Final answer:
Increasing the resistance in an RLC circuit lowers the quality factor (Q) and broadens the bandwidth, resulting in a wider resonant frequency curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The resonant frequency curve of a series RLC circuit indicates broader tuning at the resonant frequency if you increase the resistance of the circuit. When resistance in an RLC circuit is increased, the peak of the resonant curve becomes lower and broader, indicating less selectivity in response to different frequencies. This is because the higher resistance reduces the quality factor (Q) of the circuit, which results in an increased bandwidth.
At the resonant frequency, the inductive reactance and capacitive reactance are equal and cancel each other out, resulting in the total impedance being at its minimum and the circuit allowing maximum current to pass through. If the resistance is increased, the minimum impedance at resonance increases, leading to a broader peak in the resonant curve. Since Q is inversely related to the bandwidth, a decrease in Q corresponds to a more substantial bandwidth. Therefore, an increase in resistance causes a decrease in Q and a broader resonant frequency curve.