PURPOSE: Demonstrate over/under/critical damping in a series RLC circuit.

DESCRIPTION: The capacitor in an RLC series circuit is charged and then quickly allowed to discharge through the circuit. The series resistor is a potentiometer that can be adjusted to produce underdamping, critical damping, or overdamping, shown left-to-right in that order on the circuit assembly photograph above. The voltage across the capacitor is recorded using an oscilloscope.

SUGGESTIONS:

REFERENCES: (PIRA 5J30.11)

EQUIPMENT: Mounted circuit and oscilloscope (not shown).

SETUP TIME: 5 minutes.