this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2023
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Hello there, This oscillator is a 0V +10v DC oscillator, which after current passes through the capacitor, it produces a -5v +5v AC on the resistor.

We've all heard that AC removes DC component and let's AC pass by. I understand the dynamics of this circuit in case the oscillator were operating with AC (capacitive reactance), however this oscillator is DC, the voltage across the capacitor never changes polarity (since the other side of circuit is ground), so what gives? And why the 10V DC is split on half +5 -5 volts after the capacitor? Thank you!

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[–] dack 1 points 1 year ago

The oscillator is creating both DC and AC. The DC component is the average value of the signal. In the case of your 0-10v square wave, that is 5v. The AC compnent is the part of the signal that changes. The effect of the capacitor is to block the DC component, leaving only the AC component. The waveform is shifted vertically to be centered around 0v.