AC CIRCUITS

PARAMETERS OF ALTERNATING SIGNAL

ALTERNATING CURRENT

• A current that is constantly changing in

amplitude and direction.

1 𝑉
𝐹= 𝜆=
𝑇 𝐹

• Period (T) – the time of one complete cycle in

seconds
• Frequency (f) – the number of cycles per second
(Hertz)
o 1 cycle/second (cps) = 1 Hertz (Hz)
o Proper operation of electrical equipmnent
requires specific frequency
o Frequencies lower than 60 Hz would cause
flicker when used in lightning
• Wavelength (λ) – the length of one complete cycle
• Propagation Velocity (v) – the speed of the signal
• Phase (Φ) – an angular measurement that specifies
the position of a sine wave relative to reference
AC WAVEFORMS
MEASUREMENTS OF AC MAGNITUDE
• Sinusoidal Wave
• Is the most common AC waveform that AMPLITUDE
is practically generated by generators • It is the height of an AC waveform as depicted on
used in household and industries a graph over time (peak, peak-to-peak, average,
or RMS quantity)
• PEAK AMPLITUDE – the height of an AC waveform
as measured from the zero mark to the highest
positive or lowest negative point on a graph. Also
Where:
a(t) – instantaneous amplitude of voltage or current at a
known as the crest amplitude of a wave.
given time (t)
A – maximum voltage or current amplitude of the signal
m
ω – angular velocity in rad/sec; ω = 2πf
t – time (sec)
Φ – phase shift ( + or – in degrees)

Page 1 of 7
▪ PEAK-TO-PEAK AMPLITUDE – the total height of an AC
waveform as measured from maximum positive to
maximum negative peaks on a graph. Often abbreviated
as “P-P”

▪ AVERAGE AMPLITUDE – the mathematical “mean” of all

a waveform’s points over the period of one cycle.
• The crest factor of an AC waveform is the ratio
Technically, the average amplitude of any waveform
of its peak (crest) to its RMS value.
with equal-area portions above and below the “zero”
line on a graph is zero. 𝑉𝑝
𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒

• The form factor of an AC waveform is the ratio

of its RMS value to its average value.
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒
AC WAVEFORMS

For a sine wave, the average value so calculated is

approximately 0.637 of its peak value.

▪ RMS AMPLITUDE - “RMS” stands for Root Mean Square,

and is a way of expressing an AC quantity of voltage or
current in terms functionally equivalent to DC. Also
known as the “equivalent” or “DC equivalent” value of
an AC voltage or current.

EXAMPLES:

1. If the rms current through a 4.7k ohm resistor is

4mA, the peak voltage drop across the resistor
is?
a. 4 V
b. 18.8 V
c. 26.6 V
For a sine wave, the RMS value is approximately 0.707 of d. 2.66 V
its peak value.

Page 2 of 7
 2. The average value of a 12V peak sine wave over • Inductive Susceptance (BL)
one complete cycle is? o Reciprocal of inductive reactance
a. 0 V
b. 1.27 V
c. 7.64 V
d. 6.37 V • Capacitive Reactance (XC)
o The property of a capacitor to oppose
3. A sine wave with an rms value of 12 V is riding alternating current
on a dc level of 18 V. The maximum value of the
resulting waveform is?
a. 6 V
b. 30 V • Capacitive Susceptance (BC)
c. 35 V o Reciprocal of capacitive reactance
d. 0 V

4. Kind of electric current where amplitude drops

to zero periodically normally produced by
• IMPEDANCE (Z)
rectifier circuits?
o Total opposition to the flow of
a. Alternating current
Alternating current
b. Varying direct current
o Combination of the resistance in a
c. Damped alternating current
circuit and the reactances involved
d. Pulsating direct current

5. When using circuit laws and rules we must use

a. Maximum value
b. Average value
c. Effective value
d. Peak to peak value EXAMPLE:
1. It is the value of sine wave of voltage or current
AC QUANTITIES at one particular instant of time.
a. Average value
• RESISTANCE (R)
b. Effective value
o Opposes the AC current similar to DC
c. RMS value
circuits
d. Instantaneous value
o Opposition offered by resistors
• REACTANCE (X)
• ADMITTANCE (Y)
o Depends on the AC frequency of the AC
o The reciprocal of impedance
source which is the opposition to
o Expressed in siemens or mho (S)
current due to inductance and
capacitance
• Inductive Reactance (XL)
o The property of the inductor to oppose EXAMPLE:
𝜋
the alternating current 1. Given 𝑣(𝑡) = 310 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (628 + ), what is the
2
period?
a. 16.67 ms
b. 8.33 ms
c. 10.01 ms
d. 22.15 ms
Page 3 of 7
 SERIES RL CIRCUIT
• For a series resistor-inductor circuit, the voltage
and current relation is determined in its phase
shift. Thus, current lags voltage by a phase shift
(θ)

Impedance (Z) = R + jXL

• For a series resistor – capacitor circuit, the

voltage and current relation is determined by
the phase shift. Thus, the current leads the
voltage by an angle less than 90 degrees but
greater than 0 degrees.

