Basic Concepts of Alternating Current

Course No: E03-003

Credit: 3 PDH

[Link]

Continuing Education and Development, Inc.

P: (877) 322-5800
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[Link]
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current - E03-003

This course was adapted from the “Naval Education and Training
Materials”, Publication No, “NAVEDTRA 14173", which is in the
public domain.
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

CHAPTER 1

CONCEPTS OF ALTERNATING CURRENT



LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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Q1. Define direct current.

Q2. Define alternating current.

DISADVANTAGES OF DC COMPARED TO AC

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Q3. What is a disadvantage of a direct-current system with respect to supply voltage?

Q4. What disadvantage of a direct current is due to the resistance of the transmission wires?

Q5. What kind of electrical current is used in most modern power distribution systems?

VOLTAGE WAVEFORMS

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Figure 1-1.—Voltage waveforms: (A) Direct voltage; (B) Alternating voltage.

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ELECTROMAGNETISM

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MAGNETIC FIELDS

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MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR

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Figure 1-2.—Magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor.

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Figure 1-3.—Magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor, detailed view.

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Figure 1-4.—Magnetic field around two parallel conductors.

Q6. When placed in the vicinity of a current-carrying conductor, the needle of a compass becomes
aligned at what angle to the conductor?

Q7. What is the direction of the magnetic field around a vertical conductor when (a) the current flows
upward and (b) the current flows downward.

Q8. The "left-hand rule" for a conductor is used for what purpose

Q9. In what direction will the compass needle point when the compass is placed in the magnetic field
surrounding a wire?

Q10. When two adjacent parallel wires carry current in the same direction, the magnetic field about
one wire has what effect on the magnetic field about the other conductor?

[Link] two adjacent parallel conductors carry current in opposite directions, the magnetic field about
one conductor has what effect on the magnetic field about the other conductor?

MAGNETIC FIELD OF A COIL

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Figure 1-5.—Magnetic field produced by a current-carrying coil.

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Polarity of an Electromagnetic Coil

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Figure 1-6.—Left-hand rule for coils.

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Strength of an Electromagnetic Field

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Losses in an Electromagnetic Field

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Q12. What is the shape of the magnetic field that exists around (a) a straight conductor and (b) a coil?

Q13. What happens to the two-pole field of a coil when the current through the coil is reversed?

Q14. What rule is used to determine the polarity of a coil when the direction of the electron current flow
in the coil is known?

Q15. State the rule whose purpose is described in Q14.

BASIC AC GENERATION

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CYCLE

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Figure 1-7.—Simple alternating-current generator.

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1RWLFHWKDWWKLVFXUYHFRQWDLQVžRUWZRDOWHUQDWLRQV7:2$/7(51$7,216UHSUHVHQW21(
FRPSOHWH&<&/(RIURWDWLRQ

Figure 1-8.—Basic alternating-current generator.

10
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

 $VVXPLQJDFORVHGSDWKLVSURYLGHGDFURVVWKHHQGVRIWKHFRQGXFWRUORRS\RXFDQGHWHUPLQHWKH
GLUHFWLRQRIFXUUHQWLQWKHORRSE\XVLQJWKH/()7+$1'58/()25*(1(5$72565HIHUWRILJXUH
7KHOHIWKDQGUXOHLVDSSOLHGDVIROORZV)LUVWSODFH\RXUOHIWKDQGRQWKHLOOXVWUDWLRQZLWKWKHILQJHUV
DVVKRZQ<RXU7+80%ZLOOQRZSRLQWLQWKHGLUHFWLRQRIURWDWLRQ UHODWLYHPRYHPHQWRIWKHZLUHWRWKH
PDJQHWLFILHOG \RXU)25(),1*(5ZLOOSRLQWLQWKHGLUHFWLRQRIPDJQHWLFIOX[ QRUWKWRVRXWK DQG
\RXU0,''/(),1*(5 SRLQWLQJRXWRIWKHSDSHU ZLOOSRLQWLQWKHGLUHFWLRQRIHOHFWURQFXUUHQWIORZ

Figure 1-9.—Left-hand rule for generators.

