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How to do first-order transient problems
Here is a step by step procedure on how to approach first-order transient problems that have

one switching event (like all the problems on hw4). First-order means that there is only one inductor OR
one capacitor in the circuit. The procedure can be broken up into two parts. The first part applies to the

circuit before the switching event (t<0) and the second part applies to the circuit after the switching
event (120). lf you're dealing with an inductor, follow the "1" steps. lf you're dealing wiitr a capacitor,
follow the "C" steps.
Part 1

1. Redraw the circuit before the switching event (t<0)

2. Assume that this circuit has reached steady state:
L: replace the inductor with a short circuit
C: replace the capacitor with an open circuit

3.

Find the initial condition of the inductor or capacitor:

L:

find the current flowing through the short circuit using node/mesh analysis,

current/voltage divider equations, and/or Norton-Thevenin simplification techniques...

or whatever analysis technique you prefer. Since the current through an inductor can't
change instantaneously the current you calculate will be i(t=o)- i.e. the inductor
current at t=0
C: find the voltage across the open circuit. Since the voltage across a capacitor

change instantaneously this will be v.(t=0)

can't

i.e. the capacitor voltage at t=0

You can define the inductor current or capacitor voltage to be any direction/polarity you want. Just
make sure you're consistent with your choice when you get to step 5.

Part 2

4.
5.

R"o

Redraw the circuit after the switching event (t20)

Calculate the time constant,
L:

r = L/R"o

C:

r:

RuqC

denotes the equivalent resistance as seen by the inductor or capacitor. To find it, replace the

inductor or capacitor with an open circuit and calculate the equivalent resistance seen by this open

circuit. Zero-out any independent sources as you would do for a

Rrhevenin

calculation (replace voltage

sourceswithshortcircuitsandcurrentsourceswithopencircuits).

6.

.t,a , r ,"

Find the initial condition of any other desired voltages/currents:

L: replace the inductorwith a current source

equalto i(t=O)and find x(t=0)

C: replace the capacitor with a voltage source equal to v.(t=O) and find x(t=0)

As I said earlier, make sure you're consistent with how you defined

the inductor/capacitor with

7.

i1

and V. in step 2 when you replace

a current/voltage source.

Find the final condition of any other desired voltages/currents by looking at the circuit in steady
state. You're doing the same thing you did in step 2, but this time you're looking at the circuit

after the switching event

(120):

L: replace the inductor with a short circuit and find x(t=m1

C: replace the capacitor

with an open circuit and find x(t=oo)

Note that if there are no independent sources present in the circuit for 120, the inductor or capacitor will
release all of its energy and all final conditions will be 0.

8.

Use the following equation to express your desired voltage/current as a function of time for t20:

x(t) =x(oo) + [x(0) - x(a)]e-t/'

Other thines to note

The voltage drop across an element is always defined as being in the direction of the current

flowing through it. So, say you have an inductor that is drawn vertically in a circuit and you define the
inductor current, ip to be pointing down. The (+) terminal of vl will be on top and the (-) terminal on
bottom.
The voltage across an inductor is vr(t) = L+dil(t)/dt and the current through a capacitor is i.(t) =
C*dv.(t)/dt. These equations are helpful if, for example, you have i(t) and want to find v(t) without

calculating v,.(t=O) and v(t=m). Simply differentiate is(t) with respect to time and multiply it by the
inductance.

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