AC Fundamentals

Before we proceed some insight

 Do you know which was invented the first

DC/AC?
 Do you know who invented AC?
 Why AC is so important in our daily life?
 Can you imagine your life with out AC supply?
Some Basic Terminologies
What is Alternating Current (A.C)?
Alternating current is the current which constantly changes it’s
magnitude and also reverses it’s direction at a regular interval.

Frequency:- It is the number of complete cycles that occurred

in on second. The frequency of the wave is commonly
measured in cycles per second (cycles/sec) and expressed in
units of Hertz (Hz). It is represented in mathematical equations
by the letter ‘f’
Some Basic Terminologies
 Time period:- It is the duration of time required for the
quantity to complete one cycle. It is denoted by T.

Amplitude/Magnitude:- The amplitude of a sine wave is the

value of that sine wave at its peak. In other words we can say
the maximum positive or negative value it can attain.

Instantaneous value:- The instantaneous value of an

alternating voltage or current is the value of voltage or
current at a particular instant.
Some Basic Terminologies
 Average value :- The average value of an alternating current
or voltage is the average of all the instantaneous values
during one alteration. Since the voltage /current increases
form zero to peak value and decreases back to zero during
one alteration, the average value must be a value lower than
the maximum value but greater than zero.

Peak to peak value :- The peak to peak value of a sine wave

is the value of that sine wave at its negative and positive
peaks
Some Basic Terminologies
 
RMS value :- The r.m.s value of an alternating current is
given by that steady DC current which when flowing through
a given circuit for a given time produces same heat as
produced by the AC when flowing through the same circuit
for the same time.
Some Basic Terminologies
Form Factor:- The ratio of r.m.s value to average value is
known as form factor.
For sinusoidal wave form factor is = 1.11
Peak Factor:- The ratio of maximum value to r.m.s value is
called as peak factor
for sinusoidal wave peak factor is=1.41
• Presented by- Mr. Prakash Majumder
• Faculty, SLIEM SKILLS LTD.
• 9462147206