Ac voltage
Definition
AC voltage is a type of electrical current where the voltage periodically changes direction. It is commonly used in household power supplies and electrical grids due to its efficiency in long-distance transmission.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- AC voltage alternates between positive and negative values, typically in a sinusoidal wave form.
- The frequency of AC voltage in most countries is either 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
- Root Mean Square (RMS) value of AC voltage is used to represent its effective value, which corresponds to the equivalent DC voltage that delivers the same power.
- Impedance, rather than simple resistance, affects how AC voltage interacts with circuit elements like resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
- Phasor diagrams are often used to analyze AC circuits by representing voltages and currents as rotating vectors.
Review Questions
- What is the typical waveform shape of AC voltage?
- How does impedance affect an AC circuit differently compared to resistance?
- What does the RMS value of an AC voltage represent?
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Related terms
Frequency: The number of cycles per second in an alternating current, measured in Hertz (Hz).
Impedance: A measure of opposition to AC current flow in a circuit, combining resistance and reactance.
Phasor Diagram: A graphical representation of the magnitude and phase angle of sinusoidal functions related to AC circuits.
