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Peter's Index Physics Home Lecture 12a Course Index Lecture 14
A Semester of First Year Physics with Peter Eyland
Lecture 13 (Pure R,C and L in AC)
In this lecture the following are introduced:
The average or D.C value
A pure resistor in an A.C. circuit
The power dissipated in a resistor
The effective or r.m.s. value
A pure capacitor in an A.C. circuit
The power in a capacitor
A pure inductor in an A.C. circuit
The power in an inductor
The Average or D.C value
The average or D.C. value of a periodically varying function is given by the sum over one period divided by the time for one period, as written mathematically: |
Example
For the half-wave rectified sine potential shown. Find the average value of the potential |
The angular frequency, ω, is related to the period, T, by ω = 2π/T, where π is the Greek letter pi.
Example
For the full-wave rectified sine potential shown. Find the average value of the potential. |
The half and full-wave rectified e.m.f.s shown above, are D.C., because the average value is not zero and the current always flows in the same direction. An A.C. has to change direction, as shown in the diagram. E.m.f.s may be represented as the superposition of a steady D.C. component (the average value) and an A.C. component which changes direction. |
A Resistor in an AC circuit
The complex applied emf is Emexp[jωt]. |
The complex potential difference across the resistor is equal to the complex applied emf. |
The complex impedance of a circuit element is the ratio of the potential difference across the element to the current flowing through the element. For a pure resistor this is purely real, i.e. there is no imaginary part.
The complex impedance of a pure resistor is:
The physical potential and current are the imaginary parts of the complex values: |
Because there is no initial phase in either quantity, the emf is in phase with the current, as shown in the graph. |
The Power dissipated in a Resistor
The instantaneous power is: |
By inspection, the average of sinθ is zero and the average of sin2θ is a half. |
Taking the average over one period:
Effective or r.m.s. values
From above |
Here I (no subscript), is an effective D.C. current that gives the same heating effect as the A.C. current. Since I is the square root of the mean of the square of the current, or r.m.s. current. |
The r.m.s. value calculation above does not give a universal result, as it will depend on the waveshape supplied by the source. For example, with the sinusoidal potential difference and resistor above:
Since most A.C. meters measure the r.m.s. values of current and potential, unless stated otherwise, all values shown on circuit diagrams will be r.m.s. values. For example, the 240 V domestic supply has a nominal maximum (or peak) value of 339 V ( = 240×√2 ). This goes up and down with sudden variations in demand, e.g. when most people leave their employment and go home.
Example
The 240 V, 50 Hz mains electricity supply is connected in series with a 1 kW heater.
Find the rms and instantaneous values of
(a) the p.d. across the heater, and
(b) the current in the circuit, and
(c) the power dissipated in the heater.
In the following, upper case letters denote r.m.s. or steady D.C. values and lower case letters denote instantaneous values.
A Pure Capacitor in an AC circuit
The complex applied emf is Emexp[jωt]. |
The complex potential difference across the capacitor is equal to the complex applied emf. |
The instantaneous current is: Multiplying by j is a rotation of 900, so the current is ahead of the potential by 900 of phase. |
The complex impedance( Z ) of the capacitor is: The complex impedance ( Z ) of the capacitor is purely imaginary, and because it has no real part to dissipate energy as heat, it is called a reactance ( X ). |
The physical potential and current are:
In brief:
The current is 900 ahead of the applied potential difference, as shown in the graphs.
The current is limited by the capacitance and the angular frequency.
Where XC is called the capacitative reactance. It is not a resistance but it has units of Ohm because it is a ratio of potential to current and limits the current.
The Power in a capacitor
The instantaneous power in a capacitor is given by: |
The instantaneous power changes at twice the frequency that is applied. |
Example
The 240 V, 50 Hz mains electricity supply is connected in series with a 5μF capacitor.
Find the rms and instantaneous values of
(a) the current in the circuit, and
(b) the potential difference across the capacitor.
A Pure Inductor in an AC circuit
The complex applied emf is Emexp[jωt]. |
The complex potential difference across the inductor is equal to the complex applied emf. |
The integration constant is a possible steady D.C. current. It is set equal to zero here because there is no steady D.C. potential. Dividing by j is equivalent to multiplying by -j ( since 1/j×j/j = -j ). Multiplying by -j is a clockwise rotation of 900 in phase, so the current will lag the emf by 900.
The current in circuit is given by: |
The complex impedance (Z) of the inductor is purely imaginary, and is also called a reactance (X). |
The physical potential and current are:
In brief:
The current is 900 behind the applied potential difference.
The current is limited by the inductance and the angular frequency.
, where is called the inductive reactance. As before, it is not a resistance because inductors do not dissipate heat. Neverthless it has units of Ohm because it is a ratio of potential to current and limits current.
Example
The 240 V, 50 Hz mains electricity supply is connected in series with a 200mH inductor.
Find the rms and instantaneous values of
(a) the current in the circuit, and
(b) the p.d. across the inductor.
Summarising:
The average or D.C value:
The potential difference across a resistor is in phase with the current through it.
The average power dissipated in a resistor:
The effective or r.m.s. value of a sinusoidal waveform:
The complex impedance of a pure capacitor: ZC = XC = -j(1/ωC). The potential difference across a capacitor is 900 behind the phase of the current through it. The average power in a capacitor is zero
The complex impedance of a pure inductor: ZL = XL = j·ωC. The potential difference across an inductor is 900 ahead of the phase of the current through it. The average power in an inductor is zero
Current reference mnemonic: |
"level in the Room, down to the Cellar, up to the Loft". |
Acknowledgement: These notes are based in part on "Alternating Current Circuit Theory" by G.J.Russell and K.Mann NSWUP 1969.
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