Past exam of the physics 2 paper of the University of Oxford / 2022 / 8

Use the $e^{i\omega t}$ phasor convention and interpret impedance matching as conjugate matching for the maximum power transfer theorem. The load electrical impedance of the series circuit isFor $Z=A+i\omega B$, the condition $Z_{RC}=Z^{\ast }$ equates the real parts and imaginary parts:These formulas require $B>0$, $C>0$ and a passive realization with $A\ge 0$, evaluated at the matching angular frequency; if $A,B$ depend on $\omega$, the equation for $\omega$ is implicit.

There is a convention ambiguity in the word “matched”. Literal equality $Z_{RC}=Z$, as required for equal bridge arms in part (b), instead gives $R=A$ and ${\omega }^{2}BC=-1$, requiring $B<0$. The inductive cases below use conjugate matching; literal equality is impossible for either passive inductive configuration at a finite positive angular frequency because its electrical reactance is positive while that of the series RC impedance is negative.

Let the unknown series circuit contain electrical resistance $R_s>0$ and inductance $L>0$. Its electrical impedance is $Z=R_s+i\omega L$. Thus $A=R_s$, $B=L$, and conjugate impedance matching is possible withAt this angular frequency, the inductor and load capacitor have opposite electrical reactances of equal magnitude. Literal equality of their separate electrical impedances is impossible; for example, $R_s=L=C=1$ gives $1+i\omega$ versus $R-i/\omega$ for every $\omega >0$.

For electrical resistance $R_p>0$ in a parallel circuit with inductance $L>0$, add electrical admittances and invert:Conjugate impedance matching to the series RC impedance requiresIt is possible at a finite positive angular frequency exactly when $C{R}_p^2>L$, in which caseThe expression for $R$ follows by substituting this ${\omega }^2$ into the real part of $Z$. If $C{R}_p^2\le L$, no such finite matching angular frequency exists. Under literal equality, both passive inductive configurations fail by the sign of their imaginary parts.

Let the source's top terminal have voltage phasor $V_0$ and its bottom terminal zero. Denote the left and right junctions by $L$ and $R$. The two left resistors are equal, so at balance $V_L=V_0/2$. Zero electric current through the ammeter requires $V_R=V_L$, and therefore equal upper and lower right-arm electrical impedances:Write $x=\omega R_x{C}_x$. Separating real parts and imaginary parts givesThe second equation implies $1+x^2={\omega }^2{R}_x^{2}C{C}_x$. Subtract $x^2={\omega }^2{R}_x^2{C}_x^2$ to obtainA finite balance with positive components requires $0<C_x<C$, and then $0<R_v<R_x$. This equal-ratio RC bridge uses equality of arm electrical impedances, independent of the conjugate-matching convention in part (a).

Detector convention. The stated negligible-electrical impedance ammeter is an ideal short circuit, whose actual terminal voltage is zero at every angular frequency. The nontrivial bridge output usually intended is the open-circuit junction difference, obtained with the detector removed or replaced by a high-input impedance voltmeter. Define its polarity byFor a detector of finite electrical impedance $Z_A$, its terminal voltage is insteadHere $Z_{\mathrm{th}}$ is the Thévenin equivalent electrical impedance, found by shorting the ideal source. This exhibits why the ideal-ammeter limit $Z_A\to 0$ has zero terminal voltage even when the bridge is unbalanced.

At zero angular frequency, the lower right capacitor is an open circuit, while the upper right electrical impedance tends to $R_x$. With the detector removed, no electric current flows down that branch, so $V_R=V_0$ and $V_L=V_0/2$. ThereforeFor the connected ideal ammeter, the resulting electric current from right to left is $V_0/(R+2R_x)$, despite its zero terminal voltage. This follows from $I_A=V_{\mathrm{oc}}/Z_{\mathrm{th}}$ with $Z_{\mathrm{th}}=R/2+R_x$.

At the balance angular frequency, $Z=W$ and the two voltage dividers have the same ratio. ThusThis zero detector electric current is the operational condition used to find $R_v$ and ${\omega }_0$.

As $\omega \to \infty$, both capacitors approach short circuits. Thus $Z\to 0$, $W\to R_v>0$, and the unloaded right junction tends to the source's top-terminal voltage. HenceThe connected ideal ammeter carries limiting electric current $V_0/R$ from right to left because $Z_{\mathrm{th}}\to R/2$. Reversing the output polarity reverses both nonzero open-circuit answers, without changing their magnitudes.