Physics 212

Lecture 20

AC Circuits
Phasors

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 1

 I t   I max sin  t   I max
t

Actual current I(t) is the projection of the “phasor” onto the y-axis at time t.

VR  I R

I t 
VR  RI max sin  t 

Vmax  R I max
 Vmax
t

R
 I t   I max sin  t 

VL = LdI/dt dI
L VL  L   LI max cos  t 
dt

Inductor phasor
I max
VL max   LI max t

VL max   LI max  X L I max

90o

Inductive “reactance”
 I t   I max sin  t 

C Q dQ
VC  , I
C dt
I max
VC   cos  t 
C

90o
I max
t

I max
VC max   X C I max
C
 Summary

R Vmax = R Imax VR in phase with I

C Vmax = XC Imax VC 90o behind I

XC = 1/C Current comes first since it
charges capacitor
Like a short circuit at high 

L Vmax = XL Imax VL 90o ahead of I

XL =  L Like a short circuit at low 
Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 5
 Add phasor voltages around the loop. These add like vectors.

 
  VR  VC  VL

VC If phasors satisfy Khirchoff’s Law,
then so will their projections.

 
 C  VL 
 L VL VR

R

VC

VR
The projections are the actual voltages.

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 6

 Imax XC

Add component by component. C

  L Imax XL
  VR  VC  VL max
R

Imax R
Imax XL



Imax R Imax(XL-XC)

Imax R
Imax XC

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 7


   max  I max Z Define total circuit impedance Z()
Imax(XL-XC)
max = Imax Z
Imax R

Impedance Phasors

(XL-XC)

R
X L  XC
tan   
R

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 8

 Imax XC
Summary:
C
VCmax= Imax XC L Imax XL
max
VLmax= Imax XL R
VRmax= Imax R
max = Imax Z Imax R

Imax = max / Z

XL-XC)

R
X L  XC
tan   
R
Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 9
Example: RL Circuit Xc=0

Imax XL L Imax XL
max
R

max Imax R

Imax R

Z  R  X  R   L 
2 2 2 2
L

 max  I max Z

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 10

 RL ACT
An RL circuit is driven by an AC generator as shown in the
figure.

Z  R 2   L 
2

I max   max Z
R

For what driving frequency  of the generator will the

current through the resistor be largest ?
A)  large
B) Current through R doesn’t depend on
C)  small
Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 11
 Checkpoint 1a
Draw Voltage Phasors
Imax XL
max

Imax R

A
B
C

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 12

 Checkpoint 1b
Draw Voltage Phasors
Imax XL
max

Imax R

A
B
C

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 13

 Checkpoint 1c
The CURRENT is THE CURRENT
Imax XL
max


Imax R
 is the phase between
A
B generator and current
C
D

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 14

 Checkpoint 2a

A
B
C

 IR

IXL IXc

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 15

 Checkpoint 2b

A
B
C IXc

IR

 IXL

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 16

 Checkpoint 2c

A
B
C IXc = Vc = Q/C

IR

IXL = VL


Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 17

 Calculation C
Consider the harmonically driven series LCR circuit shown.
Vmax = 100 V
Imax = 2 mA V ~ L
VCmax = 113 V
R
The current leads generator voltage by 45 o
L and R are unknown.

What is XL, the reactance of the inductor, at this frequency?

• Conceptual Analysis
– The maximum voltage for each component is related to its
reactance and to the maximum current.
– The impedance triangle determines the relationship between the
maximum voltages for the components

• Strategic Analysis
– Use Vmax and Imax to determine Z
– Use impedance triangle to determine R
– Use VCmax and impedance triangle to
determine XL
Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 18
 Calculation C
Consider the harmonically driven series LCR circuit shown.
Vmax = 100 V
Imax = 2 mA V ~ L
VCmax = 113 V
R
The current leads generator voltage by 45o
L and R are unknown.

What is XL, the reactance of the inductor, at this frequency?

Compare XL and XC at this frequency:

(A) XL < XC (B) XL = XC (C) XL > XC (D) Not enough information
• This information is determined from the phase
– Current leads voltage
IR
VL 

VL = ImaxXL V
VR (phase of current)
VC = ImaxXC
V leads
VC Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 19
 Calculation C
Consider the harmonically driven series LCR circuit shown.
Vmax = 100 V
Imax = 2 mA V ~ L
VCmax = 113 V
R
The current leads generator voltage by 45 o
L and R are unknown.

What is XL, the reactance of the inductor, at this frequency?

What is Z, the total impedance of the circuit?

(A) 70.7 k (B) 50 k (C) 35.4 k (D) 21.1 k

Vmax 100V
Z   50 k 
I max 2 mA

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 20

 Calculation C
Consider the harmonically driven series LCR circuit shown.
Vmax = 100 V
Imax = 2 mA V ~ L
VCmax = 113 V
R
The current leads generator voltage by 45 o
L and R are unknown. Z = 50k

What is XL, the reactance of the inductor, at this frequency? sin(45)=.707

What is R? cos(45)=.707
(A) 70.7 k (B) 50 k (C) 35.4 k (D) 21.1 k

• Determined from impedance triangle

R R
cos(45)  R = Z cos(45o)

Z
(XC-XL) = 50 kx 0.707
Z=50k
= 35.4 k

Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 21

 Calculation C
Consider the harmonically driven series LCR circuit shown.
Vmax = 100 V
Imax = 2 mA V ~ L
VCmax = 113 V
R
The current leads generator voltage by 45 o
L and R are unknown. Z = 50k

What is XL, the reactance of the inductor, at this frequency? R = 35.4k

(A) 70.7 k (B) 50 k (C) 35.4 k (D) 21.1 k

We start with the XC  X L
impedance triangle:  tan 45   1 XL = X C - R
R R
 What is XC ?
(XC-XL) VCmax = ImaxXC
Z

113
XL = 56.5 k – 35.4 k XC   56 .5 k
2
Physics 212 Lecture 20, Slide 22