 %\DSSO\LQJWKHOHIWKDQGUXOHWRWKHGDUNKDOIRIWKHORRSLQ % LQILJXUH\RXZLOOILQGWKDWWKH
FXUUHQWIORZVLQWKHGLUHFWLRQLQGLFDWHGE\WKHKHDY\DUURZ6LPLODUO\E\XVLQJWKHOHIWKDQGUXOHRQWKH
OLJKWKDOIRIWKHORRS\RXZLOOILQGWKDWFXUUHQWWKHUHLQIORZVLQWKHRSSRVLWHGLUHFWLRQ7KHWZRLQGXFHG
YROWDJHVLQWKHORRSDGGWRJHWKHUWRIRUPRQHWRWDOHPI,WLVWKLVHPIZKLFKFDXVHVWKHFXUUHQWLQWKHORRS

 :KHQWKHORRSURWDWHVWRWKHSRVLWLRQVKRZQLQ ' RIILJXUHWKHDFWLRQUHYHUVHV7KHGDUNKDOILV

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UXOHRQFHDJDLQ\RXZLOOVHHWKDWWKHWRWDOLQGXFHGHPIDQGLWVUHVXOWLQJFXUUHQWKDYHUHYHUVHGGLUHFWLRQ
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ORRSILQDOO\UHWXUQVWRLWVRULJLQDOSRVLWLRQ ( DWZKLFKSRLQWYROWDJHLVDJDLQ]HUR7KHVLQHFXUYH
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 ,IWKHORRSLVURWDWHGWKURXJKž DWDVWHDG\UDWHDQGLIWKHVWUHQJWKRIWKHPDJQHWLFILHOGLV
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WKHORRSZLOOSURGXFHDVHULHVRIVLQHZDYHYROWDJHF\FOHVRULQRWKHUZRUGVDQDFYROWDJH

11
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

 $VPHQWLRQHGSUHYLRXVO\WKHF\FOHFRQVLVWVRIWZRFRPSOHWHDOWHUQDWLRQVLQDSHULRGRIWLPH
5HFHQWO\WKH+(57= +] KDVEHHQGHVLJQDWHGWRLQGLFDWHRQHF\FOHSHUVHFRQG,I21(&<&/(3(5
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1((76WKHWHUPF\FOHLVXVHGZKHQQRVSHFLILFWLPHHOHPHQWLVLQYROYHGDQGWKHWHUPKHUW] +] LVXVHG
ZKHQWKHWLPHHOHPHQWLVPHDVXUHGLQVHFRQGV

Q16. When a conductor is rotated in a magnetic field, at what points in the cycle is emf (a) at maximum
amplitude and (b) at minimum amplitude?

Q17. One cycle is equal to how many degrees of rotation of a conductor in a magnetic field?

Q18. State the left-hand rule used to determine the direction of current in a generator.

Q19. How is an ac voltage produced by an ac generator?

FREQUENCY

 ,IWKHORRSLQWKHILJXUH $ PDNHVRQHFRPSOHWHUHYROXWLRQHDFKVHFRQGWKHJHQHUDWRUSURGXFHV
RQHFRPSOHWHF\FOHRIDFGXULQJHDFKVHFRQG +] ,QFUHDVLQJWKHQXPEHURIUHYROXWLRQVWRWZRSHU
VHFRQGZLOOSURGXFHWZRFRPSOHWHF\FOHVRIDFSHUVHFRQG +] 7KHQXPEHURIFRPSOHWHF\FOHVRI
DOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWRUYROWDJHFRPSOHWHGHDFKVHFRQGLVUHIHUUHGWRDVWKH)5(48(1&<)UHTXHQF\LV
DOZD\VPHDVXUHGDQGH[SUHVVHGLQKHUW]

 $OWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWIUHTXHQF\LVDQLPSRUWDQWWHUPWRXQGHUVWDQGVLQFHPRVWDFHOHFWULFDOHTXLSPHQWV
UHTXLUHDVSHFLILFIUHTXHQF\IRUSURSHURSHUDWLRQ

Q20. Define Frequency.

