Sinusoids

and Phasors
Session 1

Mohammad Asif ul Haq

Lecturer and Program Coordinator
Department of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
Sinusoids
“A sinusoid is a signal that has the form of the sine or
cosine function.”
So why are we studying sinusoids?

 In nature, we experience sinusoidal variation in the motion of a pendulum, the

vibration of a string, the ripples on the ocean surface etc.
 A Sinusoidal signal is very easy to generate and transmit. It is the form of
voltage generated throughout the world and supplied to homes, factories,
laboratories, and so on. It is the dominant form of signal in the
communications and electric power industries.
 Sinusoids are easy to handle mathematically. Also, we can represent sinusoids
using various forms of phasors.
Sinusoids
Consider the following sinusoidal voltage -
Sinusoids
Consider the following sinusoidal voltage –

So it is clear that the sinusoid repeats itself after T seconds. This is called the Time
Period of the sinusoid.
The reciprocal of the Time Period is called frequency f, which is the number of
cycles completed per second. So, f = 1 / T.
We can say that, in T seconds, the sinusoid completes 2π radian.
So, in 1 second, it completes 2π / T radian.
So, ω = 2π / T or, T = 2π / ω

And, ω = 2π f
 Sinusoids
Now, let’s consider two sinusoidal voltages v1 and
v2.
We can see that the starting point of v2 comes first
in time. The difference between them in radian is
.
So we say, v2 leads v1 by ,
Or v1 lags v2 by .
In terms of equation if
Then,
This is the general equation of sinusoidal signals.
Here,  is called the Phase of the sinusoid.
If  = 0, we can say v1 and v2 are in phase.
If   0, we can say v1 and v2 are out of phase.
Sinusoids
Sinusoids

Class work:
Some Important Formulae
 In our next class, we will need to convert between sine
and cosine functions. The following formulae will be
necessary –