**Worksheet: Alternating Current (AC) Circuits**
1. What is the primary difference between **direct current (dc)** and **alternating current (ac)**
regarding how current changes direction with time? [1]
2. What is the **main reason for preferring the use of ac voltage over dc voltage** for electrical
energy transmission and distribution, according to the sources? [1]
3. Who was **Nicola Tesla**, and what were some of his significant contributions to alternating
current machinery and technology? [2]
4. Define **"root mean square (rms) or effective current" (I_rms)**. How is it related to the peak
current (i_m)? [3-5] Why is it customary to measure and specify rms values for AC quantities?
[6]
5. State **Ohm's law** for a purely **resistive AC circuit**. What is the **phase relationship**
between voltage and current in such a circuit? [7-9]
6. An AC voltage is given by the equation **v = v_m sin(ωt)**. If this voltage is applied across a
**resistor R**, write the equation for the instantaneous current (i) through the resistor. [7, 10]
7. What is **inductive reactance (X_L)**, and what is its SI unit? How is it mathematically
defined in terms of angular frequency (ω) and inductance (L)? [11, 12]
8. Describe the **phase relationship** between current and voltage in a **purely inductive AC
circuit**. What is the **average power supplied** to a pure inductor over one complete cycle?
[12-14]
9. What is **capacitive reactance (X_C)**, and what is its SI unit? How is it mathematically
defined in terms of angular frequency (ω) and capacitance (C)? [15, 16]
10. Describe the **phase relationship** between current and voltage in a **purely capacitive AC
circuit**. What is the **average power supplied** to a pure capacitor over one complete cycle?
[16-18]
11. A **15.0 µF capacitor** is connected to a **220 V, 50 Hz** source. Calculate the **capacitive
reactance (X_C)**. [19]
12. What is a **"phasor"**, and how is it used to represent AC voltage and current in a circuit?
Explain what the magnitude and rotation of a phasor represent. [20, 21]
13. For a series RLC circuit, define **"impedance (Z)"**. How is it calculated in terms of
resistance (R), inductive reactance (X_L), and capacitive reactance (X_C)? [16, 22]
14. What is the phenomenon of **resonance** in a series RLC circuit? What condition must be
met for resonance to occur, and what is the formula for the **resonant angular frequency
(ω_0)**? [23-25]
15. What happens to the **current amplitude** at the resonant frequency in a series RLC
circuit? [24] On what principle do **metal detectors** work? [26]
16. Define the **"power factor (cos φ)"** in an AC circuit. What are its values for a purely
resistive circuit and a purely inductive or purely capacitive circuit? [21, 27]
17. Explain why there is **no power dissipated** in a purely inductive or purely capacitive AC
circuit, even though a current is flowing. What is the term sometimes used for this current? [21,
28]
18. Consider a light bulb and an open coil inductor connected to an AC source. If an **iron rod is
inserted into the interior of the inductor**, what is the observed effect on the glow of the light
bulb, and why does this happen? [29, 30]
19. What is a **transformer**, and what principle does it use to change alternating voltage?
Describe the difference between a **step-up transformer** and a **step-down transformer** in
terms of coil turns, voltage, and current. [31-35]
20. List at least **three reasons for energy losses** that occur in actual (non-ideal) transformers.
[9, 12, 36]