Download the App!

Get 24/7 study help with the Numerade app for iOS and Android! Enter your email for an invite.

Sent to:
Search glass icon
  • Login
  • Textbooks
  • Ask our Educators
  • Study Tools
    Study Groups Bootcamps Quizzes AI Tutor iOS Student App Android Student App StudyParty
  • For Educators
    Become an educator Educator app for iPad Our educators
  • For Schools

Alternating Current

In electricity, alternating current (AC) is an electric current which periodically reverses direction, flowing in one direction for a period of time and then reversing direction and flowing in the other direction for a period of time. This is in contrast to direct current (DC), which flows continuously in one direction. If the direction of the current continually reverses, it is called alternating current. If it reverses back and forth (alternately reversing directions), it is called cyclic alternating current or AC. In the United States, the current that most commonly varies direction is the 220-volt conventional (household) AC, while the current used for power is in the 110-volt range. However, the latter current is also commonly referred to as AC, as it is also a form of AC. In other countries, the systems are reversed.

The L-R-C Series Circuit

20 Practice Problems
View More
04:36
Physics

An RLC series circuit is connected to a $240-\mathrm{V}$ ms power supply at a frequency of $2.50 \mathrm{kHz}$. The elements in the circuit have the following values: $R=12.0 \Omega, C=$ $0.26 \mu \mathrm{F},$ and $L=15.2 \mathrm{mH},$ (a) What is the impedance of the circuit? (b) What is the rms current? (c) What is the phase angle? (d) Does the current lead or lag the voltage? (e) What are the rms voltages across each circuit element?

Alternating Current
Mayukh Banik
06:55
Essential University Physics

A $470-\Omega$ resistor, 10 - $\mu \mathrm{F}$ capacitor, and 750 -mH inductor are each connected across $6.3-\mathrm{V}$ rms, $60-\mathrm{Hz}$ AC power. Find the rms current in each.

Alternating-Current Circuits
Zulfiqar Ali
02:28
Essential University Physics

If you measure the rms voltages across the resistor, capacitor, and inductor in a series $R L C$ circuit, will they add to the rms generator voltage?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Zulfiqar Ali

Phasors and Alternating Currents

63 Practice Problems
View More
05:08
Principles of Physics a Calculus Based Text

When a wire carries an AC current with a known frequency, you can use a Rogowski coil to determine the amplitude $I_{\max }$ of the current without disconnecting the wire to shunt the current through a meter. The Rogowski coil, shown in Figure $P 23.8,$ simply clips around the wire. It consists of a toroidal conductor wrapped around a circular return cord. Let $n$ represent the number of turns in the toroid per unit distance along it. Let $A$ represent the cross-sectional area of the toroid. Let $I(t)=$ $I_{\max } \sin \omega t$ represent the current to be measured. (a) Show that the amplitude of the emf induced in the Rogowski coil is $\varepsilon_{\max }=\mu_{0} n A \omega I_{\max } .$ (b) Explain why the wire carrying the unknown current need not be at the center of the Rogowski coil and why the coil will not respond to nearby currents that it does not enclose.

Faraday's Law and Inductance
Vishal Gupta
01:15
University Physics

Can the instantaneous power output of an ac source ever be negative? Can the average power output be negative?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin
01:06
University Physics

For what value of the phase angle $\phi$ between the voltage output of an ac source and the current is the average power output of the source a maximum?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin

Resistance and Reactance

46 Practice Problems
View More
03:05
University Physics

Semi-tractor trucks use four large $12-\mathrm{V}$ batteries. The starter system requires 24 V, while normal operation of the truck's other electrical components utilizes 12 V. How could the four batteries be connected to produce 24 V? To produce 12 V? Why is 24 V better than 12 V for starting the truck's engine (a very heavy load)?

Direct-Current Circuits
Ren Jie Tuieng
02:25
University Physics

What are the advantages and disadvantages of connecting batteries in series? In parallel?

Direct-Current Circuits
Ren Jie Tuieng
02:36
University Physics

Consider the circuit shown below. Does the analysis of the circuit require Kirchhoff's method, or can it be redrawn to simplify the circuit? If it is a circuit of series and parallel connections, what is the equivalent resistance?

Direct-Current Circuits
Ren Jie Tuieng

Power in Alternating-Current Circuits

37 Practice Problems
View More
01:24
University Physics

Why do transmission lines operate at very high voltages while household circuits operate at fairly small voltages?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin
02:05
University Physics

The power rating of a resistor used in ac circuits refers to the maximum average power dissipated in the resistor. How does this compare with the maximum instantaneous power dissipated in the resistor?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin
02:58
University Physics

The average ac current delivered to a circuit is zero. Despite this, power is dissipated in the circuit. Explain.

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin

Resonance in Alternating-Current Circuits

12 Practice Problems
View More
02:13
University Physics with Modern Physics

A series circuit consists of an ac source of variable frequency, a $115-\Omega$ resistor, a $1.25-\mu F$ capacitor, and a $4.50-\mathrm{mH}$ inductor. Find the impedance of this circuit when the angular frequency of the ac source is adjusted to (a) the resonance angular frequency; (b) twice the resonance angular frequency; (c) half the resonance angular frequency.

Alternating Current
Simran Hiranandani
01:19
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics

In a certain $L R C$ series circuit, when the ac voltage source has a particular frequency $f$ , the peak voltage across the inductor is 6.0 times greater than the peak voltage across the capacitor. Determine $f$ in terms of the resonant frequency $f _ { 0 }$ of this circuit.

Inductance, Electromagnetic Oscillations, and AC Circuits
Ze-Han Lee
03:21
Physics: Principles with Applications

A flashlight can be made that is powered by the induced current from a magnet moving through a coil of wire. The coil and magnet are inside a plastic tube that can be shaken causing the magnet to move back and forth through the coil. Assume the magnet has a maximum field strength of 0.05 T. Make reasonable assumptions and specify the size of the coil and the number of turns necessary to light a standard 1-watt, 3-V flashlight bulb.

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION AND FARADAY'S LAW
Resonance in AC Circuits
Jayashree Behera

Transformers

17 Practice Problems
View More
01:00
University Physics

Will a transformer work if the input is a dc voltage?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin
02:37
University Physics

How can you distinguish the primary winding from the secondary winding in a step-up transformer?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Donald Albin
02:01
Essential University Physics

A step-up transformer increases voltage, or energy per unit charge. Why doesn't this violate energy conservation?

Alternating-Current Circuits
Zulfiqar Ali

Get 24/7 study help with our app

 

Available on iOS and Android

About
  • Our Story
  • Careers
  • Our Educators
  • Numerade Blog
Browse
  • Bootcamps
  • Books
  • Notes & Exams NEW
  • Topics
  • Test Prep
  • Ask Directory
  • Online Tutors
  • Tutors Near Me
Support
  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Get started