1

Alternating Current
All PYQs (2019–2024)
1 Mark each
(Year : 2024)
1. The reactance of a capacitor of capacitance C connected to an ac source of frequency o is X. If the capacitance of the
capacitor is doubled and the frequency of the source is tripled, the reactance will become :
X 2 3
(A) (B) 6X (C) X (D) X
6 3 2

2. The primary and secondary coils of a transformer have 500 turns and 5000 turns respectively. The primary coil is
connected to an ac source of 220 V - 50 Hz. The output across the secondary coil is :
(A) 220 V - 50 Hz (B) 1100 V - 50 Hz (C) 2200 V - 5 Hz (D) 2200 V - 50 Hz

3. Which of the following quantity/quantities remains same in primary and secondary coils of an ideal transformer?
Current, Voltage, Power, Magnetic flux
(A) Current only (B) Voltage only
(C) Power only (D) Magnetic flux and Power both

4. A resistor and an ideal inductor are connected in series to a 100 2 V , 50 Hz ac source. When a voltmeter is connected
across the resistor or the inductor, it shows the same reading. The reading of the voltmeter is:
(A) 100 2 V (B) 100 V (C) 50 2 V (D) 50 V

5. A series LCR circuit (L = 2 mH, C = 0.2 µF and R = 30 Ω) is connected to an ac source of variable frequency. The
impedance of this circuit will be minimum at a frequency of:
105 105 104 104
(A) Hz (B) Hz (C) Hz (D) Hz
4 2 4 2

 
6. In an ac circuit, the instantaneous values of current (in A) and voltage (in V) are I = 5 sin t and E = 200 cos  t + 
 3
respectively. The phase difference between voltage and current at any instant is:
5 5 5 3
(Α) (Β) (C) (D)
6 4 2 2

7. The average value of the alternating voltage v = (157 V) sin t over its first half-cycle is :
157
(A) 157 V (B) V (C) 78.5 V (D) 100 V
2

8. Figure shows the variation of inductive reactance XL of two ideal inductors of inductance L1 and L2, with angular
L
frequency . The value of 1 is
L2

1 1
(A) 3 (B) (C) 3 (D)
3 3
 2

9. An ac source V = 282sin (100t) volt is connected across a 1 F capacitor. The rms value of current in the circuit will

be take 2  1.41 
(A) 10 mA (B) 20 mA (C) 40 mA (D) 80 mA

10. The r.m.s. value of a current given by i = (i1 cost + i2 sin t) is –
1 1
(A)  i1  i 2  (B)  i1  i 2 
2 2
(C)
2

1 2 2
i1  i 2  (D)  i1  i2 
1 2 2
2

11. An ac voltage is applied across an ideal inductor. The current in it

1
(A) leads the voltage by   cycle.
4
1
(B) lags the voltage by   cycle.
4
1
(C) leads the voltage by   cycle.
2
1
(D) lags the voltage by   cycle.
2

(Year : 2023)
12. An ac source of voltage is connected in series with a p-n junction diode and a load resistor. The correct option for
output voltage across load resistance will be:

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

13. An inductor, a capacitor and a resistor are connected in series across an ac source of voltage. If the frequency of the
source is decreased gradually, the reactance of:
(A) both the inductor and the capacitor decreases.
(B) inductor decreases and the capacitor increases.
(C) both the inductor and the capacitor increases.
(D) inductor increases and the capacitor decreases.

14. A voltage signal is described by:

T
V = V0 for 0  t 
2
T
=0 for tT
2
for a cycle. Its rms value is:
V0 V0
(A) (B)V0 (C) (D) 2 V0
2 2
 3

15. The figure shows variation of current (I) with time (t) in four devices P, Q, R and S. The device in which an alternating
current flows is :

(A) P (B) Q (C) R (D) R

16. An ac voltage v = v0 sin t is applied to a series combination of a resistor R and an element X. The instantaneous
 
current in the circuit is I = I0 sin  t +  . Then which of the following is correct?
 4
(A) X is a capacitor and XC = 2 R
(B) X is an inductor and XL = R
(C) X is an inductor and XL = 2 R
(D) X is a capacitor and XC = R

17. An ideal inductor is connected across an AC source of voltage V. The current in the circuit
(A) is ahead of the voltage in phase by π.
(B) lags voltage in phase by π.
(C) is ahead of voltage in phase by π/2.
(D) lags voltage in phase by π/2.

