Input and output impedance in RC circuits

[zxcvb]

As far as I learned, the rule of thumb for the ratio of output impdance to load(input impedance)is 1 to 10. Thevenin resistance(output resistance) Rth should be very small compred to the load resistance Rload. Rth/Rload must be small in order to avoid “loading the circuit”. A maximum ratio of 1/10 is often used as a design rule of thumb.

 

I was trying to understand how this would result in RC circuits. I came across to the following link which is part of a text book where it explains rule of thumb in RC case (see page 19):

Basically the text says:

 

Since impedance of an RC circuit is:

 

Z = Xc // R = [R * (-j/(w * C))] / [R + (-j/(w * C))]

 

we have a frequency dependent impedance here and we should apply the worst case scenario.

 

To make my question clear I add the following circuit:

In above circuit filter A is driving filter B. Considering the circuit, here is what I understand from his arguments on input and output impedance:

 

1-) We want ideally Zout (in filter A) to be as low as possible. That means in worst case Zout will be high which happens when frequency is very low. And he approximates filter A to R here.

 

2-) We want ideally Zin to be as high as possible. That means in worst case Zin will be very low which happens when frequency is very high. This approximates Filter B to R. I can see that from the Z = Xc // R relation. I can picture this in my mind when I think with "phasor representation". If the frequency goes too high, Xc goes to zero and Z becomes R. This looks more straightforward.

 

My question is about the first argument above. I will repeat again:

 

Lets consider Filter A again in above circuit. We want ideally Zout to be as low as possible because we don't want loading. That means in worst case Zout will be too high which happens when frequency is very low.

 

But when I think with phasor representation. If the frequency is set to too low, Xc goes to infinity and Zout doesn't become R.

 

Where am I wrong here?

[LeCuvier]

Filter A is a low-pass filter. When f --> 0 then Xc --> ∞ and Zout = Rout.

When f --> ∞ then Xc --> 0 and Zout --> ∞.

Filter B as drawn is not a filter but a load. When f --> 0 then Zin --> ∞.

When f --> ∞ then Zin = Rin

[Recucca]

In a circuit with resistance, inductance and capacitance, the impedance to the current in the circuit is called impedance. Impedance is often expressed as Z. It is a complex number, actually called resistance and imaginary called reactance, where capacitance is called capdspacitive reactance in a circuit that impedes AC current, inductance is called inductive reactance in a circuit that impedes AC current, and the total impedance caused by capacitance and inductance in a circuit is called reactance. The unit of impedance is Ohm. The concept of impedance is not only found in electric circuits, but also in the mechanics of vibrating systems.