Impedance (Z) = R – jXC

EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
1. A 47Ω resistor and a capacitor with a capacitive
1. What is the phase relationship between the
reactance of 120Ω are in series across an ac
current and voltage in an inductor?
source. What is the circuit impedance, Z?
a. In phase
a. 129 Ω
b. Current lags voltage by 90o
b. 12.9 Ω
c. Voltage lags current by 90o
c. 167 Ω
d. Current lags voltage by 180o
5𝜋 d. 73 Ω
2. With source 15 sin(314𝑡 + )𝑉, 50 𝐻𝑧. 2. With 2𝑘𝛺 resistor is in series with a 0.015 uF
6
Calculate the dissipated power to the purely capacitor across a 15 kHz AC source. What is the
inductive L = 10 mH magnitude of the total impedance and the
a. 11.25 W phase angle?
b. 0 W a. 73.4 Ω and θ = -19.5o
c. 23 W b. 707 Ω and θ = -19.5o
d. 41.52 W c. 2121 Ω and θ = -19.5o
d. 734 Ω and θ = -38.9 o

Page 4 of 7
SERIES RLC and SERIES RESONANCE Power Triangle:

EXAMPLE:
Complex Power:
1. A resistor of 2kΩ, a 0.05 uF capacitor, and a 120
mH coil are in series across a 5 kHz, 20 V ac
source. What is the impedance, expressed in
polar form? - for inductive load
a. 636 Ω + for capacitive load
b. 3,769 Ω REAL POWER (R)
c. 433 Ω • The power consumed by the resistive
d. 4,337 Ω component
2. A 12Ω resistor, a 40 uF capacitor, and an 8 mH • Also called True Power, Useful Power and
coil are in series across an ac source. The Productive Power
resonant frequency is • Measured in Watts (W)
a. 28.1 Hz • It is equal to the product of the apparent power
b. 281 Hz and the power factor
c. 2,810 Hz
d. 10 kHz

APPARENT POWER (S) Power Factor:

• Cosine of the power factor angle (θ)
• Represents the rate at which the total energy is • Measure of the power that is dissipated by the
supplied to the system circuit in relation to the apparent power and is
• Measured in volt-amperes (VA) usually given as a decimal or percentage.
• It has two components, the Real Power and the
Capacitive or Inductive Reactive Power

Page 5 of 7
REACTIVE POWER (QL or QC) PARALLEL RC
• Also called the imaginary power, non-
productive or wattless power
• Measured in volt-ampere reactive (Var)
Reactive Power:
• Ratio of the Reactive Power to the Apparent
Power
• Sine of the power factor angle (θ)

EXAMPLE:
1. A series circuit is composed of a resistance of
200 ohms, inductive reactance of 800 ohms,
and capacitive reactance of 500 ohms is
connected to an AC residential source.
Determine the reactive factor.
a. 0.55
b. 0.32
c. 0.78
d. 0.83 EXAMPLES:
2. If the reactive power of a circuit is 50 VAP while 1. A 470Ω resistor and a 0.2 uF capacitor are in
the apparent power is 64 VA, then what is the parallel across a 2.5 kHz ac source. The
true power of the ciruit? admittance, Y, in rectangular form, is
a. 14 W a. 212 Ω
b. 36 W b. 2.12 mS + j3.14 mS
c. 40 W c. 3.14 mS + j2.12 mS
d. 114 W d. 318.3 Ω
PARALLEL (RL) 2. A 140Ω resistor is in parallel with an inductor
having 60Ω inductive reactance. Both
components are across a 12V ac source. The
magnitude of the total impedance is
a. 5.51 Ω
b. 55.15 Ω
c. 90 Ω
d. 200 Ω

Page 6 of 7
PARALLEL RLC AND PARALLEL RESONANCE

EXAMPLE:
1. A 15Ω resistor, an inductor with 8Ω inductive
reactance, and a capacitor with 12Ω capacitive
reactance are in parallel across an ac voltage
source. The circuit impedance is
a. 12.7 Ω
b. 127 Ω
c. 4,436 Ω
d. 6,174 Ω
2. A parallel resonance network consisting of a
resistor of 60Ω, a capacitor of 120uF and an
inductor of 200mH is connected across a
sinusoidal supply voltage which has a constant
output of 100 volts at all frequencies. Calculate
the upper and lower -3dB frequency points.
a. 21.44Hz and 43.55Hz
b. 19.44Hz and 45.55Hz
c. 20.44Hz and 44.55Hz
d. 17.44Hz and 47.55Hz

= END =

Page 7 of 7