Electrical Principles - Chapter 7: AC Circuits
Publish Date: Mar 27, 2013
Overview
The Electrical Principles/Fundamentals series present the basic theories and concepts taught at entry level electronics courses
both 2 year and 4 year institutions. This series of content provides examples to professors to enable them to easily teach conce
to students, who can develop a solid underlying knowledge of electronics using the NI solution. This series focuses on some of
basic theory as well as providing the NI Multisim circuits to enable practical implementation end experimentation as homework
students.
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
In this Chapter
Example Courses
AC Circuits
Example Problem
Suggested NI Solution
References
1. In this Chapter
We begin this chapter by exploring AC circuits and the different relationships current and voltage have with respect to passive
circuit elements like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. We will use the NI Multisim circuit teaching environment to verify these
relationships with example circuits that can be used by any educator or student.
If you do not have NI Multisim installed on your computer, you can download a free 30 day evaluation at
http://www.ni.com/multisim/try/ (http://www.ni.com/multisim/try/)
2. Example Courses
Listed below are example courses that teach this concept at their schools.
Course Name
School
Learn More
Electrical
Principles
Conestoga College
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/fulltime/0071.jsp
Electronic
Technology 1
Macomb
Community College
http://www.macomb.edu/noncms/Search/Courses/coursekey.asp?coursekey=ELEC-11
3. AC Circuits
In AC circuits the AC source provides a stimulus with a magnitude and a frequency.
In a resistive circuit with an AC source, there is no change to the magnetic field as current passes through the resistors [1].
In an inductive circuit with an AC source, the inductor opposes a change in the current flow, thereby causing current to lag the
voltage by 90°. In an RL circuit the current will lag somewhere between 0 and 90° from the input signal [1].
In a capacitive circuit with an AC source, the capacitor opposes a change in the voltage thereby causing current to lead the
voltage by 90°. In an RC circuit the current will lead somewhere between 0 and 90° from the input signal [1].
Using NI Multisim we can begin investigating this relationship between the voltage and current with the oscilloscope instrument
STEP 1: Open the “ac_circuit_resistor.ms12” circuit file. You will see the circuit below [2].
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STEP 2: Run a simulation in NI Multisim by selecting “Simulation>>Run Simulation”
STEP 3: Double-click on the XSC1 oscilloscope instrument in the circuit.
Since the resistor has the same response in either DC or AC circuits, we notice that the input and output signals are in phase (n
phase shift). The output signal (in blue) however is at a smaller voltage value due to the resistive network dividing the input
voltage.
STEP 4: Open the “ac_circuit_capacitor.ms12” circuit file in NI Multisim. You will notice the circuit below [2].
STEP 5: Again run the simulation and open the oscilloscope instrument by double-clicking. Running the circuit and examining t
oscilloscope results in the following graph you will notice that the input signal (blue) is leading the output signal (red).
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STEP 6: Finally, open circuit file “ac_circuit_inductor.ms12” and once more run the simulation. Open the oscilloscope instrumen
[2].
STEP 7: Run the simulation and notice that in this inductor circuit the input signal (blue) lags the output signal (red wire) as sho
below.
4. Example Problem
Let us now examine the below circuit with an AC source and calculate the maximum voltage drops across each device and find
out the average power dissipated. You can use the attached circuit to investigate the theory as well as follow the steps below.
STEP 8: Begin by opening the “ac_example.ms12” circuit file in NI Multisim [3].
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Answer Sub-Step 1: Calculate the angular frequency of the source in the above circuit in radians/second.
Since our source is 120V with frequency of 60 Hz therefore: ω = 2∏f = 2 x ∏ x 60 = 120 ∏ rad/sec
Answer Sub-Step 2: What is the Vmax for resistor R1?
R1 = 50 Ω
ΔVmax = Imax R1
What is Imax ?
Answer Sub-Step 2: What is the Vmax for capacitor C1?
C1 = 20 μF
ΔVmax = Imax XC
XC = 1/(ωC) = 1/((120∏ rad/sec)(20μF)) = 133 Ω
What is Imax ?
Answer Sub-Step 3: What is the Vmax for inductor L1?
L1 = 10 mH
ΔVmax = Imax XL
XL = ωL = (120∏ rad/sec)(10mH) = 3.77 Ω
What is Imax ?
Answer Sub-Step 4: Since XC is much bigger than XL we now know that the current will be leading the voltage for this circuit.
Answer Sub-Step 5: Calculate IRMS which allows us to calculate Imax for our ΔVmax formulas above.
VRMS = 120V = IRMS Z (where Z is the overall impedance of the circuit)
Z = √ [R2 + (XL – XC)2] = √[50)2 + (133 – 3.77)2] = 139 Ω
Therefore rearranging for IRMS, we calculate IRMS = 120/139 = 0.86 A
Answer Sub-Step 6: Calculate Imax
IRMS = Imax / √2
Therefore Imax = IRMS √2 = 0.86 x √2 = 1.22 A
Answer Sub-Step 7: Calculate ΔVmax
Substituting this value back in the above equations to find the individual maximum voltage drop across each device:
ΔVmax = Imax x R = 1.22 x 50 = 61V
ΔVmax = Imax x XC = 1.22 x 133 = 162V
ΔVmax = Imax x XL = 1.22 x 3.77 = 4.6V
Answer Sub-Step 8: Calculate average power
Pavg = IRMS2 x R = (0.86)2 x 50 = 37W
5. Suggested NI Solution
National Instruments offers a number of products that combine to provide a scalable and powerful teaching platform for educato
The solution includes:
NI Multisim circuit teaching environment: Combining an intuitive circuit definition environment, with powerful SPICE simulation
technology, educators can use NI Multisim to easily teach the ins-and-outs of circuits in a safe environment.
NI ELVIS teaching and measurement platform allows educators to provide students with a compact, all-in-one unit for their
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NI ELVIS teaching and measurement platform allows educators to provide students with a compact, all-in-one unit for their
measurement and analysis needs. Combining an oscilloscope, function generator, DMM, bode analyzer and 8 other instrument
into a small platform; it simplifies the laboratory experience for students and lab instructors.
6. References
[1] Boston University, Department of Physics. “AC Circuits”. AC Circuits.
[http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/PY106/ACcircuits.html]. (05/02/2013)
[2] Missouri University of Science and Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. “Circuits Lab”. Experimen
Number 8: Capacitor Current –Voltage Relationship.
[http://ece.mst.edu/media/academic/ece/documents/c/1/circuitslab8.pdf]. (05/02/2013)
[3] Georgia State University, Department of Physics and Astrology. “AC Circuits”. RLC Series Circuit.
[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/rlcser2.html]. (05/02/2013)
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