Directorate: Curriculum FET
SUBJECT and GRADE Electrical Technology Grade 11
TERM 2 Week 4
TOPIC RLC Lesson 1
AIMS OF LESSON Effect of AC on R, L and C – emphasis on one resistor, one capacitor and one inductor
Wave representation
Phasor diagrams
Inductive reactance - 𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 (Ω)
1
Capacitive reactance - 𝑋𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐶 (Ω)
Effect of frequency chance on 𝑋𝐿 and 𝑋𝐶
RESOURCES Paper resources Digital resources
Electrical Technology Text Book Grade 11 (pg. 129-153) YouTube links and web sites for the lesson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bIRwZtSurg
(Series RLC circuits, calculations of reactance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIYg-
U3X9k&list=PLcJ1NYursFxirhFFi9GQTrhyHo1lkGoWM&index=2
(Calculations on Inductive reactance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqECFI_dCvg&list=PLcJ1NYursFxirhFF
i9GQTrhyHo1lkGoWM&index=1
(Calculations on Capacitive reactance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idf1JQ003nc&list=PLcJ1NYursFxirhFFi
9GQTrhyHo1lkGoWM&index=13
(Summary of RLC circuits)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqECFI_dCvg (Inductive reactance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIYg-U3X9k (capacitive reactance)
INTRODUCTION • Your basic understanding of phasors with regards to, magnitude and direction is important to understand the work done in this
lesson.
• This lesson is about the effect of AC on R, L and C with reference to:
Phasor diagrams, Inductive and Capacitive reactance as well as the effect of frequency on 𝑋 𝐿 and 𝑋𝐶 .
• This lesson must be done in conjunction with your text book.
• Always remember to choose the correct formula and make sure your answer has a correct unit.
CONCEPTS AND Effect of AC on R, L and C (pg. 140)
SKILLS Waveforms and phasor diagrams of pure R, L and C circuits
Resistor: In a pure resistive circuit the current and the
voltage will be in phase.
Capacitor: In a pure capacitive circuit, the current will be
leading the current by 900
Inductor: In a pure inductive circuit, the voltage will be
leading the current by 900.
REACTANCE (pg. 149)
The effect of AC on an inductor and a capacitor will be
influenced by the frequency of the supply voltage. This
will also influence the current flowing through the circuit.
This effect on current is a kind of “AC resistance”, but
instead of calling it “resistance” it is called reactance
represented by the symbol X but still measured in ohms.
Reactance is the opposition of the specific reactive
component to the flow of current in AC circuits
INDUCTIVE REACTANCE (pg. 150)
The reactance of an Inductor is called Inductive
reactance - XL measured in ohms (Ω)
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿
CAPACITIVE REACTANCE (pg. 151)
The reactance of Capacitor is called Capacitive
reactance - XC measured in ohms (Ω) Typical questions:
1 Question1
𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 Calculate the inductive reactance of a 10mH inductor when connected to a
60Hz AC supply:
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋 × 60 × 10 × 10−3
𝑋𝐿 = 3,77 𝛺
Question 2:
EFFECT OF FREQUENCY CHANGE ON XC and XL (pg. 152) Calculate the capacitive reactance of a 60µF capacitor when connected to a
In a series connected LC circuit, the frequency will affect 50Hz AC supply.
the circuit. The two formulae to calculate the inductive 1
𝑋𝐶 =
and capacitive reactance is: 2𝜋𝑓𝐶
1 1
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿 and 𝑋𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋 × 50 × 60 × 10−6
𝑋𝐶 = 53,05𝛺
From the formula it is evident that as the frequency
increases, 𝑋𝐿 will also increase and 𝑋𝐶 will decrease. The Question3:
reverse is also true, when the frequency decreases, 𝑋𝐿 Calculate the inductive reactance of a 25 mH inductor at 1) 50 Hz and
will also decrease and 𝑋𝐶 will increase. 2) 100kHz
1) at 50Hz:
The two examples on pg. 152 and 153 clearly shows how 𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿
the inductive reactance and capacitive reactance is 𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋 × 50 × 25 × 10−3
influenced by a change in the supply frequency. 𝑋𝐿 = 7,86 𝛺
The inductive reactance will increase with an increase in 2) at 100kHz:
frequency resulting in a decrease in current. 𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋𝑓𝐿
𝑋𝐿 = 2𝜋 × 100000 × 25 × 10−3
𝑋𝐿 = 15710 𝛺
Question4
Calculate the capacitive reactance of a 1 µF capacitor at 1) 50 Hz and 2)
100kHz
1) at 50 Hz
1
𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
1
𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋 × 50 × 1 × 10−6
𝑋𝐶 = 3183Ω
2) at 100 kHz
1
𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
1
𝑋𝐶 =
2𝜋 × 100000 × 1 × 10−6
𝑋𝐶 = 1,59Ω
• The capacitive reactance will decrease when the Question5
frequency increases with a resultant increase in Explain how the value of the inductive reactance will be affected if the
current. supply frequency is doubled. (2)
The value of the inductive reactance will double/increase because the
inductive reactance is directly proportional to the frequency of the supply
voltage.
NOTE. If only the formula is given, no marks.
If the formula is given as a reason, 1 mark will be awarded for the formula.
ACTIVITIES/ NB: It is important that you do all the questions on your own first, before you consult any resources.
ASSESSMENT Refer to end of chapter activity and do all the questions related to this section of the work. (page 181)
Time per question (1 mark = 1 minute)
Also do the questions in revision exercise at the end of this lesson.
CONSOLIDATION The work done in the lesson was about the effect of AC on R, L and C circuits
Other important concepts dealt with is Phasor diagrams, reactance, inductive and capacitive reactance and
the effect of frequency on XL and XC. It is important that you know and understand these concepts.
VALUES We use electrical circuits to help people with real world solutions to everyday problems.
As you gain experience and Value Learning new concepts you will be able to design better solutions.
REVISION EXERCISE Question 2
2.1 Calculate the Inductive reactance of a 30mH inductor at the following frequencies:
Time per question 2.1.1 60Hz (3)
(1mark = 1minute) 2.1.2 10kHz (3)
2.2 Calculate the capacitive reactance of a 10 µF capacitor at the following frequencies:
2.2.1 45Hz (3)
2.2.2 110kHz (3)
