General Physics (3)

Chapter 5
POWER IN AC CIRCUITS

Textbook
Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume II – AC. By Tony R. Kuphaldt.6 th Edition, 2007
Power
The rate at which electrical energy is delivered to a resistor in
the circuit is given by
P= I V
Using Ohm’s law it can be written as
P = I2 R = V2 /R

The average power delivered to a resistor that carries an

alternating current is
Pav= I2rms R
Example
Find the power in a resistive AC circuit where Io = 2 A
and Eo = 5 V.
 True, Reactive, and Apparent power
True power : The actual amount of power being used, or dissipated, in a circuit is
called true power, and it is measured in watts And is a function the resistances (R)
reactive power : Measured in volt- ampere- reactive (VAR ). It only maintains the
electromagnetic field and provides no working ” part of the power system.it is
measured in a unit called Volt-Amps-Reactive (VAR), rather than watts.
And is a function of a circuit’s reactance (X).
apparent power : The combination of reactive power and true power ,Measured in
Volt- Ampere (VA). Provided both working and nonworking parts of the
power system and is a function of a circuit’s total impedance (Z)
Find true, reactive and apparent power
Find true, reactive and apparent power
 Example
Find true, reactive and
apparent power
 Example
The voltage and current values of a 50Hz sinusoidal
supply are given as: E(t) = 240 sin(ωt +60°) Volts and
I(t) = 5sin(ωt -10°)Amps, respectively. What is the
instantaneous power?