EXCEL REVIEW CENTER ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

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Alternating Current TERMS relating to AC Peak-to-peak value is the value from positive
peak to the negative peak represented by
Alternating Current (AC) is defined as one
Frequency (f) is the number of cycles per Vp-p for voltage and Ip-p for current.
that continuously varies in amplitude and
periodically reverses in polarity. second in Hertz (Hz) units.
Vp − p = 2Vp = 2.828Vrms
Examples of alternating waveforms: 1 cycle/second = 1 Hz
I p − p = 2I p = 2.828I rms
Period (T) is the amount of time for one cycle.
The frequency and period are reciprocals Average value is the arithmetic average of all
of each other. the values in a sine wave for one
1 alternation, or a half-cycle.
T=
f
2Vm
Vavg = = 0.637Vm
Wavelength (λ) is the length of one complete 
wave or cycle. 2I
Excel Review Center Iavg = m = 0.637I m
λ 
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Root-Mean-Square (RMS) or Effective value

(Veff or Ieff) is the value of a sine wave at
45 which is 70.7% of the peak value.

RMS value = Peak value x sin 45

Vp
Vrms = 0.707Vp =
The wavelength (λ) depends upon the 2
frequency of the variation and its velocity
of transmission: I rms = 0.707I p =Joule’s Law
Ip
2
velocity
= Note:
frequency
An alternating voltage with an rms value of
120 V, for instance, is just as effective in
Values of Sine Wave heating a filament of a light bulb as 120 V
from a steady dc voltage source. For this
Instantaneous value is the value of a sine reason, the rms value is also the effective
wave at any instant of time. It is denoted by value.
lowercase letters v or i for voltage and
current.
Form & Peak Factors
The Sine Wave v = Vm sin 2ft =Vm sin t=Vm sin 
The sine wave is the standard ac waveform. Form factor is the ratio of the rms value to the
i = Im sin 2ft =Im sin t=Im sin  average value.
Positive peak Excel Review Center
Peak factor is the ratio of peak value to the
where:
rms value.
 = the angle of rotation (rad)
 = the angular velocity of a radius vector
For a sine wave,
generating the waveform (rad/sec)
t = time in seconds
Vm = maximum voltage value Vrms 0.707Vm
Form factor = = = 1.11
Im = maximum current value Vavg 0.637Vm
1 alternation
Vm Vm
Peak value is the maximum value represented Peak factor = = = 1.4142
Vrms 0.707Vm
by Vm or Vp for voltage and Im or Ip for
current.
Negative peak The Future of Education!
Vm or Vp = 2Vrms = 1.414Vrms
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This waveform is called a sine wave, Im or Ip = 2Irms = 1.414Irms alterguru.com
sinusoidal wave or sinusoid because the
amount of induced voltage is
proportional to the sine of the angle of Continue on next column Excel Review Center
rotation in the circular motion
producing the voltage. Excel Review Center