UNIT – II

AC CIRCUITS
Important Part - A Questions and Answers
1. Define time period and frequency.
The time taken for the completion of one cycle is called time period (T). Its unit is seconds.
The number of cycles occurring per second is called frequency, F = 1/T (Hz).
2. What is meant by amplitude?
The maximum value, either positive or negative of an alternating quantity is called amplitude.
3. State the advantages of sinusoidal alternating quantity. (NOV/DEC 2017) / Mention the
advantages of ac over dc supply.
AC voltage or current is called as sinusoidal alternating quantity in which both magnitude and
direction changes with respect to time. Its advantages are,
1. AC can be transmitted using step up transformers but dc cannot be transmitted by this method.
2. AC is easy to generate than DC.
3. The loss of energy during transmission is negligible for ac.
4. The variation of ac can easily be done using transformers either step up or step down.
4. What is meant by average value?
Average value = Area under the curve for one complete cycle
Time period (base)
5. Define RMS value. (NOV/DEC 2013)
The RMS value (or) effective value of an alternating current is the value of steady direct current
which produces the same heat as that produced by the alternating current when flowing through the
same resistance for the same interval of time.

6. Define form factor and peak (or) crest factor.

Form factor is the ratio of RMS value to the average value of a quantity.
Form factor = RMS value
Average value
Peak or Crest factor is the ratio of maximum value to the RMS value of a quantity.
Peak factor = Maximum value
RMS value
7. Define inductor.
An inductor is a circuit element which can store and deliver energy in a magnetic field. Its unit is
Henry. If current passes through an inductor, flux is produced. Due to this, a voltage (or emf) is
induced which is proportional to the rate of change of flux.
8. Define capacitor.
Capacitor is a circuit element which can store and deliver energy in an electric field. Its unit is
Farad. A capacitor is formed by two parallel plates separated by an insulating medium.
9. An alternating voltage is given by v = 310 sin 314t. Calculate frequency, period, maximum
value and RMS value.
v = 310 sin 314t
General form of instantaneous value of voltage is, v = vm sinωt, ω = 2f
Frequency, f = ω = 314 = 50 Hz
2 2
Period, T = 1 = 1 = 0.02 second
f 50
Maximum value, vm = 310 V
RMS value, vrms = vm = 310 = 219.2 V

UNIT- II Page 1
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10. What are the three types of power used in three phase a.c. circuit?
1. Real or Active Power (Power delivered from source to load),
P = 3VphIph cosϕ (or) √3VLIL cosϕ.
2. Reactive Power (Power returned back from load to source),
Q = 3VphIph sinϕ (or) √3VLIL sinϕ.
3. Apparent Power, S = 3VphIph (or) √3VLIL
11. Define power factor of a circuit. (APR/MAY 2017) (NOV/DEC 2014)
The power factor is the cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current.

12. A series RLC circuit has R=25Ω, L=0.221H, and C=66.3μF with frequency of 60Hz. Find the
power factor. ((NOV/DEC 2009)
R= 25� L = 0.221 H C = 66.3 F f = 60 Hz
XL = 2 ××f ×L = 2 ×× 60 × 0.221 = 83.3150 �

= 40.0088�

Z = R + j (XL – XC)
= 25 + j (83.315 – 40.0088)
Z = (25 + j 43.3062)

13. List out the advantages of three phase system over single phase system. / What are the
advantages of three phase system? / What are the advantages of 3-phase system over 1-phase
system?
The three-phase system has the following advantages over a single-phase system,
 Generation, transmission and distribution of three phase power is more economical than single
phase because of less conductive material required.
 Three phase machine provides better power factor and efficiency.
 Converting AC to DC using rectifiers is smoother in three phase system than single phase
system.
 In three phase systems, better voltage regulation is obtained.
14. What is phase sequence of a 3-phase system?
The order in which the alternating quantities reach their maximum values is called phase sequence.
15. Write the expression for power for single phase and three phase AC circuit.
Single phase power P = VI cosϕ,
Three phase power P = √3 VI cosϕ.
16. When a 3-phase supply system is called balanced supply system?
When all the 3 phase voltages are equal in magnitude and displaced by 120o in space, then that
supply system is called as 3 phase balanced supply system.
17. Write the relation between the line and phase value of voltage in a balanced star and delta
connected systems.
In a balanced 3-phase Δ - connection, line voltage = phase voltage
In a balanced 3-phase Y - connection, line voltage = 3 × phase voltage.
18. A star connected balanced load draw a current of 35 A per phase when connected to a 440 V
supply. Determine the apparent power.

UNIT- II Page 2
 = 26,673.582 watts (or) 26.67 kW.
19. Write the current relations in star and delta connections of a three-phase circuit.
In a balanced 3-phase Y - connection, line current = phase current
In a balanced 3-phase Δ - connection, line current = 3 × phase current.
20. Calculate the power factor if V(t) = Vmsin(ωt−45°) and I(t) = Imsin(ωt −135°).