(Year : 2020)
18. What is the impedance of a capacitor of capacitance C in an ac circuit using source of frequency f Hz?
OR
What is the value of impedance of a resonant series LCR circuit?

19. (a) Explain the term 'sharpness of resonance' in an ac circuit.

(b) In a series LCR circuit, VL = VC ≠ VR. What is the value of power factor for this circuit?
OR
An ac source of emf V = V0 sin t is connected to a capacitor of capacitance C. Deduce the expression for the current
(I) flowing in it. Plot the graph of (i) V vs. t, and (ii) I vs. t.

20. An ac is passed through a series LCR circuit. What is the impedance of the circuit at resonance?

 
21. In an ac circuit, the applied voltage and flowing current are E = E0 sin t and I = I0 sin  t +  respectively. What
 2
is the average power consumed in one cycle in this circuit?

22. An A.C. source with variable frequency is connected to a parallel plate capacitor. How will the displacement current
be affected with the decrease in frequency of the source ?

23. The selectivity of a series LCR a.c. circuit is large, when

(a) L is large and R is large (b) L is small and R is small
(c) L is large and R is small (d) L=R
 4

24. The power factor of a series LCR circuit at resonance will be

(a) 1 (b) 0 (c) 1/2 (d) 1 / 2

25. A series combination of an inductor (L), capacitor (C) and a resistor (R) is connected across an ac source of emf of
peak value E0 and angular frequency (). Plot a graph to show variation of impedance of the circuit with angular
frequency ().

2 Mark each
(Year : 2024)
26. With the help of a diagram, briefly explain the construction and working of ac generator.

27. A resistor R and an inductor L are connected in series to a source of voltage V = V 0 sin t. The voltage is found to
lead current in phase by π/4. If the inductor is replaced by a capacitor C, the voltage lags behind current in phase by
π/4. When L, C and R are connected in series with the same source,
Find the:
(i) average power dissipated and
(ii) instantaneous current in the circuit.

3 Mark each
(Year : 2024)
28. (a) Draw the graphs showing the variation of the following with the frequency of ac source in a circuit :
(i) Resistance
(ii) Capacitive reactance
(iii) Inductive reactance
(b) Can the voltage drop across the inductor or the capacitor in a series LCR circuit be greater than the applied
voltage of the ac source? Justify your answer.

29. An ac voltage vi = 140 sin 100t  V is applied to the primary coil having 200 turns, of an ideal transformer and it
supplies a power of 5 kW. If the secondary coil has 1000 turns, find :
(a) the output voltage,
(b) the instantaneous voltage across the secondary coil, and

(c) the current in the secondary coil. Take 2  1.4 
30. A sinusoidal voltage is applied to an electric circuit containing a circuit element 'X' in which the current leads the

voltage by .
2
(a) Identify the circuit element 'X' in the circuit.
(b) Write the formula for its reactance.
(c) Show graphically the variation of this reactance with frequency of ac voltage.
(d) Explain the behaviour of this element when it is used in (i) an ac circuit, and (ii) a de circuit.

31. Distinguish between reactance and impedance of an ac circuit. Show that an ideal inductor in an ac circuit does not
dissipate any power.

32. A bulb and an inductor of reactance XL are connected in series with an ac source. How will the brightness of the bulb
change when:
(a) an iron rod is inserted in the inductor?
(b) number of turns in the inductor is decreased?
(c) a capacitor of capacitive reactance XC (= XL) is connected in series with the inductor?
 5

33. (b) (i) Briefly explain the working of an ac generator. Obtain the expression for the instantaneous value of the emf
induced in the generator.
(ii) Calculate the angular frequency at resonance of a series LCR circuit with R = 12, L = 2.0 H and C = 32 F
connected to an ac source.
34. (a) An ac source v = vm sin t is connected across an ideal capacitor.
Derive the expression for the (i) current flowing in the circuit, and
(ii) reactance of the capacitor. Plot a graph of current i versus t.
OR
(b) A series combination of an inductor L, a capacitor C and a resistor R is connected across an ac source of voltage
in a circuit. Obtain an expression for the average power consumed by the circuit. Find power factor for (i) purely
inductive circuit, and (ii) purely resistive circuit.

