Week 8

CIRCUIT ELEMENTS I-V

RELATIONSHIPS IN
THE PHASOR DOMAIN
i-v Relations for R, L and C in the Phasor Domain

The objective here is to find the mathematical relationships

between terminal voltage v and terminal current i in the phasor
domain for resistor R, inductor L and capacitor C.

i-v Relation in Phasor Domain for R

Consider a resistor R where a current i(t) = Imcos(t + ) is flowing

through it. The voltage drop v(t) across the terminals is given by
Ohms as
v(t ) Ri (t ) RI m cos t i(t)

Using Euler identity, we can write v(t R

)

v(t ) RI m Re e j t Re RI m e j t
Figure 1
If V P v(t ) , then

V PRe RI m e j t

RI m e j
Eqn. above can be written as

V RI where I I m e j

This result is known as Ohms Law in phasor domain.

The ratio V / I is called the impedance of the circuit. Thus, for

this circuit element

V
Z R
I
 i(t)
I

v(t) R
V R

a) Time domain circuit. b) Phasor domain circuit.

Figure 2
Because R is a real constant, then phasor V is in phase with
phasor I on the complex plane, as illustrated in Figure 3.
Im
We can rewrite the previous equation as
Vm
j j
V R I RI m e Vm e Im

where
Vm RI m . Re

Figure 3
The corresponding time domain voltage v(t) can be
obtained by taking the inverse transform of V.

v(t ) ReV Re Vm e i .e jt Vm cos t
Waveforms corresponding to
v(t) and i(t) are obtained by Vm
rad/s
projecting the phasors V and I Im

onto the real axis (Re).

Re
0

i(t)/v(t)

Im Vm

Figure 4
Worked Example

Calculate current i(t) flowing through a 5 resistor when a

voltage v(t) = 10sin(t + 20) is applied across its terminals.

i(t)

v(t) R=5

Figure 5
Solution

Note
Even though this electric circuit problem can be solved easily in
the time domain, we will solve the problem using phasors to show
how it can be solved using phasor technique.

Given, v (t ) 10 sin t 20

Expressed as a cosine function, then v(t) becomes

v(t ) 10 cost 70
Thus,
V P v(t ) 10e 70 o

and
j 70
V 10e j 70
I 2e
R 5

i (t ) P 1 I 2 cost 70

Now compare the above solution steps with the time domain method,

i (t )

v(t ) 10 sin t 20
2 cos t 20 90
R 5

i (t ) 2 cos t 70
Example

A sinusoidal voltage supply defined as: vS(t)=100cos(t+30o) is

connected to a pure resistance of 50 ohms. Determine its
impedance and the value of the current flowing through the
circuit. Draw the corresponding phasor diagram.

Solution
i(t) The sinusoidal voltage across the
resistance will be the same as for the
supply in a purely resistive circuit.
vS(t) vR(t) R Converting this voltage from the time-
domain expression into the phasor-
domain expression gives us:
Time-domain circuit

vR(t) = vS(t) = 100cos(t + 30) VR = 10030 volts

The corresponding phasor circuit is shown below.
I

VS VR R Figure 6

Applying Ohms Law to the phasor circuit gives us

V 10030
I 230 A
R 50
The corresponding phasor diagram will be

Figure 7
i-v Relation in Phasor Domain for L

Consider the situation where a current i(t) is flowing through an

inductor L, and
i (t ) I m cos t
i(t)

v(t) L

Figure 8

Terminal voltage v(t) is related to current i via the equation

di
v(t ) L
dt
We can write
d
v(t ) L I m cos t
dt

L
d
dt

I m Re e j t
I m L Re e
d j t

dt

I m L Re je j t
If V P v (t ) , then

V Re jI m Le j t jI m Le j
 Im
The previous equation can be rewritten as
V rad/s
V j L I I
Vm Im

L I e j 90
0

Re

j j 90 o
LI m e e
Vm e
j 90 o
0

j
where I I m e and Vm LI m . -Im v(t)
Vm
j
Since I I m e and V Vm e this

j 90 o Im

means that for an inductance phasor V -Vm i(t)

leads phasor I by 90.
t

Figure 9
I
V Im

V rad/s
I
Vm Im

Re
0

-Im v(t)
Vm

Im
-Vm i(t)

Figure 10
The previous equation can also be written as,

V L I Z I
where Z jL and Z is known as the complex impedance of
the inductor. The unit for Z is ohms [].
i(t) I

v(t) L V Z jL

di
v(t ) L V jL I Z I
dt

a) Time domain circuit. b) Phasor domain circuit.

Figure 11
For a pure inductor, impedance Z is strictly imaginary; that is

Z j L

The imaginary part of Z , denoted as X L, is called the reactance

of the inductor; that is

X L Im Z L
Reactance of an inductor as a Function of Frequency

As the applied frequency increases, the reactance of an inductor

increases linearly.