PERIOD

 $QLQGLYLGXDOF\FOHRIDQ\VLQHZDYHUHSUHVHQWVDGHILQLWHDPRXQWRI7,0(1RWLFHWKDWILJXUH
VKRZVF\FOHVRIDVLQHZDYHZKLFKKDVDIUHTXHQF\RIKHUW] +] 6LQFHF\FOHVRFFXUHDFKVHFRQG
F\FOHPXVWUHTXLUHRQHKDOIVHFRQGRIWLPH7KHWLPHUHTXLUHGWRFRPSOHWHRQHF\FOHRIDZDYHIRUPLV
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WLPH W DQGIUHTXHQF\ I LVLQGLFDWHGE\WKHIRUPXODV

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 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

Figure 1-10.—Period of a sine wave.

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YROWDJH7KHYDULDWLRQZKLFKRFFXUVGXULQJWKHWLPHWKHYROWDJHLVSRVLWLYHLVFDOOHGWKH326,7,9(
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RSSRVLWHLQSRODULW\

 7KHGLVWDQFHIURP]HURWRWKHPD[LPXPYDOXHRIHDFKDOWHUQDWLRQLVFDOOHGWKH$03/,78'(7KH
DPSOLWXGHRIWKHSRVLWLYHDOWHUQDWLRQDQGWKHDPSOLWXGHRIWKHQHJDWLYHDOWHUQDWLRQDUHWKHVDPH

WAVELENGTH

 7KHWLPHLWWDNHVIRUDVLQHZDYHWRFRPSOHWHRQHF\FOHLVGHILQHGDVWKHSHULRGRIWKHZDYHIRUP7KH
GLVWDQFHWUDYHOHGE\WKHVLQHZDYHGXULQJWKLVSHULRGLVUHIHUUHGWRDV:$9(/(1*7+:DYHOHQJWK
LQGLFDWHGE\WKHV\PEROȜ *UHHNODPEGD LVWKHGLVWDQFHDORQJWKHZDYHIRUPIURPRQHSRLQWWRWKHVDPH
SRLQWRQWKHQH[WF\FOH<RXFDQREVHUYHWKLVUHODWLRQVKLSE\H[DPLQLQJILJXUH7KHSRLQWRQWKH
ZDYHIRUPWKDWPHDVXUHPHQWRIZDYHOHQJWKEHJLQVLVQRWLPSRUWDQWDVORQJDVWKHGLVWDQFHLVPHDVXUHGWR
WKHVDPHSRLQWRQWKHQH[WF\FOH VHHILJXUH 

Figure 1-11.—Wavelength.

13
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

Figure 1-12.—Wavelength measurement.

Q21. What term is used to indicate the time of one complete cycle of a waveform?

Q22. What is a positive alternation?

Q23. :KDWGRWKHSHULRGDQGWKHZDYHOHQJWKRIDVLQHZDYHPHDVXUHUHVSHFWLYHO\"

ALTERNATING CURRENT VALUES

 ,QGLVFXVVLQJDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWDQGYROWDJH\RXZLOORIWHQILQGLWQHFHVVDU\WRH[SUHVVWKHFXUUHQW
DQGYROWDJHLQWHUPVRI0$;,080RU3($.YDOXHV3($.WR3($.YDOXHV())(&7,9(YDOXHV
$9(5$*(YDOXHVRU,167$17$1(286YDOXHV(DFKRIWKHVHYDOXHVKDVDGLIIHUHQWPHDQLQJDQGLV
XVHGWRGHVFULEHDGLIIHUHQWDPRXQWRIFXUUHQWRUYROWDJH

