Summative assessment for the unit Alternating Current

Learning objectives

 show an understanding of and use the terms period, frequency, peak value and root-mean-square value as
applied to a current or voltage;
 Be able to apply the Ohm’s law for alternating-current circuit that has reactive resistance;
 describe the principles behind the transfer of alternating current to distant objects;
 apply Ohm’s law for a complete alternating-current circuit;
 apply the transformer design formulas to solve problems;
 Show an understanding of the source of energy loss in a real transformer;
 demonstrate the scientific and economic advantages of alternating current and of high voltages for the
transmission of electrical energy;
 explain the use of a single diode for the half-wave rectification of an alternating current;
 explain the use of four diodes (bridge rectifier) for the full-wave rectification of an alternating current;
 distinguish graphically between half-wave and full- wave rectification;

Level of thinking skills

 Application
 Higher order thinking skills

Duration

30 minutes, 20 Marks
1. A student designs a circuit to obtain a peak DC voltage of 6.0 V from a 240V RMS AC power supply. The
student uses an ideal transformer and a bridge rectifier incorporating four ideal diodes as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

number of turns∈the primary coil

a. Calculate the ratio
number of turns∈the secondary coil

Ratio = [2]
b. When the bottom terminal of the secondary coil is positive with respect to the top terminal, which
diodes carry current?

[1]

c. Suppose instead of a 240V RMS AC power supply, the student connected a 12V DC battery to the
primary coil of the transformer and waited a short time. What voltage would be observed across the
secondary coil? Explain your answer.

Voltage V =
Reason:

[2]
d. The variation of the voltage across the load with time is shown in Figure 2 below. The student adds a
capacitor in parallel with the load. On Figure 2 sketch the new variation of voltage with time.

Figure 2

[1]
 [Total 6]

2. An engineer is designing a small electricity distribution system. The power plant generates 500 kW of power,
and the plant will be connected to a town by wires with a total resistance of 1.2 Ohms. The power is
transmitted at a voltage of 28 kV
a. How much power is lost due to resistance in the power lines?

P= W

[2]

b. If the transmission voltage were decreased would the power loss be greater or less than in part A?
Explain your answer

[3]
[Total 5]

3. A light globe has a rating of 36W and is connected to the 240V RMS AC power supply, which operates at a
frequency of 60 Hz.
a. What is the peak current that passes through the light globe filament?

[2]

b. In another country, the power supply is still 240V, but operates at a frequency of 50 Hz rather than
60Hz. If the bulb were plugged into this power supply would it still dissipate 36W? Explain your
answer.

[2]
[Total 4]
4. A 360 μF capacitor is connected in series with a 10 Ohm resistor to a 12V (RMS) AC power supply
which operates at a frequency of 50 Hz. Calculate:
a. The reactance of the capacitor.

XC= Ohms
[2]
b. The impedance of the circuit.

Z= Ohms
[2]
c. The RMS current through the resistor.

I= A

[1]

[Total 5]

Total 20 Marks