# Rms current in circuit with capacitor resistor and rms output

 P: 3 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data A 39.5 uF capacitor is connected to a 47.0 ohm resistor and a generator whose rms output is 25.2 V at 60.0 Hz. Calculate the rms current in the circuit. (also asks for voltage drop across resistor, capacitor and the phase angle for the circuit, but I mostly want to get the first one first) 2. Relevant equations I=current, V=voltage, R=resistance, f=frequency Irms=1/sqrt(2)*Imax Irms=delta Vc, rms/Xc Xc=1/(2pi*f*c) delta Vc,rms=Irms*Xc and then I start going in circles Other formulas that might be appropriate: Vmax=Imax*Z Z=sqrt(R^2+(Xl-Xc)^2) Xl=2pi*f*L L=?? not given in this problem Power average=Irms^2*R 3. The attempt at a solution combining lots of these formulas trying to come up with the correct Vrms has proven unsuccessful. I came up with 17.819 A, .37515 A, .21739 A, none of which were right. None of them were successful and I don't remember or care to explain how I got them precisely because I wasn't confident in those anyway. Overall I still haven't been able to link my given information directly to the answer I need
 HW Helper P: 6,202 Formulate the expression for Z, then you know that I = V/Z.
 P: 3 but what do I use for L while setting it up for Z? I don't have it directly in the given information and I don't think I can derive it. Should I just use a default value like 1 or 0? ps thanks for a response :D
 HW Helper PF Gold P: 1,953 Rms current in circuit with capacitor resistor and rms output Calculate the impedance Z of the RC network. $$Z = R + \frac{1}{j \omega C}$$ (true for this particular problem) $$Z = R +j \left( \frac{-1}{\omega C} \right)$$ For this problem, the resistance is R, and the reactance is -1/(ωC). In general, $$Z = \Re \{ Z \} + j \Im \{ Z \}$$ Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the magnitude of Z. $$|Z| = \sqrt{\left( \Re \{ Z \} \right)^2 + \left( \Im \{ Z \} \right)^2}$$ And finally [the complex version of] Ohms law to find the current. $$i_{RMS} = \frac{v_{RMS}}{|Z|}$$
 P: 3 What is j for those equations?
HW Helper
PF Gold
P: 1,953
 Quote by a_ferret What is j for those equations?
Here I used the symbol j to represent $\sqrt{-1}$. This is common in electrical engineering courses, since the symbol i is already taken, representing current.

 Related Discussions General Engineering 7 Electrical Engineering 9 Introductory Physics Homework 3 Introductory Physics Homework 0 Introductory Physics Homework 3