PEAK AND PEAK-TO-PEAK VALUES

 5HIHUWRILJXUH1RWLFHLWVKRZVWKHSRVLWLYHDOWHUQDWLRQRIDVLQHZDYH DKDOIF\FOHRIDF DQGD

GFZDYHIRUPWKDWRFFXUVLPXOWDQHRXVO\1RWHWKDWWKHGFVWDUWVDQGVWRSVDWWKHVDPHPRPHQWDVGRHVWKH
SRVLWLYHDOWHUQDWLRQDQGWKDWERWKZDYHIRUPVULVHWRWKHVDPHPD[LPXPYDOXH+RZHYHUWKHGFYDOXHV
DUHJUHDWHUWKDQWKHFRUUHVSRQGLQJDFYDOXHVDWDOOSRLQWVH[FHSWWKHSRLQWDWZKLFKWKHSRVLWLYHDOWHUQDWLRQ
SDVVHVWKURXJKLWVPD[LPXPYDOXH$WWKLVSRLQWWKHGFDQGDFYDOXHVDUHHTXDO7KLVSRLQWRQWKHVLQH
ZDYHLVUHIHUUHGWRDVWKHPD[LPXPRUSHDNYDOXH

Figure 1-13.—Maximum or peak value.

14
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

 'XULQJHDFKFRPSOHWHF\FOHRIDFWKHUHDUHDOZD\VWZRPD[LPXPRUSHDNYDOXHVRQHIRUWKHSRVLWLYH
KDOIF\FOHDQGWKHRWKHUIRUWKHQHJDWLYHKDOIF\FOH7KHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKHSHDNSRVLWLYHYDOXHDQG
WKHSHDNQHJDWLYHYDOXHLVFDOOHGWKHSHDNWRSHDNYDOXHRIWKHVLQHZDYH7KLVYDOXHLVWZLFHWKH
PD[LPXPRUSHDNYDOXHRIWKHVLQHZDYHDQGLVVRPHWLPHVXVHGIRUPHDVXUHPHQWRIDFYROWDJHV1RWHWKH
GLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQSHDNDQGSHDNWRSHDNYDOXHVLQILJXUH8VXDOO\DOWHUQDWLQJYROWDJHDQGFXUUHQW
DUHH[SUHVVHGLQ())(&7,9(9$/8(6 DWHUP\RXZLOOVWXG\ODWHU UDWKHUWKDQLQSHDNWRSHDNYDOXHV

Figure 1-14.—Peak and peak-to-peak values.

Q24. What is meant by peak and peak-to-peak values of ac?

Q25. How many times is the maximum or peak value of emf or current reached during one cycle of ac?

INSTANTANEOUS VALUE

 7KH,167$17$1(286YDOXHRIDQDOWHUQDWLQJYROWDJHRUFXUUHQWLVWKHYDOXHRIYROWDJHRUFXUUHQW
DWRQHSDUWLFXODULQVWDQW7KHYDOXHPD\EH]HURLIWKHSDUWLFXODULQVWDQWLVWKHWLPHLQWKHF\FOHDWZKLFK
WKHSRODULW\RIWKHYROWDJHLVFKDQJLQJ,WPD\DOVREHWKHVDPHDVWKHSHDNYDOXHLIWKHVHOHFWHGLQVWDQWLV
WKHWLPHLQWKHF\FOHDWZKLFKWKHYROWDJHRUFXUUHQWVWRSVLQFUHDVLQJDQGVWDUWVGHFUHDVLQJ7KHUHDUH
DFWXDOO\DQLQILQLWHQXPEHURILQVWDQWDQHRXVYDOXHVEHWZHHQ]HURDQGWKHSHDNYDOXH

AVERAGE VALUE

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,167$17$1(286YDOXHVGXULQJ21(DOWHUQDWLRQ6LQFHWKHYROWDJHLQFUHDVHVIURP]HURWRSHDNYDOXH
DQGGHFUHDVHVEDFNWR]HURGXULQJRQHDOWHUQDWLRQWKHDYHUDJHYDOXHPXVWEHVRPHYDOXHEHWZHHQWKRVH
WZROLPLWV<RXFRXOGGHWHUPLQHWKHDYHUDJHYDOXHE\DGGLQJWRJHWKHUDVHULHVRILQVWDQWDQHRXVYDOXHVRI
WKHDOWHUQDWLRQ EHWZHHQž DQGž DQGWKHQGLYLGLQJWKHVXPE\WKHQXPEHURILQVWDQWDQHRXVYDOXHV
XVHG7KHFRPSXWDWLRQZRXOGVKRZWKDWRQHDOWHUQDWLRQRIDVLQHZDYHKDVDQDYHUDJHYDOXHHTXDOWR
WLPHVWKHSHDNYDOXH7KHIRUPXODIRUDYHUDJHYROWDJHLV