Figure 12. Reactance of inductor

versus frequency
Worked Example 6

For the circuit given in Figure 13, find i(t) if v(t) = 8cos(t + 50)
anf f = 50 Hz.

i(t)

v(t) L=5H

Figure 13
Solution

V P v(t ) 8 50 V

Hence I

V V Z jL j 2 50 j 500
I
j L

8 50 Figure 14. Phasor domain circuit.
j 500

8 50

500 90

5.1 10 140 A
3

i (t ) P 1 I

P 1 5.1 10 3 140

Re 5.110 e3 j140
e j t

5.110 3 cos t 140 A
Hence,
i (t ) 5.1cost 140 mA
Worked Example 7

In the following circuit, the supply voltage is defined as:v(t) =

230 cos( 314t - 30o ) and L = 2.2H. Determine the value of the
current flowing through the coil and draw the resulting phasor
diagram.

v(t) = 230cos(314t 30o)

Figure 15
Solution

The voltage across the coil will be the same as the supply voltage.
Converting this time domain value into polar form gives us: V L =
230 -30o (v). The inductive reactance of the coil is: XL = L =
314 x 2.2 = 690. Then the current flowing through the coil can
be found using Ohms law as:
VL 230 30
IL 0.33 120 A
jX L 69090

With the current lagging the voltage by 90 o the phasor diagram

will be

Figure 16
i-v Relation in Phasor Domain for C

Let the voltage across the two terminals of a capacitor C be

v(t ) Vm cos t
The current flowing through C is
dv
i (t ) C
dt
Hence,
d
i (t ) C Vm cos t i(t)
dt

C
d
dt

Vm Re e j t v(t) C

Vm C Re e
d j t
Figure 17
dt

Vm C Re je j t
 I P v(t ) Re jVmCe j t jVmCe j

The above equation can be rewritten as

I jCV
where

V Vm e j
To see the phase relationship between I and V, we rewrite the
above equation as
I jCV CV e j 90

where we have used the relationship e j 90

cos 90 j sin 90 j1
Hence,
I CVm e j 90

 j
j 90 o
Since V Vm e and I I m e , this means that for a capacitor
phasor I leads phasor V by 90. Alternatively, we say for a capacitor
the voltage phasor V lags behind the current phasor I by 90.
I
m
The phasor diagram for a capacitor V

is as shown in Figure 18. I

Vm
rad/s
Im
Re
0

V
0
I Vm
rad/s -Im
Im -Vm i(t)

Re Im
Vm
v(t)
Figure 18
t Figure 19
The previous equation can be rewritten as

I CV Y V

where Y jC, and Y is known as the admittance of the

capacitor.

Alternatively, we can write

V
I CV
Z
1
where Z , and Z is known as the complex impedance of
jC
the capacitor.
The unit for Z is ohms [].
 i(t) I

V 1 1
v(t C Z
Y jC
)

dv V
i (t ) C I jCV Y V
dt Z

(a) Time domain circuit. (b) Phasor domain circuit.

Figure 20
For a pure capacitor, impedance Z is strictly imaginary;
that is,
1 1
Z j
j C C

The imaginary part of Z , denoted as X C , is called the reactance

of the capacitor.

X c Im Z
1
C
Reactance of a capacitor as a Function of Frequency

As the applied frequency increases, the reactance of a capacitor

decreases nonlinearly.

Reactance of capacitor versus

frequency
Figure 21
Worked Example 7

For the capacitor shown in Figure 22, find the terminal current
i(t) given that the terminal voltage v(t) = 20cos(100t).

i(t)

v(t) C = 4 F

Figure 22
Solution
Circuit in phasor domain,
I

Figure 23 V Z
1

1
j 795.77

jC j100 4 10 6

Given,
v(t ) 20 cos100t V
V 200 V
V 200
I 10 j 0 . 02513 0 .0251390
A
Z 795.77 90

i (t ) P 1 I 0.2513 cos 100t 90 A
Worked Example

A single-phase sinusoidal AC supply voltage defined as: v(t) = 240

cos(314t - 20o) is connected to a pure AC capacitance of 200F.
Determine the value of the current flowing through the capacitor
and draw the resulting phasor diagram.

v(t) = 240cos(314t 20o)

Figure 24
Solution

The voltage across the capacitor will be the same as the supply
voltage. Converting this time domain value into polar form gives
us: VC = 240 -20 (v). The capacitive reactance will be: X C = 1/
( .200uF ). Then the current flowing through the capacitor can
be found using Ohms law as:
With the current leading the voltage by 90 o in an AC capacitance
circuit the phasor diagram will be.

Figure 25
Notes

Impedance is COMPLEX, in general

1. Can be strictly REAL
1. Impedance = Resistance, for pure resistance.
2. (Z = R)

2. Can be strictly IMAGINARY

1. Impedance = Reactance
2. Z = jXL for pure inductance;
3. Z = -jXc for pure capacitance.
END