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AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

This category covers the core concepts of alternating current (AC) fundamentals, focusing on how RMS, average, and peak values are defined and calculated. It explains the significance of each measurement in analyzing AC waveforms and their practical use in electrical engineering.

30 questions

A \( 25 \, \Omega \) resistor is connected to a \( 125 \, \text{V} \) (rms) AC source. What is the rms current?

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. RMS current: I = (V/R) . Given: V = 125 V , R = 25 Ω . I = (125/25) = 5 A . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p, calculation gives 5 A, consistent with phasor analysis and resonance condition X_L = X_C.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A series LCR circuit with \( R = 70 \, \Omega \), \( X_L = 90 \, \Omega \), \( X_C = 40 \, \Omega \) has a \( 210 \, \te

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²) = √(70² + (90 - 40)²) = √(4900 + 2500) = √(7400) ≈ 86 Ω . RMS current: I = (V/Z) = (210/86) ≈ 2.442 A . Power: P = I² R = (2.442)² × 70 ≈ 417.6 W . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P =

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 212.1 \, \text{V} \) (peak) AC source is connected to a \( 75 \, \Omega \) resistor. What is the average power cons

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. RMS voltage: V = (v_m/√(2)) = (212.1/1.414) = 150 V . RMS current: I = (V/R) = (150/75) = 2 A . Average power: P = I² R = 2² × 75 = 300 W . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p, calculation gives 300 W, consistent

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

Why does a purely capacitive AC circuit not dissipate power despite having current flow?

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. In a purely capacitive circuit, the current leads the voltage by 90°. The instantaneous power oscillates, but the average power over a cycle is zero because the energy is stored during one half-cycle and returned during the other, with no net dissipation. Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p =

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 180 \, \text{V} \) (rms) source supplies a \( 90 \, \Omega \) resistor. What is the peak current?

**RMS value** I_rms = I_peak/√2, V_rms = V_peak/√2 for sinusoidal AC, significance rms gives equivalent DC value producing same heating power P = I_rms² R, average power over cycle, instruments measure rms, average over full cycle zero, half-cycle average 2 I_peak/π, peak = √2 rms. RMS current: I = (V/R) = (180/90) = 2 A . Peak current: i_m = √(2) I = 1.414 × 2 ≈ 2.828 A . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p, calculation gives 2.828 A, consistent with phasor analysis and resonance condition X_L = X_C.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 20 \, \mu\text{F} \) capacitor is connected to a \( 230 \, \text{V} \), \( 50 \, \text{Hz} \) AC source. What is th

**RMS value** I_rms = I_peak/√2, V_rms = V_peak/√2 for sinusoidal AC, significance rms gives equivalent DC value producing same heating power P = I_rms² R, average power over cycle, instruments measure rms, average over full cycle zero, half-cycle average 2 I_peak/π, peak = √2 rms. X_C = (1/ω C) , ω = 2π × 50 = 314 rad/s . C = 20 × 10⁻⁶ F . X_C = (1/314 × 20 × 10⁻⁶) ≈ 159.2 Ω . RMS current: I = (V/X_C) = (230/159.2) ≈ 1.445 A . Peak current: i_m = √(2) I = 1.414 × 1.445 ≈ 2.04 A . Applying X_L =

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 50 \, \mu\text{F} \) capacitor is connected to a \( 220 \, \text{V} \), \( 50 \, \text{Hz} \) AC source. What is th

**RMS value** I_rms = I_peak/√2, V_rms = V_peak/√2 for sinusoidal AC, significance rms gives equivalent DC value producing same heating power P = I_rms² R, average power over cycle, instruments measure rms, average over full cycle zero, half-cycle average 2 I_peak/π, peak = √2 rms. X_C = (1/ω C) , ω = 2π × 50 = 314 rad/s . C = 50 × 10⁻⁶ F . X_C = (1/314 × 50 × 10⁻⁶) ≈ 63.7 Ω . RMS current: I = (V/X_C) = (220/63.7) ≈ 3.45 A . Peak current: i_m = √(2) I = 1.414 × 3.45 ≈ 4.88 A . Applying X_L =

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 198.1 \, \text{V} \) (peak) AC source is connected to a \( 70 \, \Omega \) resistor. What is the average power cons

**Peak current** I_peak = V_peak/R for resistor, I_rms = V_rms/R, V_peak = √2 V_rms, for 200 V rms, V_peak=282.8 V, I_peak=282.8/80=3.535 A, rms I=200/80=2.5 A, average over complete cycle zero because positive and negative halves cancel. RMS voltage: V = (v_m/√(2)) = (198.1/1.414) ≈ 140 V . RMS current: I = (V/R) = (140/70) = 2 A . Average power: P = I² R = 2² × 70 = 280 W . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p, calculation gives 280 W, consistent with phasor analysis

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 35 \, \text{mH} \) inductor is connected to a \( 110 \, \text{V} \), \( 60 \, \text{Hz} \) AC source. What is the r

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. X_L = ω L , ω = 2π × 60 = 376.8 rad/s . L = 35 × 10⁻³ H . X_L = 376.8 × 0.035 = 13.19 Ω . RMS current: I = (V/X_L) = (110/13.19) ≈ 8.34 A . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p,

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A \( 100 \, \text{mH} \) inductor is connected to a \( 220 \, \text{V} \), \( 50 \, \text{Hz} \) AC source. What is the

**Peak current** I_peak = V_peak/R for resistor, I_rms = V_rms/R, V_peak = √2 V_rms, for 200 V rms, V_peak=282.8 V, I_peak=282.8/80=3.535 A, rms I=200/80=2.5 A, average over complete cycle zero because positive and negative halves cancel. X_L = ω L , ω = 2π f . f = 50 Hz , L = 100 × 10⁻³ H . ω = 2 × 3.14 × 50 = 314 rad/s . X_L = 314 × 0.1 = 31.4 Ω . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p, calculation gives

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

A series LCR circuit with \( R = 90 \, \Omega \), \( X_L = 120 \, \Omega \), \( X_C = 60 \, \Omega \) has a \( 270 \, \t

**Average power** in resistor P_avg = V_rms I_rms = V_rms²/R = I_rms² R, for 254.6 V peak, V_rms =180 V, R=90 Ω, P=180²/90=360 W, for 226.3 V peak, V_rms=160 V, R=80 Ω, P=320 W, illustrating rms use for power. Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²) = √(90² + (120 - 60)²) = √(8100 + 3600) = √(11700) ≈ 108.17 Ω . RMS current: I = (V/Z) = (270/108.17) ≈ 2.496 A . Power: P = I² R = (2.496)² × 90 ≈ 560.6 W . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P =

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Alternating Currents > AC Fundamentals - RMS, Average and Peak Values

In a purely inductive AC circuit, the current lags the voltage by what phase angle?

**RMS value** I_rms = I_peak/√2, V_rms = V_peak/√2 for sinusoidal AC, significance rms gives equivalent DC value producing same heating power P = I_rms² R, average power over cycle, instruments measure rms, average over full cycle zero, half-cycle average 2 I_peak/π, peak = √2 rms. For a pure inductor, i = i_m sin (ω t - (π/2)) , while v = v_m sin ω t . Phase difference: Φ = -(π/2) , meaning current lags voltage by (π/2) or 90° . Applying X_L = ωL, X_C = 1/ωC, Z = √(R² + (X_L - X_C)²), I_rms = V_rms/Z, P = V_rms I_rms cosφ, V_s/V_p =

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