Eavg = 0.636 × Emax

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15
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

Iavg = 0.636 × Imax

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 'RQRWFRQIXVHWKHDERYHGHILQLWLRQRIDQDYHUDJHYDOXHZLWKWKDWRIWKHDYHUDJHYDOXHRIDFRPSOHWH
F\FOH%HFDXVHWKHYROWDJHLVSRVLWLYHGXULQJRQHDOWHUQDWLRQDQGQHJDWLYHGXULQJWKHRWKHUDOWHUQDWLRQWKH
DYHUDJHYDOXHRIWKHYROWDJHYDOXHVRFFXUULQJGXULQJWKHFRPSOHWHF\FOHLV]HUR

Q26. If any point on a sine wave is selected at random and the value of the current or voltage is
measured at that one particular moment, what value is being measured?

Q27. What value of current or voltage is computed by averaging all of the instantaneous values during
the negative alternation of a sine wave?

Q28. What is the average value of all of the instantaneous currents or voltages occurring during one
complete cycle of a sine wave?

Q29. What mathematical formulas are used to find the average value of current and average value of
voltage of a sine wave?

Q30. If Emax is 115 volts, what is Eavg?

Q31. If Iavg is 1.272 ampere, what is Imax?

EFFECTIVE VALUE OF A SINE WAVE

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YDOXHRIDF7KLVLVWKHYDOXHRIDOWHUQDWLQJYROWDJHRUFXUUHQWWKDWZLOOKDYHWKHVDPHHIIHFWRQDUHVLVWDQFH
DVDFRPSDUDEOHYDOXHRIGLUHFWYROWDJHRUFXUUHQWZLOOKDYHRQWKHVDPHUHVLVWDQFH

 ,QDQHDUOLHUGLVFXVVLRQ\RXZHUHWROGWKDWZKHQFXUUHQWIORZVLQDUHVLVWDQFHKHDWLVSURGXFHG:KHQ
GLUHFWFXUUHQWIORZVLQDUHVLVWDQFHWKHDPRXQWRIHOHFWULFDOSRZHUFRQYHUWHGLQWRKHDWHTXDOV,5ZDWWV
+RZHYHUVLQFHDQDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWKDYLQJDPD[LPXPYDOXHRIDPSHUHGRHVQRWPDLQWDLQDFRQVWDQW
YDOXHWKHDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWZLOOQRWSURGXFHDVPXFKKHDWLQWKHUHVLVWDQFHDVZLOODGLUHFWFXUUHQWRI
DPSHUH

 )LJXUHFRPSDUHVWKHKHDWLQJHIIHFWRIDPSHUHRIGFWRWKHKHDWLQJHIIHFWRIDPSHUHRIDF

Figure 1-15.—Heating effect of ac and dc.

16
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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17
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

 :KHQDQDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWRUYROWDJHYDOXHLVVSHFLILHGLQDERRNRURQDGLDJUDPWKHYDOXHLVDQ
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18
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

Figure 1-16.—Various values used to indicate sine-wave amplitude.

Q32. What is the most convenient basis for comparing alternating and direct voltages and currents?

Q33. What value of ac is used as a comparison to dc?

Q34. What is the formula for finding the effective value of an alternating current?

Q35. If the peak value of a sine wave is 1,000 volts, what is the effective (Eeff) value?

Q36. If Ieff = 4.25 ampere, what is Imax?

SINE WAVES IN PHASE

 :KHQDVLQHZDYHRIYROWDJHLVDSSOLHGWRDUHVLVWDQFHWKHUHVXOWLQJFXUUHQWLVDOVRDVLQHZDYH7KLV
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19
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

Figure 1-17.—Voltage and current waves in phase.

