Power supplied by a Capacitor and Inductor

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of power flow and power factor in an ideal capacitor circuit. The textbook says the answer is zero, but this may depend on the power flow convention used. Power factor is a factor that affects the formula for average power supplied to the capacitor, which may explain the discrepancy. For an ideal capacitor, the value of R is zero, making the power factor equal to 1.
  • #1
engnrshyckh
51
2
Homework Statement
the power supplied to a 33 microfarad capacitor from a 120 volt 60 hertz source will be: 1)zero 2)179W 3)179VAR 4)-179VAR
Relevant Equations
Xc=1/2pifC
Xl=2pifL
P=V^2/Z
Using above eq Xc=80.38Ohm and
P=179VAR but textbook says that the ans is zero. Can anyone explain please
 
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  • #2
I think your answer is correct in terms of magnitude. The sign will depend on which power flow convention your course material is using. AFAIK, S=VI* is used almost everywhere, where an inductor "aborbs" lagging VARs.
engnrshyckh said:
P Q=179VAR
Also, P is used for "real" power (which is 0 in this case), and Q is used for "reactive" power (which you calculated).
 
  • #3
When AC voltage is applied to an ideal capacitor, the capacitor takes in energy for part of a cycle of voltage and the capacitor delivers energy back to the circuit for the remaining part of the cycle. The net energy delivered to the capacitor in one complete cycle is zero. So, over many cycles, there is no net energy supplied to the capacitor.

From the point of view of formulas, the average power supplied is not ##P_{\rm avg} = \large \frac{V^2}{Z}##. The formula should contain an additional factor called the "power factor". Is this something you have covered?
 
  • #4
TSny said:
When AC voltage is applied to an ideal capacitor, the capacitor takes in energy for part of a cycle of voltage and the capacitor delivers energy back to the circuit for the remaining part of the cycle. The net energy delivered to the capacitor in one complete cycle is zero. So, over many cycles, there is no net energy supplied to the capacitor.

From the point of view of formulas, the average power supplied is not ##P_{\rm avg} = \large \frac{V^2}{Z}##. The formula should contain an additional factor called the "power factor". Is this something you have covered?
How to find power factor in this case as P. F=COS@=R/Z
 
  • #5
For an ideal capacitor, what is the value of R?
 
  • #6
TSny said:
For an ideal capacitor, what is the value of R?
It should be zero if i am not wrong and cos0 becomes 1 so P. F of pure capacitive circuit become unity
 
  • #7
engnrshyckh said:
It should be zero if i am not wrong
Yes, R = 0.
and cos0 becomes 1
No, the formula says ##\cos \theta = R/Z##.
That is, power factor =## R/Z##.
 
Last edited:

What is a capacitor and how does it store power?

A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in the form of an electric field. It is made up of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material. When a voltage is applied across the plates, one plate becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged, creating an electric field between them. This electric field allows the capacitor to store energy.

What is an inductor and how does it store power?

An inductor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field. It is made up of a coil of wire that creates a magnetic field when current flows through it. This magnetic field allows the inductor to store energy.

How does power supplied by a capacitor and inductor differ from other power sources?

The power supplied by a capacitor and inductor is different from other power sources because it is not a constant source of power. Instead, it stores and releases energy in a cyclic manner. This type of power is known as reactive power and is commonly used in AC circuits.

How does the power supplied by a capacitor and inductor affect AC circuits?

The power supplied by a capacitor and inductor is essential in AC circuits as it helps to regulate and stabilize the voltage and current. Capacitors and inductors can alter the phase relationship between voltage and current, which is crucial in AC circuits. They can also help to filter out unwanted frequencies and improve the overall efficiency of the circuit.

How can the power supplied by a capacitor and inductor be calculated?

The power supplied by a capacitor and inductor can be calculated using the equations P=VI and P=I²R, where P is power, V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance. In AC circuits, the power factor, which takes into account the phase difference between voltage and current, must also be considered. The power factor is calculated by dividing the real power (P=VI) by the apparent power (P=VrmsIrms).

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