Chapter 7

Alternating cur rent

Alternating current
An electric current whose magnitude changes with
time and direction reverses periodically is known
as alternating current

- I

-
Alternating voltage is represented by the relation

V = V₀ sinωt
V is the instantaneous value of alternating voltage

V₀ is the peak value or maximum value of alternating voltage.

ω is the Angular frequency

Alternating current is represented by the relation

I = I₀ sinωt
I is the instantaneous value of alternating current

I₀ is the peak value or maximum value of alternating current

ω is the Angular frequency

if
wi
Root mean square value (rms) value of AC

How to measure the alternating voltage or alternating

current when it’s value Changes from one instant to the
next.

What about the average value of alternating voltage

and current ?
 Alternating current is positive during one half cycle and
negative during the other half cycle. Therefore the average
value of AC over one complete cycle is zero.

An ordinary moving coil galvanometer cannot be used to

measure AC due the same reason. During one half cycle the
pointer move in one direction and in next half cycle deflect in
opposite direction, since the alternation of current occurs in
rapid pace even at low frequency. The pointer will appear to
be stationary in the zero position.
Heating effect of electric current is taken for this purpose

Two identical resistors each of resistance RΩ are arranged.

One is connected to DC supply and the other to a AC supply.
Adjust the AC supply so that both the resistors generate equal
amount of heat X J in one minute.

DC AC

1005
XJ XJ
1005
The rms value of AC current is the equivalent DC
current that would produce heat at the same rate

The rms value of AC voltage is the equivalent DC

voltage that would produce heat at the same rate
Relation between rms value and Peak value of AC

Frm= Io -

-
-

r2
vons
=
Um
=
Irng
to
=

②
 ✔
Question
An alternating current is given by the relation I = 141.4 sin
314t Find

Peak value of current (Io)

Value of DC current which produces the same amount of
heat in the resistor (Irns)
frequency (t)
Time period (T)
The instantaneous value of current when t = 3 milliseconds
I
 I =

141 457314t -0
.

I =
Foshut-

a) 141 4 A
Io = .

b) Irm
I =
4 100A
=

C) W if

We a
=
2

50H2
f
-
-
- -
-
d) T =

Yf
T 1 =
- 0 02 SeC
.

50 -
-

e) I =

IoShwt
I =
141 .

43n(314 x3x103) A
Phasor diagram
A diagram representing alternating current or voltage as vectors
with the phase angle between them is called a phasor diagram

y X
v 1111111111 V₀

I₀
-

I 1111111111111117

ωt
x
Phasor diagram is the vectorial representation of a
graph (sinusoidal graph). It consist of a rotating
vector which rotates in anti-clockwise direction.
 ✔

The length of each phasor represents the amplitude or peak

value of the alternating quantity ( V0 for voltage and I0 for
current)

The projection of each phasor on the vertical axis gives the

instantaneous value of the quantity that the phasor represents.

The rotation angle of the each phasor is equal to the phase of

the alternating quantity at that instant

The angle between voltage and current phasor will give the
phase difference between corresponding quantities.
AC voltage applied to a Resistor
A pure resistor of resistance R is connected to a source of AC

V =

Vosht -
I
2 ②
=
-

I =

xwt
R

I =
Iosht- = Io
From the equation 1 and 2 it is clear that the circuit voltage
and current are in phase in a purely resistive circuit.

This means that both the voltage and current attain their zero,
positive peak and negative peak at the same respective time
instants.

eo I

I
o
③ ↑
AC applied to an inductor
A pure inductor of inductance L connected to a source of AC

V VoShNt ⑪
-

I
=

-
-
-

⑰
L
- -
2 =

B ⑬
V L - L
=

V
-

dt
dt
di =
-

4
dI =
Voshwt dt-
.

I
-
10SO= SnCO-M
snwtdt-8
(dI=/
-
-

I =
/shwtdt-
I
4) xt] -
-

I =
(-coswt]-G
I
E [sh(wt-42)⑩
= Io
=

I =

Isn(w)
The circuit current lags behind the voltage by an angle π/2 in a
purely inductive circuit

<

* ⑲
&

o N

A
Inductive reactance
The effective opposition offered by the inductor to the flow of
alternating current through it is called the inductive reactance

o
LW
= Io [E R7 =

Vo
-
- LW=XL
T
-
=> ↳ .

24f
-
-
Inductive reactance limits the current, in the same way as
the resistance limits the current in a purely resistive circuit

x =
Lw =
L- 24+

Inductive reactance is directly proportional to the frequency

of the applied voltage. -

XL
x af

if
 Question xc =
Lw

An inductor
Dc =
(w =
0)
a) Allows AC to pass blocks DC
Al =) W
b) Allow
w DC to pass and oppose AC
⑪ = x
=
0

c) Allow both AC and DC to pass

Lw
⑰ =XL
=

d) Block DC and AC
AC voltage applied to a capacitor
A capacitor of capacitance C connected to a source of AC

v=VoSnat- -

I
-

② @°⑧⑤
q (V= -

q C .
Voskut -
.
$}@⑧@
V
C
=

dq
-

d7
-

Vosnat
I =

(Vosinwt- coso-sh(n2+a)
(0+M2)
I =

CVo[cos(w+) w] -O.

I =

(Vow . [COS (wH] - [Crow =

I
I =
(Vow Sn(w++427 -
I =

Iosh(z) -
⑨
The circuit current leads the source voltage by π/2 in a purely
capacitive circuit
X
Capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the
frequency of the applied voltage

cVow-Io

E -
t
Cw
= 1
C .
=

247
0
Xc at

x=
cent/ *
If
Question xc =

w
A capacitor

a) Allows easy path to AC pass and block DC (DC(w

~ =
0

b) Allow DC to pass and oppose AC ⑰

c) Allow both AC and DC to pass
⑪ x =
wt
Xc 0
⑧
AC ↓Xc 1
=

d) Block DC and AC
=

CW4