 ,QVRPHFLUFXLWVVHYHUDOVLQHZDYHVFDQEHLQSKDVHZLWKHDFKRWKHU7KXVLWLVSRVVLEOHWRKDYHWZR
RUPRUHYROWDJHGURSVLQSKDVHZLWKHDFKRWKHUDQGDOVREHLQSKDVHZLWKWKHFLUFXLWFXUUHQW

SINE WAVES OUT OF PHASE

 )LJXUHVKRZVYROWDJHZDYH(ZKLFKLVFRQVLGHUHGWRVWDUWDWž  WLPHRQH $VYROWDJHZDYH(

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WKURXJKWKHLUPD[LPXPDQGPLQLPXPSRLQWVDWWKHVDPHLQVWDQWRIWLPHD3+$6(',))(5(1&(H[LVWV
EHWZHHQWKHWZRZDYHV7KHWZRZDYHVDUHVDLGWREH2872)3+$6()RUWKHWZRZDYHVLQILJXUH
WKHSKDVHGLIIHUHQFHLVž 


Figure 1-18.—Voltage waves 90º out of phase.

20
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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DQGKDVDQDPSOLWXGHHTXDOWRWKHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQWKHDPSOLWXGHVRIWKHWZRZDYHV

Figure 1-19.—Voltage waves 180º out of phase.

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WLPHD[LV LVVDLGWRODJWKHRWKHUZDYH

Q37. When are the voltage wave and the current wave in a circuit considered to be in phase?

Q38. When are two voltage waves considered to be out of phase?

Q39. What is the phase relationship between two voltage waves that differ in phase by 360° ?

Q40. How do you determine the phase difference between two sine waves that are plotted on the same
graph?

21
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

OHM'S LAW IN AC CIRCUITS

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VWDWHGDV

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$SSO\WKH2KP V/DZIRUPXOD

22
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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RIFXUUHQWWRWKHDYHUDJHYDOXHRIFXUUHQW\RXPXVWILUVWGHWHUPLQHWKHSHDNRUPD[LPXPYDOXHRIFXUUHQW
,PD[

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8VHWKHIRUPXODVLQWKHVDPHPDQQHUDV\RXZRXOGWRVROYHDGFFLUFXLWSUREOHP

Q41. A series circuit consists of three resistors (R1 = 10Ω, R2 = 20Ω, R3 = 15Ω) and an alternating
voltage source of 100 volts. What is the effective value of current in the circuit?

Q42. If the alternating source in Q41 is changed to 200 volts peak-to-peak, what is Iavg?

Q43. If Eeff is 130 volts and Ieff is 3 amperes, what is the total resistance (RT) in the circuit?

SUMMARY

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ZLOOUHLQIRUFHZKDW\RXKDYHDOUHDG\OHDUQHG

DC AND AC²'LUHFWFXUUHQWIORZVLQRQHGLUHFWLRQRQO\ZKLOHDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWLVFRQVWDQWO\
FKDQJLQJLQDPSOLWXGHDQGGLUHFWLRQ

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF AC AND DC²'LUHFWFXUUHQWKDVVHYHUDO

GLVDGYDQWDJHVFRPSDUHGWRDOWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQW'LUHFWFXUUHQWIRUH[DPSOHPXVWEHJHQHUDWHGDWWKH
YROWDJHOHYHOUHTXLUHGE\WKHORDG$OWHUQDWLQJFXUUHQWKRZHYHUFDQEHJHQHUDWHGDWDKLJKOHYHODQG

23
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

VWHSSHGGRZQDWWKHFRQVXPHUHQG WKURXJKWKHXVHRIDWUDQVIRUPHU WRZKDWHYHUYROWDJHOHYHOLVUHTXLUHG

E\WKHORDG6LQFHSRZHULQDGFV\VWHPPXVWEHWUDQVPLWWHGDWORZYROWDJHDQGKLJKFXUUHQWOHYHOVWKH
,5SRZHUORVVEHFRPHVDSUREOHPLQWKHGFV\VWHP6LQFHSRZHULQDQDFV\VWHPFDQEHWUDQVPLWWHGDWD
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GFV\VWHP

