Alternating voltages

and currents (AC)

Page 88

Introduction
DC- Direct current
the flow in one direction only

AC-Alternating current
The quantity is constantly changing in
direction

Advantages of AC
All large scale energy supplies around the
world are AC signals.
This is because:

Transformers are AC only.

AC motors are simpler and cheaper.
AC systems are easier to keep stable.
Rotating machines naturally generate AC.

Sine Wave
V V p Sin( )

V V p Sin(2ft )
Vp

V V p Sin(t )
T

Time period (T)

The time taken for an alternating quantity
to complete one cycle is called the time
period , T.
The number of cycles completed in one
second is called the frequency.
The frequency of the signal is given by
f = 1/Period = 1/T (Hz)

Determine the periodic time for frequencies

(a) 50 Hz and (b) 20 kHz

The instantaneous value of V is given by

V=Vp sin ().
The angle increases with time.
So that = 2ft (radians).
The term 2f is sometimes given the symbol
.

Peak value-the largest value reach in a half

cycle
Peak-to-peak value- difference between
maximum and minimum values
Average value- measured over a half cycle,

For a sine waveform,

Vavg

2V p

Vavg 0.636V p

RMS Value
The root mean square of the signal (RMS) is
the DC voltage that has the same heating
effect as the AC wave form.
It is the rms value that is used almost
exclusively in circuit calculations.
All waveforms have an RMS value given by,

Vrms

1
2

V
dt

T 0

For a pure sine wave,

Vrms

Vp
2

Vrms 0.707 V p

Form factor

The form factor for a signal is,

Vrms
rms value
Form factor

average value Vavg

For a pure sine wave this is

Vavg 0.636V p
Form factor

Vrms 0.707 V p
0.707V p
0.636V p

1.11

1.A sinusoidal voltage has a maximum

value of 120 V. Calculate its rms and
average values and the form factor.
2. find the peak value for a 230 V mains
supply.

Phasor Diagram
This is single line that is imagined to spin at a
speed equal to the frequency.
When we draw a phasor we imagine it is frozen
at a point in time.
Phasors always spin anti-clockwise.

http://
www.rkm.com.au/animations/animation-sine-wa
ve.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyhQnt5cgZs

Phasor Diagram

When signals are in phase they may be

dealt with in terms very similar to DC
calculations but if a phase shift is involved
which is very often the case we invoke the
idea of the phasor.

Resistor

Inductor

The voltage across coils is not caused by

resistance it is caused by the back emf
generated due to Faraday's law.

XL Inductive Reactance
VL
2fL () X L inductive reactance
iL

Derivation of XL Inductive
Reactance

The voltage across a coil

If L
Then

i I p Sin(2ft )
vL L

d [ I p Sin(2ft )]
dt

diL
VL L
dt

2fLI p Cos (2ft )

This is an equation for the instantaneous value.

It follows that:

VL ,rms
iL ,rms

VL , p

2fLI p
Ip

iL , p

VL ,rms
iL ,rms

2fL () X L inductive reactance

In a purely inductive AC circuit, the current

IL lags the applied voltage VL by 900

In a purely inductive circuit the opposition

to the flow of AC current is called the
inductive reactance XL.
X L 2fL () inductive reactance

Where f is the frequency and Lis the

inductance.

Calculate the reactance of a coil of

inductance 0.32 H when it is connected to
50 Hz supply.

A coil has a reactance of 124 ohm in a

circuit with a supp ly of frequency 5 kHz.
Determine the inductance of the coil.

Capacitor

The voltage across a capacitor is not due due to

resistance it built up due to charge accumulating
upon the capacitor plates.

Xc capacitive reactance
VL
1

() X C Capacitive reactance
iL 2fC

Derivation of Xc capacitive
reactance
q CV

dvc
dq
ic C
dt
dt
vc V p Sin(2ft )
iC C

d [V p Sin(2ft )]
dt

2fCV p Cos (2ft )

This is an equation for instantaneous

value.
V
V
L, p
L , rms
It follows that :

VL ,rms
iL ,rms

iL , p
iL ,rms
Vp
1

() X C Capacitive reactance
2fLV p 2fC

In a purely inductive AC circuit, the current

IC leads the applied voltage VC by 900

In a purely inductive circuit the opposition

to the flow of AC current is called the
capacitive reactance Xc.
1
XC
() Capacitive reactance
2fC

Where f is the frequency and C is the

capacitance.

Leading and Lagging

Phasors

Determine the capacitive reactance of a

capacitor of 10 uF when connected to a
circuit of frequency (a) 50 Hz (b) 20 kHz