35. The figure shows a rectangular conductor PQRS in which the arm PQ of length 10 cm and resistance 0.4  is free to
move. It is kept in a uniform magnetic field B = 0-2 T acting perpendicular into the plane of PQRS. If arm PQ is
moved with a velocity v of 5 cm/s as shown, find:

(a) the current induced in the loop, and

(b) the power required to move the arm.
(Resistances of arms PS, SR and RQ are negligible.)

(Year : 2023)
36. (a) How does the resistance differ from impedance? With the help of a suitable phasor diagram, obtain an expression
for impedance of a series LCR circuit, connected to a source v = vm sin t.
OR
(b) Find the condition for resonance in a series LCR circuit connected to a source v = v m sin t, where  can be
varied. Give the factors on which the resonant frequency of a series LCR circuit depends. Plot a graph showing
the variation of electric current with frequency in a series LCR circuit.

37. The primary and the secondary coils of an ideal step-down transformer consist of 650 and 25 turns respectively. When
the primary coil of this transformer is connected to 240 V mains, the current in the primary coil is 1.5 A. Calculate:
(a) the voltage across the secondary coil
(b) the current in the secondary coil
(c) the average power delivered to the output circuit

38. An ac voltage v = vm sin t (vm = 310 V and f = 50Hz ) is connected to a pure capacitor of capacitance 15 µF.
Calculate (i) the reactance of the capacitor, and (ii) the amplitude of the current. Write the expression of current
through the capacitor as a function of time.

39. A series CR circuit with R = 200  and C = (50/) F is connected across an ac source of peak voltage 0 = 100 V
and frequency v = 50 Hz. Calculate
(a) impedance of the circuit (Z), (b) phase angle (), and (c) voltage across the resistor.

 100 
40. A series RL circuit with R = 10 and L =   mH is connected to an ac source of voltage V = som 100t  , 141
  
where V is in volts and t is in seconds. Calculate
 6

(a) impedence of the circuit

(b) phase angle, and
(c) voltage drop across the inductor

 25  4
41. A resistor of 50 , a capacitor of   µF and an inductor of   H are connected in series across an ac source
  
whose voltage (in volt) is given by V= 70 sin (100 π t). Calculate:
(a) the net reactance of the circuit,
(b) the impedence of the circuit
(c) the effective value of current in the circuit.

42. An alternating voltage of 220 V is applied across a device X. A current of 0.22 A flows in the circuit and it lags
behind the applied voltage in phase by π/2 radian. When the same voltage is applied across another device Y, the
current in the circuit remains the same and it is in phase with the applied voltage.
(i) Name the devices X and Y and,
(ii) Calculate the current flowing in the circuit when the same voltage is applied across the series combination of X
and Y.

250
43. (a) A resistor of 30  and a capacitor of µF are connected in series to a 200 V, 50 Hz ac source. Calculate (i)

the current in the circuit, and (ii) voltage drops across the resistor and the capacitor. (iii) Is the algebraic sum of
these voltages more than the source voltage ? If yes, solve the paradox.
OR
(b) A series LCR circuit with R = 20 Ω, L = 2 H and C = 50 µF is connected to a 200 volts ac source of variable
frequency. What is (i) the amplitude of the current, and (ii) the average power transferred to the circuit in one
complete cycle, at resonance?
(iii) Calculate the potential drop across the capacitor.

44. A current of 1A flows through a coil when it is connected across a DC battery of 100 V. If DC battery is replaced by
an AC source of 100 V and angular frequency 100 rad s–1, the current reduces to 0.5 A. Find
(i) impedance of the circuit.
(ii) self-inductance of coil.
(iii) phase difference between the voltage and the current.
45. The primary coil having Np turns of an ideal transformer is supplied with an alternating voltage V p. Obtain an
expression for the voltage Vs induced in its secondary coil having Ns turns. Mention two main sources of power loss
in real transformers.

