General Physics (3)

Chapter 3
Passive components in AC circuit

Textbook
Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume II – AC. By Tony R. Kuphaldt.6 th Edition, 2007
1- Introduction
Electrical circuits generally consist of a set of basic components described in the following
table

Quantity Unit Device

Voltage ( E ) Volt ( V ) Volmeter
Current ( I ) Ampere ( A ) Ammeter
Resistance ( R ) Ohm ( Ω) Resistor
Inductance ( L ) Henry ( H ) Inductor
Capacitance ( C ) Farad ( F ) Capacitor
AC source Alternator
DC source Dc battery
1- Introduction

There are two types of elements found in electric circuits:

1- Active elements.
An active element is capable of generating energy, Typical active elements include generators,
batteries.
2- Passive elements :
A Passive element is not capable of generating energy. Examples of passive elements are
resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
 2- AC resistor circuits

An alternating current passes through an electrical resistor is given by

I = Io sin ωt (1)

As a result of the passage of this current, an electric potential difference is generated

between the two ends of this resistance, which can be set using Ohm's law

E=IR
E = Io sin ωt R
E = (Io R) sin ωt
E = Eo sin ωt (2)

Comparing (1) and (2) we can see that voltage and current “in phase” for resistive circuit.
2- AC resistor circuits
EXAMPLE : The voltage across a resistor is indicated. Find the sinusoidal expression for the
current if the resistor is 10 Ω.
(a) E = 100 sin 377t
To find Io we use Ohm's law E = I R
Io = Eo /R = 100/10=10 A
The sinusoidal expression for the current is given by
I = 10 sin 377t

(b) E = 25 sin (377t+60)

To find Io we use Ohm's law E = I R
Io = Eo /R = 25/10=2.5 A
The sinusoidal expression for the current is given by

I = 2.5 sin (377t+60)

2- AC resistor circuits

EXAMPLE : The current through a 5 Ω resistor is given. Find the sinusoidal expression for the voltage
across the resistor for I = 40 sin(377t + 30).
Solution:
To find Eo we use Ohm's law
Eo = Io R = (40) (5) = 200 V
The sinusoidal expression for the voltage is given by

E=200 sin(377t + 30).

 3- AC inductor circuits

An inductor: is a coil of wire that induces a magnetic field within itself or

within a central core as a direct result of current passing through the coil.

If an alternating current flows through a self-inducting coil, then the current is given as
I= Io sin ωt
E = L dI/ dt
E = L d/ dt [Io sin ωt]
E = ω L Io cosωt
E = ω L Io [sin(ωt + 90)]
E = Eo sin (ωt+90)
Where cos(ϑ) = sin(ϑ + 90) , and ω L = XL
For an inductor, E leads I by 90°
since ω L Io = Eo then XL = Eo / Io
Where the inductance value (L) of an inductor is measured in Henries, H. and XL
is coil reactance in Ω.
XL = Eo / Io
3- AC inductor circuits

Pure inductive circuit: Inductor current lags inductor voltage by 90o

3- AC inductor circuits

EXAMPLE
Find the Inductive reactance and the current.
XL = ω L
XL = 3.7699 W
and
I=E/X
I = 10 V / 3.7699 W
I = 2.6526 A
3- AC inductor circuits

EXAMPLE :The current through a 0.1-H coil is provided. Find the sinusoidal expression for the
voltage across the coil.
a) I = 10 sin 377t b) I = 7 sin(377t - 70°)

a) I = 10 sin 377t b) I = 7 sin(377t - 70°)

First we find Eo First we find Eo
XL = ω L = 377 x 0.1 = 37.7Ω XL = ω L = 377 x 0.1 = 37.7Ω
Eo = Io XL = 10 x 37.7 = 377 V Eo = Io XL = 7 x 37.7 = 263.9 V
So the expression for the voltage across So the expression for the voltage across
the coil is given by the coil is given by
E = 377 sin(377t + 90o) E = 263.9 sin(377t - 70°+ 90o)
E = 263.9 sin(377t + 20o)
 4- AC capacitor circuits

A capacitor is a two-terminal electrical device that can store energy in the form of an electric charge. It consists
of two electrical conductors that are separated by a distance. The ability of the capacitor to store charges is
known as capacitance. Capacitance is given by C = Q /E

Q=CE
dQ/dt=Cd E/dt since the current is defined as I=dQ/dt ∴ I= Cd E/dt
Let the alternating voltage applied to the circuit is given by
E= Eo sin ωt (1)
I = Cd E/dt = C Eo ω cos ωt
= C Eo ω (sin ωt +90)
∴ I = Eo / XC (sin ωt +90) (2)
Where Xc = 1/ωC is the opposition offered to the flow of alternating current by a pure capacitor and is called Capacitive
Reactance.
The value of current will be maximum when sin(ωt + π/2) = 1. Therefore, the value of maximum current Io will be given
as:

Io = Eo / XC
Substituting the value of Io in the equation (2) we will get:
I = Io (sin ωt +90) (3)

for a capacitor, the current leads the voltage by 90°

4- AC capacitor circuits

Pure capacitive circuit: capacitor voltage lags capacitor current by 90o

4- AC capacitor circuits

Example

Find the capacitive Reactance and the current.

Xc = 1/ωC
XC = 26.5258 W
and
I=E/X
I = 10 / 26.5258
I = 0.3770 A
‫اختبري فهمك‬ 1- The voltage across a 0.5 H coil is provided below.
What is the sinusoidal expression for the current?
E = 100 sin 20t

Final answer
I= 10 sin(20t – 90°)
(Note: solve it in details to get this answer)

2- What is the phase relationship between the sinusoidal waveforms of each of the following
a) E = 10 sin (ωt + 30°) , I= 5 sin(ωt+ 70°)
b) I= 15 sin(ωt+ 60°) , E = 10 sin (ωt - 20°)
3- The voltage across a 1µF capacitor is provided below. What is the sinusoidal expression for the
current.
E = 30 sin 400t
Final answer
I= 12 x 10-3 sin(400t + 90°)
(Hint: Find XC first then IO to get this answer)

4- The current through a 100µF capacitor is given. Find the sinusoidal expression for the voltage
across the capacitor.
I = 40 sin (500t +60°)
Final answer
E = 800 sin (500t - 30°)
(Hint: Find XC first then EO to get this answer)
5- For the following pairs of voltages and currents, determine whether the element involved in the figure is
a capacitor, an inductor, or a resistor, and determine the value of C, L, or R.
a. E = 100 sin(ωt + 40°) I = 20 sin(ωt + 40°)
b. E= 1000 sin(377t + 10°) I = 5 sin(377t – 80°) I
c. E = 500 sin(157t + 30°) I = 1 sin(157t + 120°)
E
d. E = 50 cos(ωt + 20°) I = 5 sin(ωt + 110°)
6- At what frequency will the reactance of a 200 mH inductor match the resistance level of a 5 kΩ
resistor?
Final answer
f​ = 3.98 kHz

7- At what frequency will an inductor of 5mH have the same reactance as a capacitor of 0.1 µF?
Final answer
f​ = 7.12 kHz