Impedance in a series RC Circuit

Capacative Reactance

1
XC = f = frequency of the applied voltage
2πfC

Example Problem:

R = 30 Ω Resistance

E = 100 V
XC = 40 Ω Capacitive Reactance

Two ways to express impedance:

Rectangular Coordinates Polar Coordinates

Real Axis (Resistance) Real Axis (Resistance)
R = 30 Ω R = 30 Ω
Imaginary Axis (Reactance)

Imaginary Axis (Reactance)

Phase
X -40
Θ = ATAN( ) = ATAN( ) = -53º
R 30

Z = 50 Ω -53º

Magnitude
Z = 30 - 40j Ω Z = R2 + X2 = 302 + -402 = 50 Ω
XC = -40j Ω XC = -40j Ω

Next, we’ll calculate the current in the circuit:

E 100 V
Ohm’s Law: I = I= =2A
Z 50 Ω

And now, the voltage drops across the resistor and capacitor:

ER = IR = (2 A)(30 Ω) = 60 V

EC = IXC = (2 A)(40 Ω) = 80 V

The linear sum of these voltage drops is not equal to the applied
voltage because of the phase difference between the resistor and
capacitor. However, the vector sum of the two voltage drops
should equal the applied voltage:

E = ER2 + EC2 = 602 + 802 = 100 V