Alternating Current: RMS Value

1. A sinusoidal ac power supply has rms voltage V and supplies rms current I. What is the
maximum instantaneous power delivered?
VI
A. 2VI B. 2 VI C. VI D.
2
(Total 1 mark)
2. The rms current rating of an electric heater is 4 A. What direct current would produce the same
power dissipation in the electric heater?
4
A. A B. 4A C. 4 2A D. 8A
2
(Total 1 mark)
3. An alternating current supply of negligible internal resistance is connected to two resistors that
are in parallel.

The resistance of each resistor is R and the peak voltage of the ac supply is V0. Which of the
following is the average power dissipated in the circuit?
2 2 2 2
2V0 V0 V0 V0
A. B. C. D.
R R 2R 2R
(Total 1 mark)
4. A rectangular loop of conducting wire rotates in a region of magnetic field. The graph shows the
variation with time t of the induced emf in the loop during one cycle.

The resistance of the coil is 5.0 Ω. Which of the following is the average power dissipated in the
loop?

45 45
A. W B. W C. 45 W D. 45 2 W
2 2
(Total 1 mark)
IB Questionbank Physics 1
Alternating Current: RMS Value

5. In order to reduce power losses in the transmission lines between a power station and a factory,
two transformers are used. One is located at the power station and the other at the factory.
Which of the following gives the correct types of transformer used?

Power station Factory

A. step-up step-up
B. step-up step-down
C. step-down step-up
D. step-down step-down
(Total 1 mark)

6. The maximum output voltage of a generator is V0. The frequency of rotation of the generator
coil is doubled. What is the new maximum output voltage?

A. V0 B. 2 V0 C. 2 V0 D. 4 V0
(Total 1 mark)

7. A power station generates electrical energy at a potential difference V and current I. The
resistance of the transmission lines between the power station and the consumer is R.

The power lost in the transmission lines is

V2
A. 0. B. . C. RI2. D. VI.
R
(Total 1 mark)
8. Raoul suggests that power losses in a transformer may be reduced by the following.
I. Constructing the core from a solid block of steel.
II. Using large diameter wire in the coils.
III. Using wire of low resistivity.
Which of the above suggestions would reduce power loss?
A. I only
B. II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)
9. An AC generator produces a voltage of peak value V. The frequency of rotation of the coil of
the generator is doubled. The rms value of the voltage produced is
V V
A. . B. . C. V 2. D. 2V 2 .
2 2 2
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 2
Alternating Current: RMS Value

10. This question is about alternating current.

(a) The graph shows the variation with time t of the output voltage V of an ac generator of
negligible internal resistance.

A resistor of resistance 25 Ω is connected across the output of the generator.

Calculate

(i) the rms value of the current in the resistor.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) the average power dissipated in the resistor.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) the power dissipated in the resistor at 0.40 ms.

...........................................................................................................................

IB Questionbank Physics 3
Alternating Current: RMS Value

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The frequency of rotation of the generator coil is now doubled. Sketch, using the axes in
(a), the variation with t of the new output voltage V.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

11. This question is about the generation of electrical energy and global warming.

(a) The diagram, not to scale, shows a pumped-storage power station used for the generation
of electrical energy.

Water stored in the tank is allowed to fall through a pipe to a lake via a turbine. The
turbine is connected to an electrical generator. The pumped-storage ac generator system is
reversible so that water can be pumped from the lake to the tank.

The tank is 50 m deep and has a uniform area of 5.0 × 104 m2. The height from the
bottom of the tank to the turbine is 310 m. The density of water is 1.0 × 103 kg m–3.

IB Questionbank Physics 4
Alternating Current: RMS Value

(i) Show that the maximum energy that can be delivered to the turbine by the falling
water is about 8 × 1012 J.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) The flow rate of water in the pipe is 400 m3 s–1. Calculate the power delivered by
the falling water.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The energy losses in the power station are shown in the following table.

Source of energy loss Percentage loss of energy

friction and turbulence of water in pipe 27
friction in turbine and ac generator 15
electrical heating losses 5

(i) Calculate the overall efficiency of the conversion of the gravitational potential
energy of water in the tank into electrical energy.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Physics 5
Alternating Current: RMS Value

(ii) Sketch a Sankey diagram to represent the energy conversion in the power station.

(2)

(c) An ac generator is connected to the turbine used in the pumped-water power station.
The diagrams show two positions of one winding of the coil in the generator. The
magnetic field acts horizontally in the direction shown. The coil rotates clockwise.

IB Questionbank Physics 6
Alternating Current: RMS Value

(i) By considering the motion of XY, explain why the emf induced between X and Y
has a maximum value in position 2.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) In position 2 the vertical speed of XY is 160 m s–1. The magnetic field strength is
0.015 T and XY = 1.5 m. Determine the induced emf between X and Y at this
position.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Side XY is part of the rectangular generator coil that has 1500 windings connected
in series. Calculate the total emf across the ends of the coil at the moment when
XY moves vertically downwards at 90° to the magnetic field direction.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 7
Alternating Current: RMS Value

(d) The electrical power produced at the power station is transmitted by cables to the
consumer.

(i) Outline how the energy losses in transmission are minimized.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) State one advantage and one disadvantage that a pumped-storage system has
compared to a tidal water storage system.

Advantage: ........................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

Disadvantage: ....................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(e) One effect of global warming is to melt the Antarctic ice sheet. The following data are
available for the Antarctic ice sheet and the Earth’s oceans.

Area of ice sheet = 1.4 × 107 km2

Average thickness of ice = 1.5 × 103 m
Density of ice = 920 kg m–3
Density of water = 1000 kg m–3
Area of Earth’s oceans = 3.8 × 108 km2

Using the data, determine the

(i) mass of the Antarctic ice.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 8
Alternating Current: RMS Value

(ii) change in mean sea level if all the Antarctic ice sheet were to melt and flow into
the oceans.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 25 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 9