School of Physical Sciences

Department of Applied Physics

Physical
Measurements 102
University of Technology
Perth Western Australia

Use of complex numbers in AC

Circuits
Dr Robert Loss
Telephone 9266 7747 : Fax 9266 2377
Email RLOSSRD@CC.CURTIN.EDU.AU
Lecture 8: Use of complex numbers in AC
Circuits

Standard AC notation
Complex numbers in AC theory
Expressing Z and I in j notation
Series circuits
Parallel circuits
Very useful for filter analysis

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 V and I Phase relationships
VL
VS V V L VC
2 2
R

VL-VC VS and
tan
VL VC

VR
VR I

VC Io Vo / Z

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 R, XC and Z relationships
XL
Z R XL XC
2
2
(in )
Z
and
XL XC
XL-XC

tan
I R
R

XC

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 Complex numbers
ARGAND diagram
I M = A + iB
m B M
a Where i2 = -1 or i = -1
g
i
n |M| = (A2 + B2)
a
r
y and tan = B/A
Real
A

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 j notation
Refers to the expression
Maple expression

Z = R + jX Z = R + I* X

X is not imaginary
Physically the j term refers to
+j = 90o lead and -j = 90o lag

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 Example 1
Consider this circuit with = 105 rad s-1
1 k 0.01 F

1 1
XL 5 8 10 3

C 10 .10
Z R jXC 10 j10
3 3

Z [(10 ) (10 ) ] 2 10
3 2 3 2 3

tan X / R 1 or 45 o

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 Example 2
5 20 10 10

Z R jXC 5 20j 1010j

1510j
Z [(15) (10) ] 18
2 2

tan X / R 10 /15 or 33.7 o

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 Example 2 Contd
5 20 10 10 200 V
~

V 200
I
Z 15 10 j
200 15 10 j 200 (15 10 j)

15 10 j 15 10 j 225 100
I 8 / 13 (15 10 j)
8
I (225 100 ) 11.1 A
13
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 Example 2 Contd

VL XL

VR R
VL-VC
I XL-XC I
VS Z
VC XC

I = 8/13(15 + 10j) Z = 15 - 10j

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 General procedures
convert all reactances to ohms
express impedance in j notation
determine Z using absolute value
determine I using complex conjugate
draw phasor diagram
Note: j = -1/j so

R + (1/jC) = R - j/C

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 Example 3

5 10 20 15

- express the impedance in j notation

- determine Z (in s) and
- determine I for a voltage of 24V

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 Example 3 Contd
5 10 20 5

Z R jXC 5 10j 2015j

25 5j
Z [(25) (5) ] 25.5
2 2

tan X / R 5 / 25 or 11.3 o

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 Example 3 Contd
5 20 10 10 24V
~
V 24
I
Z 25 5 j
24 25 5 j 24(25 5 j)

25 5 j 25 5 j 625 25
I 0. 0369 (25 5 j)
I 0. 0369 (625 25) 0. 94 A
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 Example 4

Construct a circuit which contains at least one

L and one C components which could be
represented by:
Z = 10 - 30j

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 Parallel circuits
1 1 1 Z1 Z 2 *
or Z
10 - 30j Z Z1 Z2 Z1 Z 2
(10 30 j ) ( 20 10 j )
Z
(10 30 j ) ( 20 10 j )
100 700 j

20 - 10j
30 40 j
100 700 j 30 40 j *

30 40 j 30 40 j
10 10 j
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 Parallel circuits
(20 30 j ) ( 20 30 j )
Z
20 - 30j ( 20 30 j ) ( 20 30 j ) *
500 1200 j

40 60 j
500 1200 j 40 60 j

20 - 30j 40 60 j 40 60 j
1
(52000 78000 ) *
5200
10 15 j
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 General filter analysis

Z1 Determine Vin and Vout points

Determine Zout and Ztotal
Vout
Find ratio : Zout/Ztotal
Vin Plot Zout/Ztotalas a function of f
Z2 Solve for Zout/ Ztotal= 1/2 to find the
cut-off fc

Ztotal = Z1 +Z2

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 General filter analysis

Vout/ Vin = Zout/ Ztotal

Z1=x + jy Ztotal = Z1 +Z2
Vout
Vin
Vout / Vin Zout / Zin
Z2 = q + jw
Z2 q jw

Z1 Z2 x jy q jw

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 Remember this one (Q5)

i1 15 10
15
iTotal
i2 10 5
200V

What is the total current (i1 + i2)through this circuit?

(Dont forget the phase)

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 Question 6
i1 5 10

iT
V=200V
i2 10 20
i3
15

Determine the individual (i1, i2, i3) and total current

(iT) through the above circuit.
Dont forget to include the phase in your answers

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 Summary

Standard AC notation
Complex numbers in AC theory
Expressing Z and I in j notation
Series circuits
Parallel circuits
Very useful for filter analysis

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