Voltage decay in an RLC circuit is not what is taught: An advanced laboratory exercise

Abstract

At first glance, a simple model of an RLC circuit taught in undergraduate courses provides a reasonable fit to experimental data. However, careful analysis demonstrates that this model does not accurately describe the behavior of the oscillations in this circuit and requires further refinement. Measuring and analyzing data from this system provides an opportunity for advanced lab students to engage in hypothesis construction, modeling, and experimental design as they seek to explain the discrepancy between these data and a model. The learning outcomes of this activity are consistent with the AAPT guidelines on the undergraduate laboratory experience. Furthermore, such experimentation allows students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world.