Alternating Currents

Teacher: Mr. B. Burnett Date: January 28, 2013 Class: 6A- Phys1

Recall Transformer

A.C Generator Revisited(Example)

What is an Alternating Current?

O The term Alternating current (AC) means

that the direction of current flowing in a circuit is constantly being reversed back and forth cyclically. O AC is created by generators in power plants, and other sources. This AC is delivered to our homes and businesses by the power lines we see everywhere.

AC vs DC
Alternating Current(AC)
O Current flow is bi-

Direct Current (DC)

O Current flow is uni-

directional (flows back and forth in two directions) Eg. Transformer, AC Generator

diectional (flows in one direction only). Eg. Batteries, Car battery, fuel cells, solar cells etc.

Important Definitions
O Peak value (Symbol: V0 , I0 ) O - This is the maximum value of current or voltage. O V0 = Vrms x 2, I0 = Irms x 2 O Peak-to-Peak value(Vpp, Ipp) This is the distance from

the max in the positive half of the cycle to the min in the negative half of the cycle. It is double the peak value. O Frequency- This is the number of cycles per second. The direction of current is switching back and forth 60 times each second (60Hz) in commercial use. O RMS (Root-mean-squared) value (Effective value)- The rms value of an ac voltage is the DC value that gives the same amount of heat or light (or produces the same heating effect).

The RMS voltage

RMS (Dc equivalent)

AC Waveforms

1st half cycle

A.C
Resistor, R On every half-cycle, the polarity of the alternating voltage reverses. Hence, the direction of the current changes every half cycle. In the circuit on the left, terminal 1 is positive w.r.t terminal 2 for the 1st half cycle then the polarity changes where terminal 2 is now positive w.r.t terminal 2 for the next half cycle and the process is repeated.

2nd half cycle

Example of AC (Half-wave rectification)

Practice Question 1
O A sine wave of voltage varies from zero to

a maximum of 100V. How much is the voltage at the instant of 300 of the cycle? 450, 900, 2700 (H.W)? O V=V0 sin O V= 100 sin 300= 100 x 0.5 O V= 50V

Advantages of AC
O Can be used to transmit power over long distances to

run AC systems, e.g radio set (via power lines). O It is less expensive than DC because you can decrease or increase the AC power very easily. O you can use high voltages with small currents to reduce losses when you transmit power. O A home wired for AC power is ready for utility or generator power if / when it is available.

Example: Hair Dryer

O a) Calculate the resistance and the peak

in a 1000-W hair dryer connected to a 110-V line in Jamaica? O b) What happens if it is connected to a 220-V line in Britain?

Example: Stereo power

O Each channel of a stereo receiver is

capable of an average power output of 100W into an 8 loudspeaker. What are the rms voltage and the rms current fed to the speaker at, O a) the maximum power of 100W O b) 1.0W when the volume is turned down?