CHAPTER No.

11
Alternating Current (AC) Circuits
11.1 Alternating Current and AC Circuit

Alternating Current (AC) Alternating current describes the flow

of charge that changes direction periodically. As a result,
the voltage level also reverses along with the current. AC is
used to deliver power to houses, office buildings, etc.

AC Circuit. The path for the flow of alternating current is called

an AC Circuit. The alternating current (AC) is used for domestic
and industrial purposes. In an AC circuit, the value of the
magnitude and the direction of current and voltages is not
constant, it changes at a regular interval of time.
In AC Circuit, the current and voltages are represented by
magnitude and direction. The alternating quantity may or may not
be in phase with each other depending upon the various
parameters of the circuit like resistance, inductance, and
capacitance.

The sinusoidal alternating quantities are voltage and current

which varies according to the sine of angle θ.

For the generation of electric power, in all over the world the
sinusoidal voltage and current are selected because of the
following reasons are given below.
 The sinusoidal voltage and current produce low iron and copper
losses in the transformer and rotating electrical machines, which
in turns improves the efficiency of the AC machines.
 They offer less interference to the nearby communication system.
 They produce less disturbance in the electrical circuit.

The voltage that changes its polarity and magnitude at regular

interval of time is called an alternating voltage. Similarly the
direction of the current is changed and the magnitude of current
changes with time it is called alternating current.

When an alternating voltage source is connected across a load

resistance as shown in the figure below, the current through it
flows in one direction and then in the opposite direction when the
polarity is reversed.
There are various types of AC circuit such as AC circuit
containing

 only resistance (R),

 AC circuit containing only capacitance (C),
 AC circuit containing only inductance (L),
 the combination of RL Circuit,
 AC circuit containing resistance and capacitance (RC),
 AC circuit containing inductance and capacitance (LC) and
resistance inductance and capacitance (RLC) AC circuit.

11.2 Instantaneous

The instantaneous value is “the value of an alternating quantity

(it may ac voltage or ac current or ac power) at a
particular instant of time in the cycle”.
There are uncountable number of instantaneous values that
exist in a cycle.

11.3 Peak and RMS values

Peak-to-peak amplitude is the total height of an AC waveform as

measured from maximum positive
to maximum negative peaks on a graph. ... Also known as the
“equivalent” or “DC equivalent” value of an AC voltage or
current. For a sine wave, the RMS value is approximately 0.707
of its peak value.
Peak Value
Definition: The maximum value attained by an alternating
quantity during one cycle is called its Peak value.

It is also known as the maximum value or amplitude or crest

value.

The sinusoidal alternating quantity obtains its peak value at 90

degrees as shown in the figure below. The peak values of
alternating voltage and current is represented by Em and
Im respectively.
M.S Value
Definition: That steady current which, when flows through a
resistor of known resistance for a given period of time then as a
result the same quantity of heat is produced by the alternating
 current when flows through the same resistor for the same period
of time is called R.M.S or effective value of the alternating current.

In other words, the R.M.S value is defined as the square root of

means of squares of instantaneous values.

“RMS” stands for Root Mean Square, and is a way of expressing

an AC quantity of voltage or current in terms functionally
equivalent to DC. ... For a sine wave, the RMS value is
approximately 0.707 of its peak value. The crest factor of
an AC waveform is the ratio of its peak (crest) to its RMS value.

11.4 Properties and 11.5 Functions

The various terms which are frequently used in an AC Circuit are

as follows

 Amplitude

The maximum positive or negative value attained by an

alternating quantity in one complete cycle is called Amplitude or
peak value or maximum value.

The maximum value of voltage and current is represented by

Em or Vm and Im respectively.

 Alternation

One half cycle is termed as alternation. An alternation span is of

180 degrees electrical.
 Cycle

When one set of positive and negative values completes by an

alternating quantity or it goes through 360 degrees electrical, it is
said to have one complete Cycle.

 Instantaneous Value

The value of voltage or current at any instant of time is called an

instantaneous value. It is denoted by (i or e).

 Frequency

The number of cycles made per second by an alternating quantity

is called frequency.

It is measured in cycle per second (c/s) or hertz (Hz) and is

denoted by (f).

 Time Period

The time taken in seconds by a voltage or a current to complete

one cycle is called Time Period. It is denoted by (T).

 Wave Form

The shape obtained by plotting the instantaneous values of an

alternating quantity such as voltage and current along the y axis
and the time (t) or angle (θ=wt) along the x axis is called
waveform.
11.6 Connections of Single-phase and three-phase systems
Single phase requires the single wire to connect the circuit
whereas; 3-phase needs 3-wires. The voltage of the single
phase is 230V, whereas three phase voltage is 415V. ...
The single-phase AC power supply is utilized for home
appliances and three phase power supply is used in huge
industries to run heavy loads.

The key differences between single phase and three phases

include the following.

 The definition of the single-phase power supply is, the power

supplies through a single conductor
 The definition of the three-phase power supply is, the power
flows through three conductors.
 The single-phase power supply has one distinct wave cycle
whereas; three phase has three distinct wave cycles.
 Single phase requires the single wire to connect the circuit
whereas; 3-phase needs 3-wires.
 The voltage of the single phase is 230V, whereas three phase
voltage is 415V.
 The phase name of the single phase is split phase, whereas
three phase has no other name.
 The capacity of power transfer in the single phase is minimum,
whereas three phase has the maximum.
 The connection of single phase is simple whereas in 3-phase is
complicated.
 The power failure happens in a single phase, but not occurs in
three phase.
 The loss in single phase is maximum whereas in three phase is
minimum.
 The single-phase efficiency is less whereas in three phase is
high.
 The single-phase is inexpensive whereas the 3-phase is
expensive.
 The single-phase AC power supply is utilized for home
appliances and three phase power supply is used in huge
industries to run heavy loads.

Basis For
Single Phase Three Phase
Comparison

Definition The power supply The power supply

through one through three
conductor. conductors.

Wave Shape

Number of Require two wires for Requires four wires

wire. completing the for completing the
circuit. circuit.
Basis For
Single Phase Three Phase
Comparison

Voltage Carry 230V Carry 415V

Phase Name Split phase No other name

Power Minimum Maximum

Transfer
Capability

Network Simple Complicated

Power Failure Occurs Do not occur

Loss Maximum Minimum

Power Supply
Connection

Efficiency Less High

Economical Less More

Basis For
Single Phase Three Phase
Comparison

Uses For home In large industries and

appliances. for running heavy
loads.

11.7Solving AC Circuits etc.

Inductive reactance

Capacitive reactance

Impedance in relation to R and X

ZL = R + jXL ZC = R - jXC
Ohm’s Law for AC

Series and Parallel Impedances

NOTE: All impedances must be

calculated in complex number form for these equations to work.
Resonance

NOTE: This equation applies to a non-resistive

LC circuit. In circuits containing resistance as well as inductance
and capacitance, this equation applies only to series
configurations and to parallel configurations where R is very
small.
AC power