Physics Online AC Circuits

An AC power supply connected to a resistor and capacitor in series can be analyzed using Kirchoffs voltage law: V = IR !"C V = potential difference across entire circuit I = current through entire circuit R = resistance of resistor ! = charge on one plate of a capacitor C = capacitance of the capacitor #he potential difference across the power supply varies with ti$e% & = V$a'sin()t*+ #he current is d!"dt or ,!",t+ #his sets up a differential e-uation as follows: V$a'sin()t* = d!"dt.R !"C

#his is a difficult differential e-uation to solve/ and things only get worse with additional circuit ele$ents+ Instead of this approach/ the concepts of i$pedance and reactance were developed to greatly si$plify the analysis+ 0or a capacitor/ the capacitive reactance/ 1c/ is 2" ()C*/ where )=34f+ #he e-uivalent i$pedance of the series circuit in -uestion can be calculated with co$ple' arith$etic (beyond the scope of this course* or ta5en fro$ the te't: 6 = 78R3 1c39 = 78R3 2"()C*39

#hen/ the AC version of :h$s law can be used to calculate the r$s current: Vinput = I6 for the power supply I = Vinput"6 = Vinput"78R3 2"()C*39 #his current will be the current for all circuit ele$ents+ :h$s law can be used to calculate the r$s potential difference across the individual capacitor and resistor: Vc = I1c Vc = Vinput"s-rt8R3 2"()C*39.2")C Vc = Vinput"s-rt8()RC*3 29 Vr = IR Vr = Vinput"s-rt8R3 2"()C*39.R

829

Vr = Vinput"s-rt82 2"()RC*39

839

#hese are the e-uations we will investigate as a test of this type of circuit analysis+ ;hysics is fun< Equipment You Procure digital ca$era co$puter with e'ternal spea5ers s$all capacitor (2 =0 or so/ low $a'i$u$ potential difference is o5* Equipment From Kits 3 digital $ulti>$eters clips and wires (do not use nichro$e/ the bare wires/ unless you want to start a fire* resistors Experimental Procedures AC RC circuit ?ote: ;lease be very careful in this lab because if you connect one output directly to the other/ you could da$age your sound card+ 2* @isconnect the cable fro$ the bac5 of your co$puter spea5ers+ @o not disconnect the cable fro$ your co$puter+ 3* @ownload and install Audacity freeware fro$ the following web site: http:""audacity+sourceforge+net" A* In the Audacity progra$/ clic5 on BCenerateD and B#oneD+ It should default to Eavefor$ BFineD and a$plitude of 2+ 0or fre-uency/ choose 2GG Hz+ Hit BenterD+ I* Configure a @JJ as a volt$eter at the lowest setting for AC potential difference and connect it to the cable fro$ your co$puter+ #here should be a s$all piece of insulation on the cable separating the and >+ ;lace a probe on each side of the insulation+ K* Clic5 on the play button (the green triangle* and chec5 if you obtain a $easurable potential difference+ Record this value (Vinput* and press the stop button on Audacity+ L* Felect a capacitor and resistor so that their ti$e constant (R.C* is appro'i$ately 2G>A s+ M* Calculate the initial fre-uency using f = G+2"(34RC*+

N* Connect the capacitor/ resistor/ and output of the co$puter in a single loop+ O* Connect the volt$eters so that they $easure the potential difference across the capacitor and resistor+ Fee figure at right+ 2G* In the Audacity + progra$/ clic5 on BCenerateD and B#oneD+ 0or fre-uency/ choose your calculated value+ V V Hit BenterD+ 22* Jeasure the potential differences across the capacitor and resistor+ 23* Repeat steps 2G and 22 for appro'i$ately KGP $ore than your Qust $easured fre-uency until the fre-uency is at least 2GG ti$es your initial fre-uency+ 2A* Calculate the theoretical potential differences across the capacitor and resistor for the $easured fre-uencies using e-uations 829 and 839+ Rou do not need to include an error analysis in the theoretical potential difference+ 2I* ;lot the e'peri$ental and theoretical potential differences (vertical a'is* versus the fre-uency on a single graph+ Sse a logarith$ic scale for the horizontal a'is and a linear scale for the vertical a'is+ #o use a logarith$ic scale/ $a5e your graph according to the general lab instructions+ :nce you have a graph/ right clic5 on the '>a'is and select Bfor$at a'isD+ 2K* Co$pare the theoretical and e'peri$ental plots+ In this case/ since you do not have a co$plete error analysis/ there will be so$e subQectivity in the co$parison and you are allowed to use the word BcloseD in your report+ 2L* Repeat steps M through 2K with a different resistor+