FOUNDATION OF AC

CIRCUITS
(LECTURE 2)

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A. Basic Principles of AC Circuits
• 2 fundamentals laws in AC circuits
• Ohm’s Law: V = IR
V - potential difference in volts (V)
I - current in amperes (A)
R - resistance in ohms (Ω)

A1- Kirchoff’s Voltage Law:

• “the algebraic sum of all voltages around any closed loop is zero”

Or V1+ V2 +V3= 0

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NZA 2009
A2- Kirchoff’s Current Law:
“the algebraic sum of currents at a node is zero”

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 A3- AC Circuit
:alternating current form (AC) that has positive
& negative portions
Vm- the maximum voltage
V(t) = Vm sin ωt ω - angular frequency in rad/s = 2πf
f - supply frequency in Hz
T- period = 1/f

AC Signal

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Two AC Signals with Different Phases

Vm sin (ωt + Φ) is a signal that leads the

original signal by an angle of Φ
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When capacitors or inductors are involved in AC circuits, then
current & voltage do not peak at the same time. The period
difference between the peaks expressed in degrees is called
phase difference. This phase relation is often represented
graphically in a phasor diagram

RMS Voltage is the root- mean–square of Voltages

Vm - the maximum voltage

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NZA 2009
Example 1
An AC signal is given as V (t) = 141.4 sin 314t.
Determine the following:
a) Maximum voltage
b) RMS voltage
c) Frequency
d) Period to complete 1 cycle
e) Phase shift

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NZA 2009
 B - Components of AC Circuit:
V - the effective or rms voltage values
I - the effective or rms current values
V=IZ where Z - the impedance

Resistor – R in Ohms (Ω)

Inductor – L in Henry (H)
Capacitor – C in Farad (F)

p.f. = cos θ i. Pure Resistive Circuit

Power factor is 1.0 or Z=R
unity since θ = 0 °

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ii. Inductive Load where Z = R + j XL

Where XL = inductive reactance (Ω)

= 2πfL = ωL
L= inductance (H)
f = supply frequency

p.f. = cos θ
Power factor is lagging

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 iii. Capacitive Load, Z = R – jXC
Where XC= capacitive reactance (Ω)
1 1
= 
2  fC C
C = capacitance (F)

p.f. = cos θ
Power factor is leading

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Example 2
A resistance of 7.0Ω is connected in series with a pure
inductance of 31.4mH and the circuit is connected to a 100V,
50Hz, sinusoidal supply. Calculate the circuit current & the
phase angle.

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B. Power in AC Circuits
Active, reactive & apparent power apply to
steady-state AC circuits with sinusoidal
waveforms only.

1. Active Power, P (Watts)

 real power @ true power @ actual power
 The effective power that does the work
 P = V I cos θ where θ is the angle between V & I
 P = I2Z cos θ

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2. Reactive Power, Q (VAr)
 imaginary power
 Does no real work, circulating power
 Q = V I sin θ
 Q = I2Z sin

3. Apparent Power, S (VA)

 The vectorial sum of real and reactive
power
 S= P+ jQ
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C. Sources and Loads:
 Generator - delivers active power

 Resistor- absorbs active power

 Capacitor- delivers reactive power

 Inductor- absorbs reactive power

D. Complex Power, S

 S = V I*
 S = (V∟θv°)(I∟-θi°)* = (V∟θv°)(I∟+ θi )
= P + j Q = VI cosθ + j VI sinθ

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E. Power Triangle

P
pf   cos  Where 0 < pf < 1
S

Resistive Load Inductive Load Capacitive Load

I is in phase with V I lags V I leads V
θ = θv° - θi° = 0 θ = θv° - θi° > 0 θ = θv° - θi° < 0
Q is zero Q is +ve Q is -ve
pf is unity pf is lagging pf is leading

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Example 3
Figure below shows an AC voltage source supplying power to a load
with impedance Z = 20∠-30 Ω. Calculate the current, I supplied to the
load, the power factor of the load, and the real, reactive, apparent,
and complex power supplied to the load

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