ALTERNATING CURRENT Lecture Notes

ALTERNATING CURRENT

Ex:
Commenting on -t graph.
(t)
m

1. Production
AC generator:

T/2

3T/4

T/4

A
N

m
=m Sin(t)
=
(t) =

output

2fT

[Contrary to a direct current voltage source, we do notVoltage output of an AC generator is given by:
Ex:
have (+) and (-) terminals of the output voltage. Each
(t)=400 Sin(150t).
terminal becomes (+) and (-) many times in a second]
a) Find m=?, =?, f=?
Finding output voltage:
(
BACos
BA
t (Cos
) t

= =t
t =)
t
Cos t
= BA = ( BA
) Sin
( )t

b) Find =? when t=0.01 s.

(
)

Ex:
AC generator has output voltage =m Sin(t).
The coil rotates 50 times in a second.
a) Find =? at t=1/300 s, if m=310 V.
b) Find =? at t=T/4

2. AC Circuits
[We will learn R, L, C, RLC circuits in turn]

=
NBA Sin t
{You may find using phasor diagrams too difficult for

means
is a function
of time (changes withhigh school level, but still I think there is no point in
[Change
ofemf
Cosine
equals Sine]
Therefore:
time).
gives us value of at any given
If thereThis
are formula
N loops rotating:
memorizing formulas having no practical use, without
(=) (=instant).]
((
)) twhere
Sin
= t
NBAm
time
m
knowing their derivation from general rules. What
(t)m is called the instantaneous value of emf.
physics education contributes to a student who will not
[ (m )is the maximum value of emf.

t
be a scientist or engineer should definitely not be a
collection of formulas, but a general understanding of
I = R or Vm=ImR
nature along with the method and practice of finding
practical methods for applying general rules to specific
situations.}
In resistive circuit current and potential are in phase
(Increase and decrease together)
(t)
" Resistive circuit
m

Graph:
t

R
v(t) = Vm Sin(t)
i(t) = ImSin(t)
m

v(t) = Vm Sin(t)

(t)
A coil having 100
m loops and 0.05 m2 area is
rotating in magnetic
(t2) field B=0.2 T at a rate 50
revolution/second.
the expression for
(t3Write
)
instantaneous value of emf.
{=2f}
(t1)
instantaneous
Ex:
t
t1 t2www.highschoolphysics.net
t3
values

v(t)

Vm
Im
1

i(t)
t

ALTERNATING CURRENT Lecture Notes

Phasor diagram:

" Inductive

circuit
L

v(t)

i(t)

Vm
i(t)
t Im

v(t)
In inductive circuit current and potential are out of
phase by 90

Phasor: Rotating vector.

Graph:
Magnitude = constant (Maximum value)
y component = changing (instantaneous value)

v(t)

Vm
Im

i(t)
t

Effective (rms) value:

"

maximum
effective

Phasor diagram:

v(t)
Vm
t

instantaneous
For sinusoidal functions

i(t)

maximum value
effective value =
2

Im

So:
m

=2
I = 2V and

m
e

We can say:
Current is 90 ahead of potential:
v(t) = Vm Sin(t)

)
i(t) = ImSin(t +

2
a) Write i(t)=?
Effective
(rms) value
Or, [We
b) Find readings
of is something like average.
had
definition
of rms in molecular physics] Potential is 90 behind current:
voltmeter,
ampermeter
Rule:
AC
voltmeters
)
c) Heat in 1 minute and ampermeters measure
=
effective value.
2
i(t) = Im Sin(t)
v(t) = VmSin(t [Effective value of AC is the value of DC that would
[Which
(t)running
which is
a question
[This is like
twoismen
in(t)
a circle.isYou
can sayof
produce the same amount energy on the same resistor]
choosing
a
starting
point]
B is behind A, or, A is in front of B]
Electricity from a wall socket is 220 Volts and 50
Ex:
e
Hz. Write v(t)=?
V
I m= and I =
V
X
X or Vm=Im XL m
e
L
L
Ex:
V
XL is called inductive reactance. Unit: Ohm(&).
X L
L from here,
start
start from here,
R=5 &
A
www.highschoolphysics.net
Vm=20 2 V, f =50Hz

function is
2
Sin(t)

function is
Cos(t)

ALTERNATING CURRENT Lecture Notes

" Capacitive

sin(a)+sin(b) from trigonometric identities twice

(which will be long and difficult), or we use phasors]

circuit

VC(max) VL(max)

i(t)

vC(t)

v(t)
In capacitive circuit current and potential are out of
phase by 90
[help remembering: current comes, fills capacitor,
potential then is.]

vL(t)

v(t)
VR(max)

vR(t)

Im

Phasor diagram:

v(t)
Im

v(t) is the component of sum vector;

Vm

i(t)

t
Vm

v(t)
We can say:
Current is 90 behind potential:
v(t) = Vm Sin(t)

)
i(t) = ImSin(t -

Or,
=
Potential is 90 ahead of current:
i(t)
= Im series
Sin(t)circuitv(t) = VmSin(t
Z +
3. RLC
VIm=
V
mX
C

e
and I =
X
or Vm=ImXC
e
C

t
2
So we found v(t)
When i(t)=ImSin(t) v(t)=VmSin(t+)
Or equally
) we can say:
2
Z or Vm( =I
mZ
)V
v (t ) Sin( t) i(t- I) =
Sin
t =m
m

Z is total reactance called impedance. mUnit: Ohm(&).

V
I = and I =
[Since the triangle rotates without changing
shape:]
m
eV

XC is called capacitive reactance. Unit: Ohm(&).

1
C
X C

VC

Given i(t), we will find v(t)=?

