Fundamentals of A.C.

circuits
1. Each time an AC generator moves through one
complete revolution, it is said to complete one cycle.
2. The two half of a cycle are referred as alternations.
3. One complete cycle per second is defined as a hertz.
 AC Values
• Peak value: Absolute value of the point with the
greatest amplitude.
• Peak to Peak value: Vertical distance b/w 2 peaks.
 AC Values (cont’d.)
 Effective value of alternating current is the amount that
produces same degree of heat in a resistance as produced by
direct current. It is also referred as rms value.
Erms = 0.707Ep
where: Erms = rms or effective voltage value

Average Value of alternating current

Iav = 0.637 Im
The average current of a sinusoidal waveform is
determined by multiplying the peak voltage value by
0.637.
Pure Resistive AC Circuit
Phasor diagram

Waveform
MCQ
MCQ

voltage
solve
 solve
• Each branch: 24 V
• 4 ohm= 12 V each
• 8 ohm= 16 V
• 4 ohm= 8 V
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Pure Capacitor Circuit
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Pure inductive Circuit
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In series-V
divides
It also determines the phase angle when the two voltages are
known. These relationships are:
The combined effect of resistance and reactance is called
impedance and is represented by the symbol Z.

Impedance for the previous series RL circuit is given

by Z.
 Series RC circuit

In series-V
divides
 REACTANCE IN RL PARALLEL CIRCUITS

In series-I
divides
 REACTANCE IN RC PARALLEL CIRCUITS

In series-I
divides
Or-Series RL Circuit (Rectangular form)
Or-Series RC Circuit(Rectangular form)
 Series RLC Circuit

In series-V divides
 Resonant Frequency
In a series resonant circuit, the resonant frequency, ƒr can be
calculated as follows.
 Parallel RLC Circuit

In series-I divides
 Important terms
Admittance ( Y ) :
Admittance is the reciprocal of impedance, Z and is given the
symbol Y.

Conductance ( G ) :
Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance, R and is given
the symbol G.
Susceptance ( B ) :
Susceptance is the reciprocal of a pure reactance, X
and is given the symbol B.