Chapter 18

Alternating current (a.c) circuits

Section A

18.1 a.c through a resistor

STPM 2014 Question 14

1. The variation of the instantaneous power P dissipated by a heating coil with time t when a
sinusoidal current flows through the heating coil is shown in the graph below.

If the resistance of the coil is 100Ω, what is the rms current flowing through the coil?

A 3.16 A B 4.47 A C 20.0 A D 28.3 A

STPM 2014 Question 15

2. The variation of voltage V and I with time t in a pure resistor is shown by the graph below.
Which graph shows the variation of power P with time t?
STPM 2016 Question 13

3 A sinusoidal a.c voltage is applied across a resistor. Which statement is true about the
current and the voltage of the resistor?

A the current is maximum when the voltage is zero

B the current is zero when the voltage is maximum

C the current increases when the voltage increases

D the current increases when the voltage decreases

STPM 2016 Question 15

4 Sinusoidal voltage with a peak voltage Vo is connected across a resistor of resistance R. The
average power which dissipated as heat is

A 0
2
Vo
B
2R
2
Vo
C
R

2V 2o
D
R

STPM 2016(U) Question 14

5 An electric oven is labelled ‘240 V, 1200 W’. if the values are taken to be the root mean
square, the peak power of the oven is

A 600 W

B 1200 W

C 2400 W

D 4800 W
18.2 A.C through an inductor

STPM 2013 Question 14

6 The variation of voltage V and current I with time when an alternating current flows through
a certain electrical component is shown by the graph below

Which statement is not true of the component?

A the component is an inductor

B the net power dissipated by the component is zero

C The reactance of the component is independent of the frequency

π
D the voltage across the component always leads the current by rad
2
STPM 2014(U) Question 15

7 A pure inductor is connected to an ac supply. If the frequency of the supply is varied but the
amplitude of the voltage remain unchanged, which graph shows the variation of the rms current I
with frequency f?
STPM 2017 Question 15

8 The variation if current I, with time, t for a pure inductor is shown in the graph below

Which graph represents the variation of voltage, V with time, t for an inductor?
18.3 Alternating current through a capacitor

STPM 2013 Question 15

9 An a.c supply of frequency f is connected across a capacitance C. If the peak voltage of the
supply is Vo, what is the maximum current that flows through the capacitor?

A πfC V 0

B √ 2 πfC V o
C 2 πfC V 0

D 2 √ 2 πfC V 0
STPM 2013(U) Question 14

10 The variation of current I and voltage V with time t for a component X in an a.c circuit is
shown in the graph below.

What is the component X?

A A diode B a resistor C a capacitor D an inductor

STPM 2013(U) Question 15

11 A capacitor is connected to an ac source with a peak voltage of 48 V and a frequency of 90

Hz. If the capacitance is 3.7μF, what is the peak current in the circuit?

A 0.00 A B 71.0 mA C 100 mA D 140 mA

STPM 2014(U) Question 13

12 An a.c power supply is connected in series with a parallel plate capacitor and an a.c
ammeter. If an insulator is inserted into the space between the plates of the capacitor, the reading
of the ammeter will

A increase

B decrease

C become zero

D remain constant