𝒅 2 𝒒 𝒅𝒒 𝒒 𝒅 2 𝒒 𝒅𝒒 𝑹 𝒒
𝑳 + 𝑹+ =𝟎 + + =𝟎
𝒅𝒕 𝟐
𝒅𝒕 𝑪 𝒅𝒕 𝟐
𝒅𝒕 𝑳 𝑳𝑪
2
𝒅 𝒒 𝒅𝒒 𝑹 𝟐
+ +𝒒 𝝎 =𝟎 where
𝒅𝒕 𝟐
𝒅𝒕 𝑳
• This is a 2nd order differential equation.
Underdamped:
Critical damping:
Overdamped:
 Damping Factors
• To find the circuit properties we have to modify our
equations in two ways
• Frequency: frequency of a damped oscillator () is less than
that of an undamped one ()

• Exponential decay factor

• The amplitudes are lower by an exponential factor
e(-Rt/2L)
• Note that the higher the resistance the more damping
• For R = 0 we get our undamped equations back
• Now q = Q e(-Rt/2L) cos (t + f) for an
underdamped situation.
 Conceptual Question 1
For an LC oscillator when the current through
the inductor is zero, the charge on the capacitor
is,

A) Maximum
B) Zero
C) ½ maximum
D) p maximum
E) 2p maximum
 Conceptual Question 2
For an LC oscillator when the energy in the
capacitor is ½ maximum the energy in the
inductor is,

A) Maximum
B) Negative maximum
C) Zero
D) ½ maximum
E) 2p maximum
 Conceptual Question 3
For an LC oscillator when the current through
the inductor is maximum, the charge on the
capacitor is,

A) Maximum
B) Zero
C) ½ maximum
D) p maximum
E) 2p maximum
 Conceptual Question 4
For an LC oscillator the direction of current in
the circuit is,

A) Always in one direction

B) In one direction for one complete cycle and
then the other direction for the next complete
cycle
C) In one direction for ½ of the cycle and then
the other direction for the other ½ of the
cycle
D) Changing direction 2p times per cycle
E) Fluctuating unpredictably
 Conceptual Question 5
For an LC oscillator when the energy in the
capacitor is maximum the energy in the
inductor is,

A) Maximum
B) Negative maximum
C) Zero
D) ½ maximum
E) 2p maximum
 Review Question
A permanent bar magnet with the south pole
pointing downward is dropped through a N
solenoid, as shown in the illustration. What is
the direction of the induced current that would
be measured in the ammeter as the magnet falls
S
completely through the solenoid?

A) first up, then down

B) up A

C) down
D) first down, then up
 Review Question
If the magnet, still oriented with the south pole
pointing downward, is pulled upward completely
through the solenoid, what is the direction of the
induced current measured in the ammeter?
N

A) first up, then down

B) up
C) down S
A
D) first down, then up