R
i(t) = ImSin(t)
i(t)

Vm

Divide triangle by Im:

[We know VR=ImR, VL=ImXL, VC=ImXC]
Series iR(t) = iL(t) = iC(t) = ImSin(t)

VL

Lv(t)=?
C

v(t) = vR(t) + vL(t) + vC(t)

v(t) = VRSin(t) + VLSin(t+90) + VCSin(t- 90) =
v(t) = ?
[Now we are to add three trigonometric functions.
There are two ways
www.highschoolphysics.net
to do this. Either
Ex:
we use

VR

Write Z for RL and RC circuit.

XC
Z
L
3 Z 2R=X2 X+2 R L ( C )tg XX
R
LXC

ALTERNATING CURRENT Lecture Notes

Ex:

R=40&

Ex:
R=12&

XL=55
XC=25&
&

i(t)=?

C=1.25 mF
L=0.045 H

A
P

a) Find Z=? =?
b) Write i(t)=?
VR
R=40&

v(t) = 100 2 Sin(300t)

v(t)
2 Sin(200t)
= 260

a) Find XL=?, XC=?, Z=?

b) VKM(eff)=?, VLN(eff)=?
VL

VC

4. Power
Instantaneous power = P(t)=v(t) i(t)
[But instantaneous power is a useless quantity as it
XL=55X&
C=25&
keeps changing instant by instant. What we need is
average power:]
V
=AV e Pe V I Cos
Cos is called power factor
v(t) = 100 2 Sin(300t)
From triangle of effective voltages:

c) Find readings of devices.

VC(eff)

[Why VR(eff)+VL(eff)+VC(eff)`V(eff)? Is not energy

conserved? How are they added?]
Ex:

R=80&

Ve

VL(eff)

VR(eff)

L=0.2 H
PAVI V=e Cos

e
R

V eff

()
2

AV

eR

P I V= I R=
A 20
/ 50power
Hz power
source is(turned
connected
to series
So:
AllVthe
is dissipated
into heat)
on the
v(t) = 150 2 Sin(300t)
a) Find impedance.
RLC
circuit
L=0.15 H,and
C=capacitor
220 F. Find
resistor
in a with
RLCR=40&,
circuit. [Inductor
do not
b) Write i(t)=?
power
released.
factor.
(=3)
use energy,
onlyFind
storepower
energy
and give
it back during
c) Im=? Ie=? VR(eff)=?, VL(eff)=?
the next half-cycle.]
H)
{A question like: what happens to the difference between
Ex:
(IEx:
eVe) and (IeVeCos)? is meaningless. IeVe is the formula of
R=3&
XL=6&
X
C=2&
[Question: i(t)=I
mSin(t-).
Does
the (-)power
sign when
in thecurrent and voltage pass through their maximum
formula mean that potential is always ahead
of values together. When there is a phase difference,
and zero
L
M
N
formula of both produced power by a AC source and used
current?]K
A
power on a resistor are IeVeCos, which are naturally equal.
Butby
suppose
Rule: If XL>XC Pthen Rvoltage leads current
. we have a small factory which requires 100kW
constant
power
[Because is (+) itself from
When placed
in input. Now if Cos H 1we can draw this
v(t) =triangle.
42 Sin(200t)
power under -say- 380 Volt electric input by 263 A. But if
its place, phase of i(t) formula is (t-(+))]
Cos is smaller (say 0.5) we will need 526 A to draw the
if
C>Xphase
L thenbetween
current leads
voltage
by .
a) X
Z=?,
current
and voltage=?
same power. Problem is, larger current will cause more heat
[Because
is (-)
itself
from
placed
b) VKM(eff)=?,
VLN
(eff)=?
( triangle.
2 1.4 When
loss (by
I2R)in
along the transmission lines, a loss which we
its place, phase of i(t) formula becomeswill
(t-(-))]
not pay for, because it just heats the air, is not used in
{Show this on the triangle}
our factory. Therefore it is generally forbidden to have Cos
Z R X etc..}
X
values smaller than 1 for factories
2 =
+2 ( )
5. Resonance
2
www.highschoolphysics.net
Z is not constant, but a function
Z R4 Lof2C=.
Z+=Z().
1L C

ALTERNATING CURRENT Lecture Notes

if XL=XC Z = Zmin = R
This is called resonance.
Find resonance frequency for a given RLC circuit.
Ex:
Ex:

R=5&
K

L=0.04
C= 100F
H

a) Find resonance frequency.

b) Find power consumed in the circuit when =res.
c) Find VKL=? VLN=? at resonance.
6. Transformers
Symbol:
N1 N 2
V1

V2

VN

V =N
2

{The relation above holds quite well in a class

demonstration as long as you do not try to draw current
from the secondary coil. Since resistance of the coil is
not negligible (and acts as the internal resistance of the
power source), you can only use a small fraction of the
potential difference induced across the output side of
the transformer}
[Now the relation above says we can increase the
potential from a source as much as we like. From 5V to
5000 V for example. Is not the energy conserved? How
can we explain?]
{Compare W=IVt to W=Fx. As you gain from force
you lose from distance}
Efficiency (e)
P
useful
outP
a =
Primary
and secondary coils of a transformer have
P P turns. Take e=1. 440 V is applied across
1000eand
total 250
in
I
V
the input.
Find
22
a) =Output
e IV voltage
1 then
1
if A
b)
e=1
Current
transformer
in
Pout
the
=P
has
primary
in 95% efficiency.
when 10 AGiven
is drawn from
if 2e<1
secondary
V
=100V
thenwhen
Pout<P
Vin1= 2000 V. Find I2=? if I1=2A.
Ex:

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