Power dissipated in RLC circuit

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an RLC series circuit consisting of a resistor, capacitor, and inductor connected to an AC power supply. Participants are examining the power dissipated in the circuit, with conflicting values reported between their calculations and a solutions manual.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various calculations for power dissipation using different formulas, including those involving impedance and phase angles. There is a focus on verifying the correctness of the original poster's calculation of 37 W compared to the solutions manual's 73 W.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants analyzing different methods to calculate power dissipation. Some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of their calculations and question the validity of the solutions manual's answer. There is acknowledgment of the complexity involved in the calculations, particularly regarding the phase factor.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework guidelines, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is also a noted confusion regarding the application of formulas and the interpretation of average versus instantaneous power.

fish
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
An RLC series circuit constists of a resistor of 100 ohm, a capacitor of 10.0uF, and an inductor of 0.250 H. The circuit is connected to a power supply of 120 V and 60 Hz. What is the power dissipated in the circuit?

I got 37 W (rounding 2 S.F's)
the solutions manual has the answer as 73 W.
Is 37 watts correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Originally posted by fish
Is 37 watts correct?
Edit: I had said your answer was wrong, but I was mistaken. I believe you are correct. ( )
 
Last edited:
X_L= 94.25= 94 ohms
X_C= 265.26= 265 ohms
Z= 198.10 ohms=198 ohms
I_rms= V_rms/Z = 120V/198ohms = .606 A

-
P= I_rms^2(R) = .606A^2 (100 ohms) = 36.7 W

also tried this way:
tan()=(X_L-X_C)/R = (94ohm-265ohm)/100ohm = -1.71
phase angle =tan^-1(-1.71)= -59.7 degrees
-
P =V_rms^2/Z * cos ()=120V^2/198ohm (cos(-59.7))= 37 W

another way tried:
cos()=R/Z= 100ohm/198ohm= .505
-
P=I_rms*V_rms*cos()= .606A*120V*.505=37 W


I supposed I could round 37 down some and multiply by 2 since it's an average
and get the total number. Maybe question isn't asking for avg.
or maybe use a different equation like

-
P = I_rms*V_rms= I_rms^2*R (equation was in the solution manual)
= .606A*120V=73 W
but I_rms^2*R = 37 W so that doesn't make sense (not equivalent)
 
Sorry fish, but you were right all along. (That's what I get for trying to do things in my head.) More importantly your methods are all correct. (I'll edit my earlier post.)

Originally posted by fish
-
P = I_rms*V_rms= I_rms^2*R (equation was in the solution manual)
= .606A*120V=73 W
but I_rms^2*R = 37 W so that doesn't make sense (not equivalent)
That equation in the book is wrong; P = I_rms*V_rms*cosθ (they left out the phase factor).
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K