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AC Circuits
AC Circuits
Lab Section 18
We were exploring the properties of RCL circuits by measuring the voltage across the resistor,
capacitor, and inductor then graphing our results onto DataStudio. We then observed the phase
difference between the resistor, capacitor, and inductor and determined what equation best
and inductor then graphing our results onto DataStudio. We then observed the phase
difference between the resistor, capacitor, and inductor and determined what equation
and inductor th and inductor then graphing our results onto DataStudio. We then
observed the ph and inductor then graphing our results onto DataStudio. We then
observed the phase difference between the resistor, capacitor, and inductor and
determined what equation best describes the relationship between RCL.se difference
between the resistor, capacitor, and inductor and determined what equation best
describes the relationship between RCL.n graphing our results onto DataStudio. We
then observed the phase difference between the resistor, capacitor, and inductor and
I. Introduction
In this lab, we were studying the properties of AC circuits and how to properly add
voltages together by taking into account the phase differences between the voltages.
DataStudio. We then used these graphs in computing the accuracy of our observations
and to add AC voltages or currents with variable phases. The AC circuit board that
there was an inductor (L), a resistor (R), and a capacitor (C) and graphed the
measurements for each reading (L, R, and C). Something to note about the AC circuit
board is its relationship to the conservation of energy. At any instant in time on the
circuit board, the sum of the potential differences around the circuit board is equal to
zero. This has been represented in the equation below [Eq. (1)], which is the sum of
all the voltages (n) is equal to zero. This general principle is complicated in the
throughout the loop (it’s alternating), as opposed to DC circuits, which had a constant
current throughout the loop. Measuring the potential difference in this environment
II. Experiment
The equipment contained within the experiment included the Pasco Scientific RLC
Circuit (Model CI-6512), which was configured in a series of a resistor, inductor, and
capacitor. The resistor was set to the 10 Ω, the inductor was set to 8.2 mH, and the
capacitor was set to 100 µF. Also included was an interface unit, and DataStudio
This diagram was taken from the online lab manual. Below Figure 1, there is a hand
Figure 3 shows what a typical potential difference vs time measurement might look
The AC circuit starts out by feeding a voltage input, which first travels through the
resistor, then the inductor, then through the capacitor and finally back to its origin to
start the cycle back over again. We measured the amplitude of the potential difference
The bottom graph of Figure 3 shows the phase diagram for the resistor, the inductor,
the capacitor, and current. As can be seen in the graph, VR, VL, and VC are all phase
shifted from each other. The end of the report is Figure 4, which is data that was
collected during the lab for the RCL circuit. Off to the right of the graph, one will see
the channels measured (A, B, and C) and the current/voltage output. Off to the right
of the channel boxes, I have labeled the resistor (VR), the inductor (VL), and the
capacitor (VC). The graph shows the potential difference vs time measurements and
how each component (R, L, and C) are measured relative to each other. The inductor
(1)
Equation (1) shows that the energy in an AC circuit is conserved at any point in time.
The sum of all the electrical potential differences across the circuit must add to zero.2
Below is Table 1, which summarizes the potential differences for each component of
the AC circuit for each of the three experiments, including the 10 Hz, the 100 Hz, and
the 1000 Hz. The power supply was feeding 4 V during all three experiments. The
values obtained for the amplitude of potential difference can be seen in the table
towards the right. The values that we recorded indicate that the highest to lowest
potential difference for the 10 Hz values are (in descending order) the C, R, and L.
For the 100 Hz values, in descending order it’s R, C, and L. For the 1000 Hz values,
Table 1.
Amplitude of Potential Difference and Phase at a Specified Power and Frequency
Power Frequency Phase Sum
Amplitude of Potential Difference (V)
(V) (Hz) (degree)
0.268 VR
10 89.6 0.146 VL 0.021
3.927 VC
3.817 VR
4 100 86.4 2.805 VL 0.434
3.146 VC
0.038 VR
1000 90 0.077 VL 0
0.143 VC
To compute the sum of all the potential differences together, one cannot just add all
of the values together (considering they’re out of phase). Equation (2) is used to
compute the sum of all the potential differences together after they’ve been converted
to rms values, where δ is the phase angle for each component of the AC circuit. The
sum for each experiment can be seen on the far right of Table 1. Figure 5 below is a
Figure 5.
When adjusting the frequency using trial-and-error, we found that the capacitance and
inductance had the same phase shift value when the frequency was adjusted to around
200 Hz.
IV. Conclusion
The results in this lab experiment show that the equation used, Eq. (2), is accurate in
describing the properties of AC circuits in terms of RCL and the phase degrees
between RCL. In order to sum the voltages between RCL, one needs to add the rms
values in consideration of the phase degrees rather than in consideration of only the
rms values. The reason is current is alternating throughout the series, as opposed to it
being constant.
V. References
1
AC circuits, alternating current electricity. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
http://www.animations.physics.unsw.edu.au//jw/AC.html
2
The Loop Rule - Boundless Open Textbook. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from
https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundless-physics-textbook/circuits-
and-direct-currents-20/kirchhoff-s-rules-152/the-loop-rule-540-5636/
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Casey Riehle for contributing to this experiment.