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LQYROWDJHRUFXUUHQWYDOXHVRYHUDSHULRGRIWLPH

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\RXFDQXVHWKHOHIWKDQGUXOHIRUFRQGXFWRUVWRGHWHUPLQHWKHGLUHFWLRQRIWKHPDJQHWLFOLQHVRIIRUFH

24
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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25
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

• 7KHW\SHRIPDWHULDOLQWKHFRUH

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26
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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27
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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28
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

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29
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

OHM'S LAW IN AC CIRCUIT²$OOGFUXOHVDQGODZVDSSO\WRDQDFFLUFXLWWKDWFRQWDLQVRQO\

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30
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Q1. THROUGH Q43.

A1. An electrical current which flows in one direction only.

A2. An electrical current which is constantly varying in amplitude, and which changes direction at
regular intervals.

A3. The dc voltage must be generated at the level required by the load.

A4. The I 2R power loss is excessive.

A5. Alternating current (ac).

A6. The needle aligns itself at right angles to the conductor.

A7. (a) clockwise (b) counterclockwise.

A8. It is used to determine the relation between the direction of the magnetic lines of force around a
conductor and the direction of current through the conductor.

A9. The north pole of the compass will point in the direction of the magnetic lines of force.

A10. It combines with the other field.

A11. It deforms the other field.

A12. (a) The field consists of concentric circles in a plane perpendicular to the wire (b) the field of each
turn of wire links with the fields of adjacent turns producing a two-pole field similar in shape to
that of a simple bar magnet.

A13. The polarity of the two-pole field reverses.

A14. Use the left-hand rule for coils.

A15. Grasp the coil in your left hand, with your fingers "wrapped around" in the direction of electron
flow. The thumb will point toward the north pole.

A16. (a) When the conductors are cutting directly across the magnetic lines of force (at the 90º and
270º points). (b) When the conductors are moving parallel to the magnetic lines of force (at the
0° , 180° , and 360° points).

A17. 360° .

A18. Extend your left hand so that your thumb points in the direction of conductor movement, and your
forefinger points in the direction of the magnetic flux (north to south). Now point your middle
finger 90° from the forefinger and it will point in the direction of electron current flow in the
conductor.

A19. Continuous rotation of the conductor through magnetic fines of force produces a series of cycles
of alternating voltage or, in other words, an alternating voltage or a sine wave of voltage.

A20. Frequency is the number of complete cycles of alternating voltage or current completed each
second.

31
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

A21. Period.

A22. A positive alternation is the positive variation in the voltage or current of a sine curve.

A23. The period measures time and the wavelength measures distance.

A24. The peak value is the maximum value of one alternation; the peak-to-peak value is twice the
maximum or peak value.

A25. Twice.

A26. The instantaneous value (Einst or Iinst)

A27. Average value (Eavg or Iavg)

A28. Zero

A29.

A30.

A31.

A32. The power (heat) produced in a resistance by a dc voltage is compared to that produced in the
same resistance by an ac voltage of the same peak amplitude.

A33. The effective value.

A34.

32
 Basic Concepts of Alternating Current – E03-003

A35.

A36.

(Remember: Unless specified otherwise, the voltage or current value is always considered to be
the effective value.)

A37. When the two waves go through their maximum and minimum points at the same time and in the
same direction.

A38. When the waves do not go through their maximum and minimum points at the same time, a PHASE
DIFFERENCE exists, and the two waves are said to be out of phase. (Two waves are also
considered to be out of phase if they differ in phase by 180° and their instantaneous voltages are
always of opposite polarity, even though both waves go through their maximum and minimum
points at the same time).

A39. They are in phase with each other.

A40. Locate the points on the time axis where the two waves cross traveling in the same direction. The
number of degrees between these two points is the phase difference.

A41.

A42. Iavg = 0.636 × Imax = 1.41 amperes.

A43. 43.3 ohms.

34