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# Ldi/dt + ir -Vcos wt=0 what technique do i use to solve?

RL AC circuit

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• JSAM
Lv 5

You need to use an integrating factor to solve this differential equation. First re-write the equation as:

di/dt + i(R/L) = (V/L)*cos(wt)

On the left hand side, you see that we have the original variable 'i' and the derivative. To solve for i(t), we need to re-write the LHS into a derivative form (di/dt) and integrate. We need to define an integrating factor to do this. Let's define the integrating factor as:

exp(int[R/L dt]) where 'int' denotes integral. Also, let's denote it as 'u' to make simplification easier.

Next, multiply the above equation by 'u':

u(di/dt) + i*u(R/L) = u*(V/L)*cos(wt)

The 2nd term of the left hand side can be re-written as i*(du/dt). You can check this by checking the derivative manually:

u = exp(int[R/L dt])

du = exp(int[R/L dt])*(R/L)--->need to use Chain rule--->= u*(R/L)

Thus, we have:

u(di/dt) + i(du/dt) = u*(V/L)*cos(wt)

By inspection, you see that the LHS represents the product rule of the two functions 'u' and 'i'.

d(i*u)/dt = u*(V/L)*cos(wt)

Now you can integrate and solve for i(t):

i(t) = int[u*(V/L)*cos(wt)]/u where u = exp(int[R/L dt])

You could try to solve for the integral manually, but that would be rather difficult

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Hope this helps