Course: Basic Electrical & Electronics

Topic: AC Fundamental-I
School: Engineering & Technology
 Alternating current
 The circuit that is excited using alternating
source is called an AC Circuit. The alternating
current (AC) is used for domestic and industrial
purposes. In an AC circuit, the value of the
magnitude and the direction of current and
voltages is not constant, it changes at a regular
interval of time.
 Alternating current

 (AC) is an electric current which periodically

reverses direction and changes its magnitude
continuously with time in contrast to
 direct current (DC) which flows only in one
direction. Alternating current is the form in
which electric power
 Electric power

 Electric power is delivered to businesses and

residences, and it is the form of electrical energy that
consumers typically use when they plug kitchen
appliances, televisions, fans and electric lamps into
a wall socket. A common source of DC power is
a battery cell in a flashlight. The
abbreviations AC and DC are often used to mean
simply alternating and direct, as when they
modify current or voltage
The usual waveform of alternating current in most electric
power circuits is a sine wave, whose positive half-period
corresponds with positive direction of the current and vice
versa. In certain applications, like guitar amplifiers, different
waveforms are used, such as triangular waves or square
waves. Audio and radio signals carried on electrical wires are
also examples of alternating current. These types of
alternating current carry information such as sound (audio) or
images (video) sometimes carried by modulation of an AC
carrier signal. These currents typically alternate at higher
frequencies than those used in power transmission
A sinusoidal alternating voltage.
1. Peak, also amplitude,
2. Peak-to-peak,
3. Effective value,
4. Period

USED-

Transmission, distribution, and domestic

power supply
Resistance, Capacitance & Inductance in Series-Parallel –
Equation & Formulas
in AC circuits, Ohm's Law takes the more
general form: E = I⋅Z, where E is voltage
and I is current, as before. The new term, Z,
is impedance, a vector combination of:
 Resistance, R (in ohms), with voltage drops in
phase with the current.

 Inductive reactance, XL (in ohms), with voltage

drops leading the current by 90°.

 Capacitive reactance, XC (in ohms) with voltage

drops lagging the current by 90°.
 From the formulas for XL and XC, you can see that
reactance depend on both the component values L
and C, as well as the AC frequency, f:
Advantages of AC system over DC system

 1. AC voltages can be efficiently stepped up/down using

transformer

 2. AC motors are cheaper and simpler in construction than DC

motors

 3. Switchgear for AC system is simpler than DC system

 differences between AC & DC
Alternating Current Direct Current
• AC is safe to transfer longer distance • DC cannot travel for a very long
even between two cities, and maintain distance. It loses electric power.
the electric power.
• The rotating magnets cause the • The steady magnetism makes DC flow
change in direction of electric flow. in a single direction.
• The frequency of AC is depended upon • DC has no frequency of zero frequency.
the country. But, generally, the
frequency is 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
• In AC the flow of current changes its • It flows in a single direction steadily.
direction backwards periodically.
• Electrons in AC keep changing its • Electrons only move in one direction –
directions – backward and forward that is forward.
 What are the advantages of AC over DC?

 AC is less expensive and easy to generate than DC.

 The distance covered by AC is more than that of the DC.
 The power loss during transmission in AC is less when compared
to the DC.
 Advantages and disadvantages of AC over DC

 Advantages:
 (i) The generation of AC is cheaper than that of DC.

 (ii) When AC is supplied at higher voltages, the

transmission losses are small compared to DC transmission.

 (iii) AC can easily be converted into DC with the help of

rectifiers.
 Advantages and disadvantages of AC over DC

 Disadvantages:
 (i) Alternating voltages cannot be used for certain
applications e.g. charging of batteries, electroplating,
electric traction etc.

 (ii) At high voltages, it is more dangerous to work with AC

than DC.
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