Alternating Current

1. Alternating Current (AC)

It is the current that varies in both magnitude and direction alternately and periodically.
The instantaneous alternating current is given by:

I = I0 sin ωt ​

where I0 is the peak value or maximum value of AC.

​

2. Effective Value or RMS Value of AC

The effective or RMS value of AC is:

I0
Irms = = 0.707I0
​

2
​ ​ ​

The 70.7% value of the peak current gives the effective or RMS value of AC.

3. Average or Mean Value of AC

The average or mean value of AC is:

2I0
Iav = = 0.637I0
​

​ ​ ​

The 63.7% of the peak current gives the average or mean value of AC in the interval 0 to π
radians.

4. Alternating EMF or Voltage

Alternating EMF is the EMF that varies in both magnitude and direction alternately and
periodically. The instantaneous alternating EMF is given by:

V = V0 sin(ωt) ​

Hence,

V0
Vrms = = 0.707V0 ;
​

2
​ ​ ​

​
 2V0
Vav = = 0.637V0
​

​ ​ ​

5. Inductive Reactance

The inductive reactance is given by:

XL = ωL = 2πf L
​

Also, for a given inductor:

XL ∝ f
​ ⇒ 2πL = constant

6. Capacitive Reactance

The capacitive reactance is given by:

1 1
XC = =
2πf C
​ ​ ​

ωC

For a given capacitor:

1 1
XC ∝ (since = constant)
2πC
​ ​ ​

7. Power in an AC Circuit

The power in an AC circuit is given by:

Pav = Vrms Irms cos ϕ

​ ​ ​

where cos ϕ is the power factor and cos ϕ = Z.

R
​

8. In an AC Circuit Containing Resistance Only

(i) Voltage and current are in the same phase.

(ii) Maximum current:

V0
I0 =
​

​ ​

(iii) RMS current:

 Vrms
Irms =
​

​ ​

(iv) If V = V0 sin ωt , then:

​

I = I0 sin ωt ​

(v) Average power in R is maximum:

Pav = Vrms Irms ​ ​ ​

9. In an AC Circuit Containing Capacitor Only

(i) Capacitive reactance:

1 1
XC = =
2πf C
​ ​ ​

ωC

(ii) Capacitor offers infinite reactance in DC circuit if f = 0 or acts as an open circuit.

(iii) Current amplitude:

V0 V0
I0 = = = V0 ω C
​ ​

(1/ωC)
​ ​ ​ ​

XC ​

(iv) Voltage lags behind the current by phase: π

2
. ​

(v) If V = V0 sin ωt , then:

​

π
I = I0 sin (ωt + )
2
​ ​

(vi) Power factor is equal to zero.

(vii) Average power consumption (during a complete cycle):

Pav = Vrms Irms cos ϕ = 0

​ ​ ​ (since ϕ = π/2)

10. In an AC Circuit Containing Inductor Only

(i) Inductive reactance:

XL = ωL = 2πf L
​
(ii) Peak current:

V0 V0
I0 = =
​ ​

​ ​ ​

XL ωL ​

(iii) RMS current:

Vrms Vrms
Irms = =
​ ​

​ ​ ​

XL ωL ​

(iv) Voltage leads the current by phase: π

2
​

(v) If V = V0 sin ωt , then:

​

π
I = I0 sin (ωt − )
2
​ ​

(vi) Power factor:

π
cos ϕ = cos =0
2
​

(vii) Average power consumption:

Pav = Vrms Irms cos ϕ = 0

​ ​ ​

11. In L-R Series AC Circuit

(i) Impedance:

Vrms
Z= R2 + XL2 =
​

​ ​ ​

Irms ​

(ii) For the phase angle:

XL ωL
tan ϕ = = ,
​

​ ​

R R

voltage leads current by phase ϕ .

(iii) If V = V0 sin ωt , then:

​

I = I0 sin (ωt − ϕ) ​

12. In C-R Series AC Circuit

(i) Impedance:

Vrms
Z= = R2 + XC2
​

​ ​ ​

Irms ​

(ii) For the phase angle:

XC 1
tan ϕ = =
​

​ ​

R ωCR

(iii) If V = V0 sin ωt , then:

​

I = I0 sin (ωt + ϕ)
​

(iv) Power factor:

R R
cos ϕ = =
R2 + XC2
​ ​

Z ​ ​

13. In L-C Series AC Circuit

(i) Impedance:

Vrms
Z= = XL − XC
​

​ ​ ​

Irms ​

(ii) Phase difference between voltage and current is: π

2
​

(iii) Power factor:

cos ϕ = 0

14. In L-C-R Series AC Circuit

(i) Impedance:

2 Vrms
Z= R 2 + ( XL − XC ) =
​

​ ​ ​ ​

Irms ​

(ii) If XL > XC , then V leads the current by phase angle ϕ , and if XL < XC , then V lags
​ ​ ​

behind I by phase angle ϕ , where:

 XL − XC
tan ϕ =
​ ​

AC circuit's inductance dominated if XL > XC and capacitance dominated if XC > XL .

​ ​

15. In Resonant L-C-R Series AC Circuit

(i) XL = XC .
​ ​

(ii) Impedance:

Z = Zminimum = R ​

(iii) The phase difference between V and I is 0∘ .

(iv) Resonant angular frequency:

1
ω0 = ​ ​

LC ​

(v) Average power consumption ( Pav ) becomes maximum.

​

(vi) Current becomes maximum:

Vrms
Imax =
​

​ ​

16. Quality Factor

It indicates the sharpness of resonance in the L-C-R series AC circuit.

Quality factor ( Q ) is given by:

Voltage across L or C
Q=
Voltage across R
​

Or:

VL V ω L
Q= = C = 0
​ ​ ​

​ ​ ​

VR VR R ​ ​

1 1 L
= = ​ ​ ​ ​

ω 0 CR
​ R C

VL , VC , and VR are the voltages across the inductor, capacitor, and resistor, respectively,
​ ​ ​

and V is the net voltage.

17. AC Generator

AC generator produces electrical energy from mechanical work, just the opposite of what
a motor does.
Principle: An AC generator is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction,
which states that whenever magnetic flux linked with a conductor (or coil) changes, an
emf is induced in the coil.
Let, magnetic flux linked with a coil,

ϕ = BA cos ωt (where ϕ0 = BA)

​

then emf induced in the coil,

dϕ
e = −N = NBAω sin ωt
​

dt

where:

N = number of turns in the coil

B = strength of magnetic field
A = area of each turn of the coil
ω = angular velocity of rotation

ω = 2πf [e0 = NBAω]

​

Hence, e = e0 sin 2πf t

​

18. Transformer

A transformer is an electrical device that converts low alternating voltage to high

alternating voltage and vice-versa. Its working is based on the principle of mutual
induction.

19. Types of Transformer

There are two types of transformers:

1. Step-up Transformer: It converts low alternating voltage into high alternating

voltage.
 2. Step-down Transformer: It converts high alternating voltage into low alternating
voltage.

20. Ideal Transformer

For an ideal transformer:

Input power = Output power

V1 I 1 = V2 I 2
​ ​ ​ ​

V1 I2 N1
= =
​ ​ ​

​ ​ ​

V2​
I1 N2 ​ ​

where:

N1 = number of turns in the primary coil of the transformer

​

N2 = number of turns in the secondary coil of the transformer

​