Alternating Current Circuit

PHYSICS SS3
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Alternating Current Circuit

INTRODUCTION
Simple A.C circuits

An alternating current a.c. is a current which varies periodically. The electric

circuit in which an alternating current flow is called an alternating circuit.

Figure (b) shows above v – t relation

The e.m.f., E varies sinusoidally with time in a rotating coil which is given by:

For igure (b) l - t relation

If an alternating current l varied sinusoidally, it could be represented by the equation:
I = Im sin 2πf

Where
I = instantaneous current at time t
Im = maximum (peak) value of current or its amplitude

or (2πf) = angular frequency of the current

f = frequency
∅ = phase angle which is the state of a periodically varying system at a particular
time.
Note:
The phase difference between the voltage and the current through an RLC series
circuit is represented by the equation:

tan ∅ = hence, ∅ = tan – 1 V

The phase of an A.C. quantity

The phase of an A. C. quantity represents the fraction of the time period of that
alternating quantity that has elapsed since the current last passed through the zero
position of reference. The phase is also expressed in terms of angle in radians. For
example phase at A is T/4 second or π/2 radians. In electricity, we are more
concerned with the phase difference rather than an absolute phase of an alternating
quantity. The phase difference between quantities indicates the lag or lead of an
alternating quantity with respect to the other.
A leading quantity is a quantity which reaches maximum (or zero) value earlier as
compared to the other quantity while lagging alternating quantity is one which
reaches its zero or maximum value later than the other quantity. In
 igure two alternating quantities are shown quantity A leads B by an angle ϕ . Hence

their equations are

IA = Imax sin wt and IB = Imax sin (ωt + ϕ)

Peak and root mean square (r.m.s) of a.c.

The peak or amplitude of the current I0 is the maximum numerical value of the
current.
The root mean square (r.m.s) value of an alternating current is that direct current
which produces the same heating effect per second in a given resistor.

P = I2 R
For an a.c. circuit, the instantaneous power is given by

P = IV (instantaneous values)

Ir.m.s = = Ieff.
Where I0 is the maximum steady current.

Similarly Vr.m.s = = Veff.

Where r.m.s. is the root mean square and V0, the peak value or the maximum steady
voltage.
The mean or average value of an alternating quantity

The mean value or average value (Iav) of an alternating current is equal to the
steady current which transfers across any circuit the same charge as is transferred
by the alternating current during the sametime.
In the case of sinusoidal or symmetrical alternating current, the average value over
the complete cycle is zero.
Hence in these cases, the average value is obtained by integrating the
instantaneous values of alternating quantity over half cycle only. The alternating
currents average value is given by

Iav=2Imaxπ or Iav=0.637Imax
Representation of AC and voltage by rotating vectors
A phasor is a vector which rotates about the origin with angular speed ω, as shown
in the igure given below:

The vertical components of phasors V and I represent the sinusoidally varying

quantities v and i. The magnitudes of phasors I and V represent the amplitudes or
the peak values Vm and im of these oscillating quantities. The

projection of voltage and current phasorson the vertical axis, i.e., Vm sinωt and im
sinωt respectively represent the value of current and voltage at that instant.

Worked examples
(1) When the R.M.S. voltage of a square of electricity supply is given 240V, calculate
the peak value of the supply.

Solution
(2) Calculate the instantaneous value of the current if in a circuit it has r.m.s. value
of 15.0A when its phase angle is 30°

(3) In an a.c. circuit the peak value of the potential difference is 180V. What is the
instantaneous p.d. when it is reached 1/8th of a circle?

A.C. circuit containing resistance only (Resistive circuit)

AC circuit containing resistance only is a circuit which consists of a resistor as
shown in the igure below
 A.C circuit containing resistance only
Since the circuit is non-inductive, it is easy to apply Ohm’s law
Maximum current lows in this circuit

Phase relationship

V = V0 sin2πft
The current is in phase with the applied voltage. The phase difference is Z0.
Worked examples
(1) A 240 V is connected with a resistor of 20 Ω in an A.C circuit. Find:
(i) the current in the circuit
(ii) The phase angle and draw the phase diagram.
Solution
(ii) Since there is no other circuit in the element, the angle is 0° .

