Lesson 13 Intro to AC &

Sinusoidal Waveforms

Learning Objectives

Compare AC and DC voltage and current sources as

defined by voltage polarity, current direction and
magnitude over time.
Define the basic sinusoidal wave equations and
waveforms, and determine amplitude, peak to peak
values, phase, period, frequency, and angular velocity.
Determine the instantaneous value of a sinusoidal
waveform.
Graph sinusoidal wave equations as a function of time and
angular velocity using degrees and radians.
Define effective / root mean squared values.
Define phase shift and determine phase differences
between same frequency waveforms.

REVIEW

Direct Current (DC)

DC sources have fixed polarities and magnitudes.
DC voltage and current sources are represented by capital E and I.

Alternating Current (AC)

A sinusoidal ac waveform starts at zero

Increases

to a positive maximum
to zero
Changes polarity
Increases to a negative maximum
Returns to zero
Decreases

Variation is called a cycle

Alternating Current (AC)

AC sources have a sinusoidal waveform.

AC sources are represented by lowercase e(t) or i(t)
AC Voltage polarity changes every cycle

Generating AC Voltage

Rotating a coil in fixed magnetic field generates

sinusoidal voltage.

Sinusoidal AC Current

AC current changes direction each cycle with the

source voltage.

Time Scales

Horizontal scale can represent degrees or time.

Period

Period of a waveform
Time

it takes to complete one cycle

Time is measured in seconds

The period is the reciprocal of frequency

= 1/f

Frequency

Number of cycles per second of a waveform

Frequency
Denoted

by f

Unit of frequency is hertz (Hz)

1 Hz = 1 cycle per second

Amplitude and Peak-to-Peak Value

Amplitude of a sine wave

Distance

from its average to its peak

We use Em for amplitude

Peak-to-peak voltage

Measured

between minimum and maximum peaks

We use Epp or Vpp

Example Problem 1
What is the waveforms period, frequency, Vm and VPP?

The Basic Sine Wave Equation

The equation for a sinusoidal source is given

e Em sin( ) V
where Em is peak coil voltage and is the angular position

The instantaneous value of the waveform can be determined

by solving the equation for a specific value of
e(37) 10sin(37) V = 6.01 V

Example Problem 2
A sine wave has a value of 50V at =150. What is the
value of Em?

Radian Measure

Conversion for radians to degrees.

2 radians = 360

Angular Velocity
The rate that the generator coil rotates is called its
angular velocity ().
Angular position can be expressed in terms of
angular velocity and time.
= t (radians)

Rewriting the sinusoidal equation:

e (t) = Em sin t (V)

Relationship between , T and f

Conversion from frequency (f) in Hz to angular

velocity () in radians per second

= 2 f

(rad/s)

In terms of the period (T)

2
2 f
T

(rad/s)

Sinusoids as functions of time

Voltages can be expressed as a function of time

in terms of angular velocity ()
e (t) = Em sin t

Or in terms of the frequency (f)

e (t) = Em sin 2 f t

(V)

(V)

Or in terms of Period (T)

t
e(t ) Em sin 2
T

(V)

Instantaneous Value

The instantaneous value is the value of the

voltage at a particular instant in time.

Example Problem 3
A waveform has a frequency of 100 Hz, and has an
instantaneous value of 100V at 1.25 msec.
Determine the sine wave equation. What is the voltage
at 2.5 msec?

Phase Shifts
A phase shift occurs when e(t) does not pass
through zero at t = 0 sec
If e(t) is shifted left (leading), then

e = Em sin ( t + )

If e(t) is shifted right (lagging), then

e = Em sin ( t - )

Phase shift

The angle by which the wave LEADS or LAGS

the zero point can be calculated based upon
the t

10 s
t
360
360 36
T
100 s

The phase angle is written in DEGREES

PHASE RELATIONS

i leads v by 80.

i leads v by 110.

V and i are in phase.

Example Problem 4
Write the equations for the waveform below. Express
the phase angle in degrees.
v = Vm sin ( t + )

Effective (RMS) Values

Effective values tell us about a waveforms ability to do

work.
An effective value is an equivalent dc value.
It tells how many volts or amps of dc that an ac
waveform supplies in terms of its ability to produce
the same average power
They are Root Mean Squared (RMS) values:
The terms RMS and effective are synonymous.

Vm
Vrms
0.707Vm
2
Im
I rms
0.707 I m
2