Electrical Circuits 2:

2. Circuit Phasors

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Summation of Two Alternating Waves
Two Waves of the Same Phase

Two Waves Displaced by an

Acute Angle θ

Two Waves Displaced by an Acute Angle 90o

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Get the Sum of the two voltages as given:
V1 = 25 sin ωt ; V2 = 35 sin (ωt + 60o). Also draw the phasor
diagram.
Ans.

Three load units A,B,C are connected in parallel and take

currents that are 12,10, and 15 A respectively. Assuming IA to be
the reference phasor. IB leads IA by 30o and IC lags behind IA by
65o, calculate the total current.
Ans.

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Electrical Elements in AC Circuits

Resistance in AC Circuits
In an ac circuit with only resistance, the current variations are in
phase with the applied voltage. This in-phase relationship
between V and I means that such an ac circuit can be analyzed
by the same methods used for dc circuits.

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

The resistance in a wire (i.e., conductor) causes friction and
reduces the amount of current flow if the voltage remains
constant. Byproducts of this electrical friction are heat and light.
The units (measurement) of resistance are referred to as ohms.
The units of electrical power associated with resistive load are
watts. Lightbulbs, toasters, electric hot water heaters, and so on
are resistive loads.

Inductor in AC Circuits

Inductor – is a two terminal passive device which has the ability

to oppose any sudden change in the flow of current. It is
physically made of a coil of wire wound around a core

Inductance - is a measure of the ability of a device to store

energy in the form of a magnetic field, is the ability to oppose
sudden change in current, standard unit (Henry).
Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME
 e = induced voltage (volt)
L = self inductance of coil (Henry)
di/dt = rate of change of current (ampere/seconds)

If an ac voltage v is applied across a circuit having only

inductance the resulting ac current through the inductance, iL, will
lag the voltage across the inductance, vL, by 90o.
“Inductive loads take time to develop their magnetic field when
the voltage is applied, so the current is delayed”.

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Inductive Reactance

Inductive reactance XL is the opposition to ac current due to

the inductance in the circuit. The unit of inductive reactance is the
ohm.
XL = 2πfL
Where:
XL – inductive reactance (ohms)
f – frequency (Hertz)
L – inductance (Henry)

VL = IL x XL

Energy Stored in an Inductor

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Capacitor in AC Circuits

Capacitor – a device which has the ability to store an electric

charge so as to possess electrical potential, consists of two or
more conducting plate separated by a thin insulating material
called dielectric.

Capacitance – is a measure of the ability of a device to store

energy in the form of an electrical charge, ability to oppose
sudden change in voltage, standard unit (farad).

VC = voltage across capacitor (volts)

C = capacitance (farad)
i = current (amperes)

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

If an ac voltage V is applied across a circuit having only
capacitance the resulting ac current through the capacitance, ic
will lead the voltage across the capacitance, vc by 90o.

“The current associated with capacitors leads (instead of lags)

the voltage because of the time it takes for the dielectric material
to charge up to full voltage from the charging current”

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Capacitive Reactance

Capacitive reactance Xc is the opposition to ac current due to

the capacitance in the circuit. The unit of capacitive reactance is
the ohm.

Where:
Xc - capacitive Reactance (ohms)
C – capacitance (farads)
f – frequency (Hertz)

Energy Stored in Capacitor

Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME

Sample Problems SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS
1) A 110-V ac voltage is applied across 5 and 15 ohm 9) A coil has an Inductance of 50μH. What voltage is
resistances in series. Find the current and voltage drop induced across the coil when the rate of change of current
across each resistance. Draw the phasor diagram. is 10000 A/s?
Ans. 5.5 A, 27.5V, 82.5V 10) What must the coil inductance of a coil in order that it
2) A 20-Ω electric iron and a 100-Ω lamp are connected in have a reactance of 942 Ω at a frequency of 60 kHz.
parallel across a 120-V ac line. Find the total current, the 11) A resonant tank circuit consists of 20-mH coil
total resistance, and the power drawn by the circuit, and operating at a frequency of 950 kHz. What is the inductive
draw the phasor diagram. reactance of the coil?
Ans. 7.2A, 16.7, 864W 12) What is the capacitive reactance of 0.001-F capacitor
3) A tuning coil in a radio transmitter has an inductance of at 60Hz?
300μH. At what frequency will it have an inductance of 13) A capacitor in a telephone circuit has a capacitance of
3768 Ω? 3μF. What current flows through it when 15V at 800Hz is
Ans. 2 MHz impressed across it
4) A Choke coil of negligible resistance is to limit the
current through it to 50 mA when 25 V is applied it at 400
kHz. Find its Inductance.
Ans. 0.20 mH
5) A steady state of 20 mA is passed through a coil with
an inductance of 100 mH. What is the voltage induced by
the coil?
Ans. 0 V
6) A capacitor has an intial charge 8.3 Coul. If the current
flows through it is given by the equation i = 2t + 3 Amp,
find the charge when t =1 sec.
Ans. 12.3 Coul
7) A 120 Hz 25-mA ac current flows in a circuit containing
a 10μF capacitor. What is the Voltage drop across the
capacitor?
Ans. 3.31 V
8) A sinusoidal emf is represented by the equation e =
340 sin 314t is impressed across a 25μF capacitor. How
much energy is stored in electric field?
Jayson Bryan E. Mutuc, REE, RME