(Year : 2021)
46. An alternating current I = (10A) sin(100 t) is passed through a resistor of 20 . What is the average power consumed
by the resistor over a complete cycle?

47. (a) (i) In an LCR series circuit connected to an ac source, the voltage and the current are in the same phase. If the
capacitor is filled with a dielectric, will the current lead or lag behind or remain in phase with the voltage?
Explain.
(ii) In the circuit, why is the rms value of net voltage not equal to the sum of voltage drops across individual
elements?
(iii) Draw a graph showing variation of the impedance of the circuit with the frequency of the applied voltage.
OR
(b) (i) An LCR series circuit is connected to an ac source. If the angular resonant frequency of the circuit is op,
will the current lead or lag behind or be in phase with the voltage when ω < ω0 and why?
(ii) We cannot step up a dc voltage using a transformer. Why?
 7

(iii) On what principle does a metal detector work?

(Year : 2020)
48. Laminated iron sheets are used to minimize __________ currents in the core of a transformer.

49. A series LCR ac circuit has L = 2.0 H, C = 32 µF and R = 10 Ω.

(a) At what angular frequency of ac will it resonate?
(b) Calculate the Q value of the circuit.
OR
5
An ideal inductor of supply. H inductance is connected to a 200 V, 50 Hz ac

(a) Calculate the rms and peak value of current in the inductor.
(b) What is the phase difference between current through the inductor and the applied voltage? How will it change
if a small resistance is connected in series with this inductor in the circuit?

50. A resistance R and a capacitor C are connected in series to a source V = V0 sin t.
Find:
(a) The peak value of the voltage across the (i) resistance and
(ii) capacitor.
(b) The phase difference between the applied voltage and current. Which of them is ahead?

51. (a) With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the working of a step-up transformer. Give reasons to explain the
following:
(i) The core of the transformer is laminated.
(ii) Thick copper wire is used in windings.

52. A resistor R and an inductor L are connected in series to a source V = V0 sin t.
Find the
(a) peak value of the voltage drops across R and across L,
(b) phase difference between the applied voltage and current. Which of them is ahead?

53. Explain with the help of a diagram, the working of a step-down transformer. Why is a laminated iron core used in a
transformer?

(Year : 2019)
54. (a) An ac circuit as shown in the figure has an inductor of inductance L and a resistor of resistance R connected in
series. Using the phasor diagram, explain why the voltage in the circuit will lead the current in phase.
(b) The potential difference across the resistor is 160 V and that across the inductor is 120 V. Find the effective
value of the applied voltage. If the effective current in the circuit be 1.0 A, calculate the total impedance of the
circuit.
(c) What will be the potential difference in the circuit when direct current is passed through the circuit?

OR
An ac circuit consists of a series combination of circuit elements X and Y.

The current is ahead of the voltage in phase by . If element X is a pure resistor of 100 Ω.
4
 8

(a) name the circuit element Y.

(b) calculate the rms value of current, if rms value of current voltage is 141 V.
(c) what will happen if the ac source is replaced by a de source?

55. (a) Draw a schematic diagram of an ac generator. Explain its working and obtain the expression for the instantaneous
value of the emf in terms of the magnetic field B, number of turns N of the coil of area A rotating with angular
frequency o. Show how an alternating emf is generated by a loop of wire rotating in a magnetic field.

56. A voltage v = vm sin t applied to a series LCR circuit, drives a current in the circuit given i = im sin (t + ). Deduce
the expression for the instantaneous power supplied by the source. Hence, obtain the expression for the average
power.
Define the terms 'power factor' and 'wattless current', giving the examples where power factor is maximum and the
circuit where there is wattless current.

