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7750 - Alternating Current PDF
7750 - Alternating Current PDF
7750 - Alternating Current PDF
A.C. circuits are circuits through which an alternating current flow. Such circuits
are used extensively in power transmission, radio, telecommunication and
medicine.
Alternating currents are produced by time dependent alternating voltages given
by the relation E = E0 sin ωt. Much of what we learned about d.c. circuits also
apply to a.c. circuits. The effects on such voltages on resistors, capacitors and
inductors will be discussed.
NOMENCLATURE IN A.C CIRCUITS
An Alternating Current (A.C.) is one that varies sinusoidally or periodically, in
such a way as to reverse its direction periodically. The commonest form of such
an a.c. can be represented by
I = I0 sin 2πft
I0 sin ωt
Where
I is the instantaneous current at a time t,
I0 is the maximum (or peak) value of current or its amplitude;
f is the frequency and ω (= 2πft) is the angular velocity,
ωt is the phase angle of the current.
Alternating is also represented by
V = V0 sin 2πft
= V0 = ωt
Here, V, V0 are the instantaneous and peak (or maximum) values of the voltages
or its amplitude
Example
If an a.c. voltage is represented by the relation V = 4 sin 900vπt, the peak
voltage V0 = 4
V and 2πft = 900πt or f = 900/2 = 450 Hz. Then ω = 2πf = 900π.
Peak, and r.m.s Values of A.C.
An alternating current (or voltage) varies sinusoidal as shown below which is a
sine waveform.
That any instance voltmeter and ammeter connected in the circuit will read the r.m.s. value of
voltage and current.
Hence, we can also write that Ir.m.s. = Vr.m.s. /R
The voltage and the current are said to be in phase or in step with each other.
This means that both of them attain their maximum, zero and minimum values at
the same instant in time.
Example
Find the root mean square value of the sinusoidal voltage with peak value at
260V.
Solution
Using V0 = √2 x Vr.m.s.
Given that V0 = 260V, Vr.m.s. =?
V = √2Vr.m.s. ; 260 = √2Vr.m.s.
260 = 1.414Vr.m.s.
Vr.m.s = 260/1.414 = 183.867 = 184V