1. What is Current?

Current is a flow of Electrons (electrical charge carriers, usually electrons or electron-deficient

atoms). Where V = Voltage and R = Resistance

I = V/R

Current is also defined as charge per unit time. Where Q = Charge and T = Time

I = Q/T

The common symbol for current is the uppercase letter I. The standard unit is the ampere,
symbolized by A.

2. What is Voltage or Electro motive Force (EMF)?

Voltage is defined as potential difference between two points.

V = IR

(or)

Workdone per unit charge

Voltage (V) = Workdone (W)/Charge (Q)

The common symbol for Voltage is the uppercase letter V. The standard unit is the Volts,
symbolized by V.

3. What is Electrical power?

Electric power is the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred in an electrical circuit.

(or) Power is the product of voltage and current. (or) Workdone per unit time.

Power (P) = Workdone (W)/Time (Q)

Power (P) = Voltage (V) x Current (I)

Types of Power in AC Circuit

 (i) Real power (or) True power (or) Active power (P)

P = V.I.CosØ
(Unit: Watts (W)

(ii) Reactive power (Q) or Unused power

Q = V.I.SinØ
(Unit: Volt-amp reactance (VAr)

(iii) Apparent power (S)

S = V.I
(Unit: Volt-amp (VA)

4. What is Electrical Energy?

Electric energy is the energy generated by the movement of electrons from one point to another.

(or) Capacity to do work. (or) Workdone

Energy (E) = Workdone (W)

Energy (E) = Voltage (V) x Current (I) x Time (t)

(Unit: Watt-hour or Watt-sec )

5. What is Power factor? (CosØ)

Power factor is defined as cosine angle between current (I) and voltage (V)

(or)

Power factor is defined as ratio of Resistance (R) to the Impedance (Z)

CosØ = R/Z

(or)

Power factor is defined as ratio of Real power (P) to the Apparent power (S)

CosØ = P/S
Types: (i) Unity power factor (UPF) – Pure resistive load

(ii) Low Power Factor (LPF)

(a) Lagging Power Factor – Inductive load

(b) Leading Power factor – Capacitive load
6. Resistance (R)

It is the property of a material which opposes the flow of electric current through it. Conductors
have low resistance while insulators have very high resistance. It is measured in Ohms ().

R = V/I R = ρL/A

7. Inductance (L)

It is the property of a coil to resist any change in electric current flowing through it. Self
inductance is caused when a coil resists the current change through itself. Mutual inductance
occurs when a secondary coil opposes current change in a primary coil. Inductance is measured
in Henry (H).

8. Capacitance (C)

The amount of charge that can be stored inside a capacitor at a given voltage is called
Capacitance. It gets charged when charges are forced into the positive (or upper) plate of the
capacitor due to emf. Similarly, it discharged when charges are forcefully pulled out of the
capacitor.

Capacitance is measured in Farad (F).

9. Impedance (Z)

Impedance is the opposition to alternating current presented by the combined effect of resistance
and reactance in a circuit. It is measured in Ohms ().

Z = R+jX

10. Reactance (X)

Reactance is the opposition presented to alternating current by inductance or capacitance. It is

measured in Ohms ().

Types: (i) Inductive reactance (XL), XL = 2лfL

 (ii) Capacitive reactance (XC), XC = 1/2лfC

11. Cycle

One complete set of positive or negative values of an alternating quantity is known as

cycle. One cycle spans 360 electrical degrees.

12. Frequency

Frequency: It is the number of complete cycles that occurred in one second. The
frequency of the wave is commonly measured in cycles per second (cycles/sec) and
expressed in units of Hertz (Hz). It is represented in mathematical equations by the letter
‘f ’.
It is measured in Hertz (Hz).

F = 1/T

13. Alternating Current (AC)

Alternating current is the current which constantly changes in amplitude, and which
reverses direction at regular intervals.

i
Im
 2

Instantaneous current i = Im sin ωt.

14. Alternating voltage

Alternating Voltage is the voltage which varies its magnitude as well as polarity
periodically.

v
Vm
 2

Instantaneous voltage v = Vm sin ωt.