AC Circuits Flashcards

What is an AC circuit?

A circuit in which current changes direction periodically due to an alternating voltage.

What is the general form of AC voltage?

\( V = V_0 \sin(\omega t) \)

What is the peak voltage \( V_0 \)?

The maximum voltage value in an AC waveform.

What does \( \omega \) represent in AC equations?

Angular frequency: \( \omega = 2\pi f \)

What is instantaneous voltage in AC?

Voltage at any moment: \( V = V_0 \sin(\omega t) \)

What is the RMS voltage?

\( V_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_0}{\sqrt{2}} \)

What is the RMS current?

\( I_{\text{rms}} = \frac{I_0}{\sqrt{2}} \)

How is peak voltage related to RMS?

\( V_0 = \sqrt{2} V_{\text{rms}} \)

How is peak current related to RMS?

\( I_0 = \sqrt{2} I_{\text{rms}} \)

Why are RMS values used in AC?

They represent equivalent DC values for power dissipation.

What is the phase relationship in a resistor-only AC circuit?

Voltage and current are in phase.

RMS current in resistor-only AC circuit?

\( I_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_{\text{rms}}}{R} \)

Peak current in a resistor-only AC circuit?

\( I_0 = \frac{V_0}{R} \)

What is capacitive reactance \( X_C \)?

\( X_C = \frac{1}{\omega C} = \frac{1}{2\pi f C} \)

How does current behave in a capacitor in AC?

Current leads voltage by \( 90^\circ \)

RMS current for a capacitor?

\( I_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_{\text{rms}}}{X_C} \)

Peak current for a capacitor?

\( I_0 = \frac{V_0}{X_C} \)

What is inductive reactance \( X_L \)?

\( X_L = \omega L = 2\pi f L \)

How does current behave in an inductor in AC?

Current lags voltage by \( 90^\circ \)

Voltage across an inductor?

\( V = I X_L \)

Impedance in RL circuit?

\( Z = \sqrt{R^2 + X_L^2} \)

Phase angle in RL circuit?

\( \tan \theta = \frac{X_L}{R} \)

Voltage relationship in RL?

\( V^2 = V_R^2 + V_L^2 \)

Impedance in RC circuit?

\( Z = \sqrt{R^2 + X_C^2} \)

Phase angle in RC circuit?

\( \tan \theta = \frac{X_C}{R} \)

Voltage relationship in RC?

\( V^2 = V_R^2 + V_C^2 \)

Impedance in LC circuit?

\( Z = \sqrt{|X_L - X_C|} \)

Phase relationship in LC circuit?

\( V_L \) and \( V_C \) are 180° out of phase.

Peak current in LC circuit?

\( I_0 = \frac{V_0}{\sqrt{|X_L - X_C|}} \)

Impedance in RLC circuit?

\( Z = \sqrt{R^2 + (X_L - X_C)^2} \)

Peak current in RLC circuit?

\( I_0 = \frac{V_0}{Z} \)

RMS current in RLC circuit?

\( I_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_{\text{rms}}}{Z} \)

Reactance difference in RLC?

\( X = X_L - X_C \)

What is resonance in AC circuits?

It occurs when \( X_L = X_C \), and current is maximum.

Formula for resonance frequency \( f_0 \)?

\( f_0 = \frac{1}{2\pi \sqrt{LC}} \)

Impedance at resonance?

Minimum; \( Z = R \)

Maximum current at resonance?

\( I_{\text{max}} = \frac{V}{R} \)

Average power formula in AC?

\( P = IV \cos \phi \)

Power factor expression?

\( \cos \phi = \frac{\text{Resistance}}{\text{Impedance}} \)

Power in resistive load?

\( P = I^2 R \)

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