A.C Through Resistance, Inductance and Capacitance

A.
C Through resistance, inductance and

capacitance separately and characteristics
A.C. Circuit
• The closed path followed by an alternating
current is called an a.c.circuit.
• When a sinusoidal alternating voltage is

applied in a circuit, the resulting alternating
current is also sinusoidal and has the same
frequency as that of applied voltage.
• However there is a phase difference between

the applied voltage and the resulting current.
• While studying a.c circuits, main points of
interest are
• i. phase difference between applied voltage

and circuit current
• ii. Circuit impedance
• iii. Power consumed
• Characteristics for simple a.c. circuits

containing one circuit element only
(R or L or C).
A.C. Circuit containing resistance only
• Consider a circuit containing a pure resistance
of R Ω connected across an alternating source.
• Alternating Voltage be given by the equation:
• v = Vm sin t .............1
• As a result of this voltage, an alternating current i
will flow in the circuit.
• The applied voltage has to overcome the drop in the
resistance only i.e.,
• v = iR
• i = v/R
• Substituting the value of v, we get,
• i = Vmsin t/R ......... 2
• the value of i will be maximum (Im) when sin t = 1
• Im = Vm/R
• eqs. (i) and (ii) that the applied voltage and
circuit current are in phase with each other.
• R.M.S value have been used in drawing the

phasor diagram.
• Instantaneous Power, p = vi
= (Vm sin t) (Im sin t)
= Vm Im sin2 t
• = Vm Im [(1- cos 2t)/2]
• = Vm Im - [Vm Im] cos 2t
2 2
• Thus Power consists of two parts a constant part

(Vm Im /2) and a fluctuating part
• ([Vm Im / 2] cos 2t).
• since power is a scalar quantity, average power over a
complete cycle is to be considered.
• For a complete cycle, the average value of
• [Vm Im / 2] cos 2t is zero.
• Power consumed,
• P = VmIm / 2 = Vm / √2 x Im / √2
• P = VI
• Where, V = r.m.s. value of the applied voltage
• I = r.m.s. value of the circuit current
• Power curve for a pure resistive circuit.
• Power is never zero.
• It is clear that power is always positive.
• This means voltage source is constantly delivering

power to the circuit which is consumed by the circuit.
A.C. Circuit containing Inductance only
• When an alternating current flows through a

pure inductive coil, a back e.m.f. (= L di/dt) is
induced due to the inductance of the coil.
• This back e.m.f. at every instant opposes the

change in current through the coil.
• Since there is no ohmic drop, the applied
voltage has to overcome the back e.m.f. only.
• Applied alternating voltage = Back e.m.f

• Consider an alternating voltage applied to a
pure inductance of L henry.
• v = Vm sin t ................ 1
• Vm sin t = L di/dt
• di = Vm / L X (sin t dt)
• integrating both sides, we get,
• i = Vm / L ∫ sin t dt = Vm / L (- cos t)
• i = Vm / L [sin (t - Π / 2)] .................. 2
• The value of i will be maximum (Im) when
• sin (t - Π / 2) is unity.
• Im = Vm / L
• Eqn 2 becomes, i = Im sin (t - Π / 2)
• where Im = Vm / L ................... 3
• It is clear from Eqn 1 and 3 that the current lags

behind the voltage by Π / 2 radians or 90̊ .
• Hence in a pure inductance, current lags behind

the voltage by 90̊ .
Phasor diagram
Inductive reactance
• Im = Vm / L
• L = Vm / Im
• Clearly, the opposition offered by the inductance
to current flow is L.
• The quantity L is called inductive reactance XL of

the coil and measured in Ω.
• Note that XL (= L = 2 Π f L) will be in Ω if L is in

henry and f in Hz.
Power
Positive power is equal to negative power.

Hence the resultant power over one cycle is
zero
i.e. pure inductance consumes no power. The
electric power merely flows from the source to
the coil and back again.
• Power wave is a sine wave of frequency
double that of the voltage and current
waves.
• Maximum value of instantaneous power is

Vm Im /2
A.C. Circuit containing Capacitance only
• When an alternating voltage is applied across

the plates of the capacitor, the capacitor is
charged first in one direction and then in the
opposite direction.
• The result is that the electrons move to and

fro round the circuit, connecting the plates,
thus constituting alternating current.
• Consider an alternating voltage applied to a
capacitor of capacitance C farad.
• v = Vm sin t .................... 1
• As a result of this alternating voltage,

alternating current will flow through the
circuit.
• Let at any instant i be the current and q be the
charge on the plates.
• Charge on Capacitor, q = C v = C Vm sin t
• Circuit current, i = dq/dt
• d/dt (C Vm sin t) =  C Vm cost
• i =  C Vm sin (t +π/2)....... 2
• the value of i will be maximum (Im) when sin (t
+ π/2 ) is unity.
• Im = C ; C Vm = ImVm
• Subs the value in Eqn 2,
• i = Im sin (t + π/2 ) ...........3
• It is clear from Eqn 1 and 3 that current leads the
voltage by radians or 90̊ . Hence in pure
capacitance, current leads the voltage by 90̊ .
Phasor
Capacitive Reactance
• Im = C Vm
• Vm / Im = 1 / C
• Clearly, the opposition offered by capacitance

to current flow is 1 / C.
• The quantity 1 / C is called capacitive
reactance Xc of the capacitor and is measured
in Ω.
• Note : Xc (=1 / C = 1 / 2 Π f C) will be in Ω if
C is in farad and f in Hz.
Power
• Instantaneous Power, p = v i =
• Vm sin t x Im sin (t + /2 )
• = Vm Im sin t cos t
• = Vm Im/ 2 sin 2t
• Average power, P = Average of p over one cycle
• Hence, power absorbed in a pure capacitance is

zero.
• The power curve is similar to that for a pure
inductor because now current leads the
voltage by 900.
• The positive power is equal to the negative

power over one cycle.
• Net power absorbed in a pure capacitor is

zero.
• To summaries, the three elements R, L and C respond
differently to sinusoidal excitations (current or voltage).
• The current and voltage in a resistor are in phase, while

they are in quadrature (i.e., have a phase difference of
90o) in an inductor or a capacitor.
• In an inductor, the voltage leads the current by 90 o while

in a capacitor, the current leads the voltage by 90 o.

A.C Through Resistance, Inductance and Capacitance

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A.C Through Resistance, Inductance and Capacitance

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A.C Through Resistance, Inductance and Capacitance

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A.

C Through resistance, inductance and

• When a sinusoidal alternating voltage is

• However there is a phase difference between

• i. phase difference between applied voltage

• Characteristics for simple a.c. circuits

• R.M.S value have been used in drawing the

• Thus Power consists of two parts a constant part

• It is clear that power is always positive.

• This means voltage source is constantly delivering

• When an alternating current flows through a

• This back e.m.f. at every instant opposes the

• Applied alternating voltage = Back e.m.f

• It is clear from Eqn 1 and 3 that the current lags

• Hence in a pure inductance, current lags behind

• The quantity L is called inductive reactance XL of

• Note that XL (= L = 2 Π f L) will be in Ω if L is in

Positive power is equal to negative power.

• Maximum value of instantaneous power is

• When an alternating voltage is applied across

• The result is that the electrons move to and

• As a result of this alternating voltage,

• Clearly, the opposition offered by capacitance

• Hence, power absorbed in a pure capacitance is

• The positive power is equal to the negative

• Net power absorbed in a pure capacitor is

• The current and voltage in a resistor are in phase, while

• In an inductor, the voltage leads the current by 90 o while

You might also like