Use of Maple to Analytically Solve the Equations of an Electrical Circuit Containing a Resistor, Diodes and Voltage Generator

Abstract

The role of technology and the use of software in the educational process are growing in recent times. The use of software is essential especially if the analytical method available is too complicated for the students. In this study, we used the Maple software to deal with two physics problems, in the first problem we consider an electrical circuit containing a resistor and two diodes powered by a sinusoidal voltage generator and in the second problem we consider an electrical circuit containing a resistor and a diode powered by a saw tooth voltage generator. For each problem we use Maple software to determine the exact analytical solutions for the current flowing in the different branches of the electronic circuit, we derive analytical expressions for the terminal voltages of all the elements of the circuit, we calculate the dynamic resistances diodes of the circuit and we animate graphic representations to study the influence of certain parameters on the current and the voltages at the terminals of all the elements of the circuit. The analytical solutions proposed are all expressed as functions of the Lambert W function.