General evaluation

1. Deine alternating current.

Assignment

(1) (a) Explain what is meant by the r.m.s value of an alternating current. If the
alternating current is represented by I = Im sinx, state what the symbols I, I0,
and represent.
 (b) Calculate the instantaneous value of such a current, if in a circuit it has
r.m.s. value of 15.0A when its phase angle is 30° .

(2) Explain the meaning of Peak value of an alternating current. If the peak
value of such a current is 15A, calculate its root mean square value.

Reactance
The opposition offered by the passage of an alternating current by either the induction or the capacitor or both is
called reactance. It is denoted by X, measured in ohms (Ω).

Thus, the reactance X of an inductor L, or capacitor, C can bedeined by the equation:

A.C. circuit containing inductor only (Inductive circuit)

Inductance is a property of the circuit which opposes a change of current, In an A.C circuit, current and voltage
are continually changing the effect of the inductance to cause a continuous opposition to the change in current.

As a result of this opposition, the circuit changes are delayed in relation to the voltage changes during the circuit.
Inductive reactance
This is deined as the opposition given to the low of current in a.c. circuit through an inductor. It is denoted by XL
and measured in Ohm (Ω).

Capacitive reactance
This is deined as the opposition given to the low of current in an a.c. circuit through a capacitor. It is denoted by XC and

measured in Ohm (Ω).

The reactance for a capacitor is given by

A.C. circuit containing capacitance only (Capacitive circuit)

Resistance and inductance in series A.C. circuit

In a circuit containing a pure inductance L and a pure resistance R connected in series as shown in the igure, when an
A. C . voltage is applied in this circuit, the voltage drops on the resistancesay vR( = iR in phase with current) and on
L
the L say v (= ωL), leading the current by 90o. These voltages are shown by
the
vector diagram in igure. The resultant voltage is given by

The term is called impedance of the circuit and denoted by Z (its units are ohm) i.e.

The triangle whose sides are proportional to the voltages are called voltage triangle (ig. (a)) and a triangle whose
sides are proportional to R, XL and Z is called impedance triangle (ig. (b)).

Average power in R and L in series circuit when A. C. current passes is given by

P=Vr.m.s.Ir.m.s.cosϕ

where ϕ is the angle by which vector v leads the vector i. The value of cos ϕ (=R/Z) is constant for a given circuit and is

known as the power factor. It is deined as the factor by which product of RMS current and voltage should be multiplied
to have true power in watt.

If ϕ is 90o i.e. cos ϕ = 0, the ohmic resistance of the A. C. current is zero and the average power also remains zero,
i.e. despite the low of current there is no dissipation of energy. The current in such a circuit is called wattles current.
In practice, we cannot have a resistance-free circuit and hence wattles current is not a reality.

Resistance and capacitance in series A.C. circuit

Such a circuit having resistance, capacitance in series with an A. C. source is
The voltage and current vectors areas shown in the igure. The voltage and impedance triangles are shown in the
igure are given as

RLC series A.C. circuit

A circuit having resistance R, inductance L and capacitance C in series with an

1. C. source is shown in the igure. The voltage drop across resistance R be VRin phase with current, the voltage drop

across inductance L be VLleading the current by 9 0 o and voltage drop across capacitance C be vc lagging the

current by 90o. The resultant of v L and vC, (vL – vC) leads the current by 90o, provided (vL > vC) and will lag

current

by 90o if vC > vL. The resultant voltage is given by

The voltage triangle and impedance triangle are shown in igure

Impedance

The overall opposition of a mixed circuit to the low of an alternating current in a resistor and or a capacitor is known
as impedance.

Impedance

Worked examples

(1) A series circuit consists of a capacitor of 1 and a resistor of 500 Ω . An a.c. voltage of 6 Volts (r.m.s) and
frequency 25Hz is applied. Calculate the f

(i) Current lowing

(ii) Voltage across the capacitor

(iii) Phase angle between current and voltage

(iv) Average power

Solution
Given parameters

At resonance, the impedance of the circuit is maximum according to the following graph

At resonance, the current lowing through the circuit will be minimum

Application of resonance
1 . It is applied in the broadcasting industry

2. It is also used in some sound instrument.

3. Resonance makes transmission and reception of radio waves possible.

General evaluation

1. A circuit consists of a capacitor of 2 and a resistor of 1000 ohms. An alternating e.m.f. of 12V and frequency
50Hz is applied. calculate the:

Current lowing

The voltage across the capacitor

The phase angle between the applied e.m.f. and current

The average power supplied.