5 Mark each
(Year : 2024)
57. (a) (i) A resistor and a capacitor are connected in series to an ac source v = vm sin t. Derive an expression for the
impedance of the circuit.
(ii) When does an inductor act as a conductor in a circuit? Give reason for it.
(iii) An electric lamp is designed to operate at 110 V de and 11 A current. If the lamp is operated on 220 V, 50
Hz ac source with a coil in series, then find the inductance of the coil.
OR
(b) (i) Draw a labelled diagram of a step-up transformer and describe its working principle. Explain any three
causes for energy losses in a real transformer.
(ii) A step-up transformer converts a low voltage into high voltage. Does it violate the principle of conservation
of energy? Explain.
(iii) A step-up transformer has 200 and 3000 turns in its primary and secondary coils respectively. The input
voltage given to the primary coil is 90 V. Calculate:

58. (1) The output voltage across the secondary coil

(2) The current in the primary coil if the current in the secondary coil is 2.0 A.
(a) (i) Mention the factors on which the resonant frequency of a series LCR circuit depends. Plot a graph showing
variation of impedance of a series LCR circuit with the frequency of the applied a.c. source.
(ii) With the help of a suitable diagram, explain the working of a step-up transformer.
(iii) Write two causes of energy loss in a real transformer.

59. (a) (i) You are given three circuit elements X, Y and Z. They are connected one by one across a given ac source.
 
It is found that V and I are in phase for element X. V leads I by   for element Y while I leads V by  
4 4
for element Z. Identify elements X, Y and Z.
(ii) Establish the expression for impedance of circuit when elements X, Y and Z are connected in series to an ac
source. Show the variation of current in the circuit with the frequency of the applied ac source. (iii) In a
series LCR circuit, obtain the conditions under which (i) impedance is minimum and (ii) wattless current
flows in the circuit.
OR
v 
(b) (i) Describe the construction and working of a transformer and hence obtain the relation for  s  in terms of
v 
 p
number of turns of primary and secondary.
(ii) Discuss four main causes of energy loss in a real transformer.

(Year : 2020)
60. (a) Show that an ideal inductor does not dissipate power in an ac circuit.
 9

(b) The variation of inductive reactance (X1) of an inductor with the frequency (f) of the ac source of 100 V and
variable frequency is shown in the fig.

(i) Calculate the self-inductance of the inductor.

(ii) When this inductor is used in series with a capacitor of unknown value and a resistor of 10  at 300 s–1, maximum
power dissipation occurs in the circuit. Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.

(Year : 2019)
61. (a) In a series LCR circuit connected across an ac source of variable frequency, obtain the expression for its
impedance and draw a plot showing its variation with frequency of the ac source.
(b) What is the phase difference between the voltages across inductor and the capacitor at resonance in the LCR
circuit?
(c) When an inductor is connected to a 200 V d.c. voltage, a current of 1A flows through it. When the same inductor
is connected to a 200 V, 50 Hz ac source, only 0.5 A current flows. Explain, why? Also, calculate the self
inductance of the inductor.
OR
(a) Draw the diagram of a device which is used to decrease high ac voltage into a low ac voltage and state its working
principle. Write four sources of energy loss in this device.
(b) A small town with a demand of 1200 kW of electric power at 220 V is situated 20 km away from an electric
plant generating power at 440 V. The resistance of the two wire line carrying power is 0.5 Ω per km. The town
gets the power from the line through a 4000-220 V step-down transformer at a sub-station in the town. Estimate
the line power loss in the form of heat.

62. A capacitor (C) and resistor (R) are connected in series with an ac source of voltage of frequency 50 Hz. The potential
difference across C and R are respectively 120 V, 90 V, and the current in the circuit is 3 A. Calculate (i) the
impedance of the circuit (ii) the value of the inductance, which when connected in series with C and R will make the
power factor of the circuit unity.
OR
The figure shows a series LCR circuit connected to a variable frequency 230 V source.

(a) Determine the source frequency which drives the circuit in resonance.
(b) Calculate the impedance of the circuit and amplitude of current at resonance.
(c) Show that potential drop across LC combination is zero at resonating frequency.

63. (a) What do you understand by 'sharpness of resonance' for a series LCR resonant circuit? How is it related with the
quality factor 'Q' of the circuit? Using the graphs given in the diagram, explain the factors which affect it. For
which graph is the resistance (R) minimum?
 10

(b) A 2 F capacitor, 100 Ω resistor and 8 H inductor are connected in series with an ac source. Find the frequency
of the ac source for which the current drawn in the circuit is maximum.
If the peak value of emf of the source is 200 V, calculate the (i) maximum current, and (ii) inductive and
capacitive reactance of the circuit at resonance.

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