21. Distinguish between unbalanced source and unbalanced load.

Sl. No Unbalanced source Unbalanced load

A three-phase source is called The amplitude and phase of the

1 unbalanced if the three-phase voltage and impedances connected in three phases
currents have unequal amplitude. will not be equal.

The phase shift between three phases will Power consumed by the three phases
2
not be 120o with respect to each other. will not be equal.

22. Mention the factors influencing the selection of wiring system for buildings.
1. Life of the installation,
2. Type of wire and material used,
3. Future extension or alteration,
4. Nature of load (light or power load),
5. Building construction,
6. Fire hazards or other safety conditions,
7. Cost and quality of wiring system,
8. Corrosive fumes.
23. Write the types of wiring systems.
The following are the types of wiring systems, commonly used for residential buildings,
commercial buildings, workshops, theatres, etc.
i. Wooden casing and capping wiring,
ii. CTS (Cabtyre sheathed wire) or TRS (Tough rubber sheathed wire),
iii. Cleat wiring,
iv. Lead Sheathed wiring and
v. Conduit wiring.
24. List the materials or accessories used for electrical wiring.
The materials used for electrical wiring/installation are,
1. Cables and flexible wires 2. Switches, 3. Fuses, 4. Ceiling rose, 5. Socket outlet, 6. Plug,
7. Lamp holders, 8. Junction box.
25. Mention some of the rules related to electrical wiring as specified by BIS.
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) specified the rules related to electrical wiring,
1. AC and DC circuits should be separated.
2. In AC, 3 phases are indicated in Red, Yellow, Blue and Neutral is indicated in Black.
3. If the voltage exceeds 250 volts, all the distribution boards and main switches should be
provided with danger board.
4. Total load in a circuit should not exceed 750 W. Number of points should not exceed 10.
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UNIT – II

UNIT- II Page 3
 AC CIRCUITS
Important Part - B Questions

1. A sinusoidal current wave is given by i = 50 sin (100 πt). Determine the root mean square value.
(MAY/JUNE 2013)
2. Derive the expressions for average and RMS value of an A.C. wave form. (MAY/JUNE 2011)
3. Calculate the (i) form factor (ii) peak factor of a full wave rectified sine wave. (NOV/DEC 2014)
4. Derive the expression for phase angle in R-L, R-C and R-L-C series circuits. (NOV/DEC 2013) /
Derive the expressions for current, impedance, phase angle, power factor, real and reactive power of
R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits.
5. A coil takes a current of 6 A when connected to a 24 V dc supply. To obtain the same current with a
50 Hz ac supply, the voltage required is 30 V. Calculate i. Inductance of the coil ii. Power factor of
the coil. (APR/MAY 2017)
6. RL series circuit having a resistance of 6 Ω and an inductance of 0.03 H is connected across a 100
V, 50 Hz supply. Calculate the phase angle between the current and voltage, power factor.
(MAY/JUNE 2014)
7. A coil of resistance 5.94 Ω and inductance of 0.35 H is connected in series with a capacitance of
35 µF across a 200 V, 50 Hz supply. Find the impedance (Z), current and the phase difference
between voltage and current. (NOV/DEC 2012)
8. A series circuit has R = 5 Ω, L = 13 mH and C = 140 µF and is supplied with 230 V, 50 Hz single
phase. Determine i. Impedance, ii. Current, iii. Power and iv. Power factor of the circuit.
(MAY/JUNE 2016)
9. Two impedances (8+j10) Ω and (7+j9) Ω are connected in parallel. Calculate magnitude and phase
angle of total impedance. Another impedance (5-j2) Ω is connected in series with above
combination. Find overall impedance. (MAY/JUNE 2016)
10. A series R-C circuit with R= 20 Ω and C= 127 µF has 160 V, 50 Hz supply connected to it. Find
the impedance, current and power factor. (MAY/JUNE 2012)
11. Obtain the expression for power and power factor of three phase A.C. star connected balanced load.
(NOV/DEC 2014)
12. Obtain the expression for power and power factor of three phase A.C. delta connected balanced load.
13. Three inductive coils, each with a resistance of 15 Ω and an inductance of 0.03 H are connected in
star to a three phase 400 V, 50 Hz supply. Calculate the phase current, line current and power
absorbed. (NOV/DEC 2012)
14. A balanced star connected load of (8+j6) Ω per phase is connected to a 3-phase 230 V supply.
Determine the line current, power factor, power, reactive volt-ampere and total volt-ampere.
15. Obtain power and power factor of single phase ac circuit through pure resistance.
16. Explain about various materials and accessories used for electrical wiring.
17. Explain different types of electrical wiring system.
18. With neat layout, write in detail about house wiring.
19. Explain with neat sketch about industrial wiring.
20. Prove that the average power consumption in a pure inductor and a pure capacitor is zero.
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UNIT- II Page 4