How to relate the transient response of Networks with real-life scenarios?

In this era of rapid advancements, the transient response of the networks plays a very important role in determining the efficiency and reliability.

In the context of networks, such as electrical circuits, communication systems, or control systems, transient response is a crucial aspect to consider. When a network experiences a sudden input or perturbation, it goes through a period of adjustment before reaching a new equilibrium. The transient response provides insights into how the network reacts during this adjustment period.

In this informative tutorial, we explore the concept of transient response in networks and demonstrate how it can be related to real-life scenarios.

What is transient response?

Transient response refers to the behavior of a system or network in response to a sudden change or disturbance in its input or operating conditions. It describes how the system adjusts and settles into a new steady state after the change occurs.

In simple words, transient response refers to the initial behavior of the dynamic system following a sudden change or disturbance in its input.

The behavior of the transient response is influenced by various factors, including the network’s inherent characteristics, such as resistance, capacitance, and inductance in the case of electrical circuits.

Time constants, damping factors, and initial conditions also play significant roles in determining the shape and duration of the transient response.

A circuit has three essential elements: Resistance, Inductance, and Capacitance. The transient part is present only in the Inductance and Capacitance, because they cannot change the energy stored. Transients are absent in resistance because resistors can adjust any amount of voltage and current in it.

Some Real Life examples

Let us understand the transient response with some real life examples.

Consider a room with some electrical appliances inside it. There are TV, refrigerator, AC in the room. Now just imagine that we are feeling very hot and want to switch on the AC.

Initially, the AC is switched off and no current flows through it. But as soon as you switched on the AC, the heavy amount of current flows in the circuit.

So, there has been a sudden change from zero current to high current. As time passes, this heavy current will fall to its nominal level.

This sudden change of condition from zero to normal value is called as Transient Response of the circuit.

Every electrical appliance in our home runs in the same way. During the off-state, the device is at rest, and when the switch is on, a heavy amount of current flows through the circuit. This phenomenon, with a state change from zero to the initial level, is called a transient response.

Importance of Transient Response

It is an very important study in Electrical Engineering.

To determine the amount of current in the circuit, transient response is a critical study. If a current flows beyond the circuit’s limit, it may get damaged.

Let us again consider the example of an Air conditioner. There will be two cases – (1) the off-state of AC, when no current flows through it, and (2) the on-state of AC when it starts operating at nominal current. Both these cases are called the steady state condition, as the parameters of the circuit are constant.

Now let us summarize all the discussion:

Transient Response	Steady State Response
There is a state change (either from on-state to off-state or vice versa).	There is no change of state.
There is an abrupt change in the current value.	Current value remains constant.
Transients may cause damage to the circuits.	There is no chances of damage.

Hope so, through this article you can relate the transient response with real life examples.