CHAPTER 40 ALTERNATING VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS

EXERCISE 187, Page 423

1. Determine the periodic time for the following frequencies: (a) 2.5 Hz (b) 100 Hz (c) 40 kHz

1 1
(a) Periodic time, T =  = 0.4 s
f 2.5

1 1
(b) Periodic time, T =  = 0.01 s or 10 ms
f 100

1 1
(c) Periodic time, T =  = 25 s
f 40 103

2. Calculate the frequency for the following periodic times: (a) 5 ms (b) 50 s (c) 0.2 s

1 1
(a) Frequency, f =  = 200 Hz or 0.2 kHz
T 5 103

1 1
(b) Frequency, f =  = 20 kHz
T 50 106

1 1
(c) Frequency, f =  = 5 Hz
T 0.2

3. An alternating current completes 4 cycles in 5 ms. What is its frequency?

5
Time for one cycle, T = ms = 1.25 ms
4

1 1
Hence, frequency, f =  = 800 Hz
T 1.25 103

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EXERCISE 188, Page 426

1. An alternating current varies with time over half a cycle as follows:

Current (A) 0 0.7 2.0 4.2 8.4 8.2 2.5 1.0 0.4 0.2 0

time (ms) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The negative half cycle is similar. Plot the curve and determine: (a) the frequency (b) the

instantaneous values at 3.4 ms and 5.8 ms (c) its mean value, and (d) its r.m.s. value.

The graph is shown plotted below.

1 1
(a) Periodic time, T = 2  10 ms = 20 ms, hence, frequency, f =  = 50 Hz
T 20 103

(b) At 3.4 ms, current, i = 5.5 A

and at 5.8 ms, i = 3.1 A

area under curve

(c) Mean value = Using the mid-ordinate rule,
length of base

area under curve = 1 103   0.3  1.4  3.1  6.0  8.8  5.5  1.6  0.8  0.3  0.2 

= 1 103   28   28 103

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 28 103
Hence, mean value = = 2.8 A
10 103

 0.32  1.42  3.12  6.02  8.82  5.52  1.62  0.82  0.32  0.22 
(d) r.m.s. value =  
 10 

158.68
= = 3.98 A or 4.0 A, correct to 2 significant figures.
10

2. For the waveforms shown below, determine for each (i) the frequency (ii) the average value

over half a cycle (iii) the r.m.s. value (iv) the form factor (v) the peak factor.

(a) (b) (c)

(d)

1 1
(a) (i) T = 10 ms, hence, frequency, f =  = 100 Hz
T 10 103

area under curve 2 

5 103   5
1
(ii) Average value =  = 2.50 A
length of base 5 103

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  i 2  i 2 2  i32  i 4 2  i5 2   0.52  1.52  2.52  3.52  4.52 
(iii) R.m.s. value =  1  =   = 2.87 A
 5   5 

r.m.s. 2.87
(iv) Form factor =  = 1.15
average 2.50

max imum value 5

(v) Peak factor =  = 1.74
r.m.s. 2.87

1 1
(b) (i) T = 4 ms, hence, frequency, f =  = 250 Hz
T 4 103

area under curve 20  2

(ii) Average value =  = 20 V
length of base 2

 v 2  v 2 2  v32  v 4 2   20 2  20 2  202  202 

(iii) R.m.s. value =  1  =   = 20 V
 4   4 

r.m.s. 20
(iv) Form factor =  = 1.0
average 20

max imum value 20

(v) Peak factor =  = 1.0
r.m.s. 20

1 1
(c) (i) T = 8 ms, hence, frequency, f =  = 125 Hz
T 8 103

1  1 
  1 24    2  24    1 24 
area under curve  2  2   72 = 18 A
(ii) Average value = 
length of base 4 4

 i12  i 2 2  i32  i 4 2  .... 

(iii) R.m.s. value =  
 8 

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  32  9 2  152  212  242  242  242  242 

=  = 19.56 A
 8 
r.m.s. 19.56
(iv) Form factor =  = 1.09
average 18

max imum value 24

(v) Peak factor =  = 1.23
r.m.s. 19.56

1 1
(d) (i) T = 4 ms, hence, frequency, f =  = 250 Hz
T 4 103

area under curve 0.5  100

(ii) Average value =  = 25 V
length of base 2

 v 2  v 2 2  v32  v 4 2   02  02  100 2  02 
(iii) R.m.s. value =  1  =   = 50 V
 4   4 

r.m.s. 50
(iv) Form factor =  = 2.0
average 25

max imum value 100

(v) Peak factor =  = 2.0
r.m.s. 50

3. An alternating voltage is triangular in shape, rising at a constant rate to a maximum of 300 V in

8 ms and then falling to zero at a constant rate in 4 ms. The negative half cycle is identical in shape

to the positive half cycle. Calculate (a) the mean voltage over half a cycle, and (b) the r.m.s.

voltage

The waveform is shown below.

1
12 103 s  300 V
area under curve 2
(a) Mean value =  = 150 V
length of base 12 103 s

 v 2  v 2 2  v32  v 4 2  .... 
(b) R.m.s. value =  1 
 6 

 37.52  112.52  187.52  262.52  2252  752 

=   = 170 V
 6 
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4. Calculate the r.m.s. value of a sinusoidal curve of maximum value 300 V.

R.m.s. value = 0.707  peak value = 0.707  300 = 212.1 V

5. Find the peak and mean values for a 200 V mains supply.

200 V is the r.m.s. value

r.m.s. 200
r.m.s. value = 0.707  peak value, from which, peak value =  = 282.9 V
0.707 0.707

Mean value = 0.637  peak value = 0.637  282.9 = 180.2 V

6. A sinusoidal voltage has a maximum value of 120 V. Calculate its r.m.s. and average values.

R.m.s. value = 0.707  peak value = 0.707  120 = 84.8 V

Average value = 0.637  peak value = 0.637  120 = 76.4 V

7. A sinusoidal current has a mean value of 15.0 A. Determine its maximum and r.m.s. values.

Mean value = 0.637  maximum value,

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 mean value 15.0
from which, maximum value =  = 23.55 A
0.637 0.637

R.m.s. value = 0.707  maximum value = 0.707  23.55 = 16.65 A

EXERCISE 189, Page 426

Answers found from within the text of the chapter, pages 420 to 426.

EXERCISE 190, Page 427

1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (c) 10. (b)

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