Alternating Current
The basic principle of the ac generator is a direct consequence of Faraday's law of induction. When a conducting loop is rotated in a magnetic field at constant angular frequency ω a sinusoidal voltage (emf) is induced in the loop. This instantaneous voltage is,
V = V0 sin ωt ... (i)
The usual circuit diagram symbol for an ac source is shown in Figure.
In Equation (i) V0 is the maximum output voltage of the ac generator, or the voltage amplitude and w is the angular frequency, equal to 2p times the frequency f.
ω = 2pf
The frequency of ac in India is 50 Hz, i.e.,
f = 50 Hz
So, ω = 2pf » 314 rad/s
The time of one cycle is known as time period T, the number of cycles per second the frequency f.
T = 1/f or T = 2π/ω
A sinusoidal current might be described as,
i = i0 sin ωt
If an alternating current is passed through an ordinary ammeter or voltmeter, it will record the mean value for the complete cycle, as the quantity to be measured varies with time. The average value of current for one cycle is,
Thus, one cycle = 0
Similarly, the average value of the voltage (or emf) for one cycle is zero.
Since, these averages for the whole cycle are zero, the dc instrument will indicate zero deflection. In ac, the average value of current is defined as its average taken over half the cycle. Hence,
This is sometimes simply written as, iav. Hence,
iav = Half Cycle = 2/π i0 ≈ 0.637 i0
Similarly, Vav = 2/π V0 ≈ 0.637 V0
A dc meter can be used in an ac circuit if it is connected in the full wave rectifier circuit. The average value of the rectified current is the same as the average current in any half cycle, i.e., 2/π time the maximum current i0. A more useful way to describe a quantity is the root mean square (rms) value. We square the instantaneous current, take the average (mean) value of i2 and finally take the square root of that average. This procedure defines the root-mean-square current denoted as irms. Even when i is negative, i2 is always positive so irms is never zero (unless i is zero at every instant). Hence,
Similarly, we get RMS value Vrms = V0/√2 ≈ 0.707 V0
The square root of the mean square value is called the virtual value and is the value give by ac instruments.
Thus, when we speak of our house hold power supply as 220 volts ac, this means that the rms voltage is 220 volts and its voltage amplitude is,
V0 = √2Vrms = 311 volt
Form Factor
The ratio,
rms value/average value = (V0/√2)/(2V0/π)
= π/2√2 = 1.111
is known as or factor,
Note:
1. The average value of sin wt, cos wt, sin2wt, cos2wt, etc. is zero because it is positive half of the time and negative rest half of the time. Thus,
2. The average value of sin2 wt and cos2 wt is 1/2
3. Like SHM, general expressions of current/voltage in an sinusoidal ac are,
= i0 sin (ωt ± f), V = V0 sin (ωt ± f)
or i = i0 cos (ωt ± f), and V = V0 cos (ωt ± f)
