Calculating RLC Circuit Power with Frequency: Solutions & Equations

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating power in a parallel RLC circuit driven by an AC current, specifically in terms of frequency (ω = 2πf). Participants clarify that power dissipation occurs only when the circuit is driven by a source, and the correct expression for power is derived as P = [V/(R + jωL)]² * R, where V is the voltage and R is the resistance. The confusion arises from the terminology used in the problem statement, which incorrectly refers to "power in time t" instead of "power at time t." This highlights the importance of precise language in physics problems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of RLC circuit components: Resistance (R), Inductance (L), and Capacitance (C).
  • Knowledge of AC circuit analysis and phasor representation.
  • Familiarity with complex impedance and its role in power calculations.
  • Basic understanding of power equations in electrical circuits.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of complex impedance in AC circuits.
  • Learn about power factor and its significance in RLC circuits.
  • Explore the derivation of power equations in parallel RLC circuits.
  • Investigate the relationship between time period (t) and angular frequency (ω) in AC analysis.
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineering students, educators in physics, and professionals working with AC circuit design and analysis will benefit from this discussion.

Slepton
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Homework Statement



How do one calculate the power in time of RLC circuit in parallel combination running an AC current ? It has to be in terms of frequency (\omega = 2 \pi f )

Homework Equations



\omega = 1/ \sqrt{LC}

The Attempt at a Solution



I started off with the omega but could not reach all the way to an expression for power in terms of omega.

Thanks in advance
 
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Slepton said:

Homework Statement



How do one calculate the power in time of RLC circuit in parallel combination running an AC current ? It has to be in terms of frequency (\omega = 2 \pi f )

Homework Equations



\omega = 1/ \sqrt{LC}

The Attempt at a Solution



I started off with the omega but could not reach all the way to an expression for power in terms of omega.

Thanks in advance

Welcome to the PF. You need to define the problem a bit more. An RLC circuit does not dissipate power unless driven by some source, and that source will have some source impedance. Otherwise, do you mean that the capacitor is charged up to some voltage at time t=0, and then the charging source is removed, and you want to plot the power dissipated versus time?
 
sorry, I was vague. So, omega is the frequency of the power supply. I and V are the total current and voltages of the circuit. L, R, C are the inductance, resistance and capacitance. I have to find power consumption due to the parallel LCR circuit for a time 't'. I am told to express the power in I, V, R, omega, L or C in time 't'. If I and V are the total current and voltage, wouldn't power just be IV. But since it's AC circuit, I and V fluctuate.
 
Slepton said:
sorry, I was vague. So, omega is the frequency of the power supply. I and V are the total current and voltages of the circuit. L, R, C are the inductance, resistance and capacitance. I have to find power consumption due to the parallel LCR circuit for a time 't'. I am told to express the power in I, V, R, omega, L or C in time 't'. If I and V are the total current and voltage, wouldn't power just be IV. But since it's AC circuit, I and V fluctuate.

Still not enough information. Please post the exact text of the question, along with any diagrams. And post your work towards a solution. As you have read at the PF Rules link at the top of this page, we cannot help until you post your work.
 
The question was made by my professor. So, that's all the info. it gives us. It reads exactly like this:

If you are using a parallel RLC circuit with omega as the frequency of the power supply, I and V as the total current and voltage of the circuit, write down an expression for the power consumption in terms of I, V, omega, R, L or C in 't' period of time.

What I did so far is wrote down power as P= V^2/Z = V_0 exp (2*(j*omega*t -j*phi))*(1/R + j(1/X_c - 1/X_L)). I got confused from here since, I am asked for power in time 't' and power already is work per unit time. so, does it mean that i have to again take derivative of P with respect to time?
 
't' period of time.
What is the relation between 't' period of time and ω?
 
If t was time period then t = 2*pi/omega, but from the question it sounds like t could be any time.
 
I'm the retired high school teacher hoping to learn something here, too.
Slepton, we teachers are not always perfect and your teacher has a mistake in the question - it is not correct to say "the power in time t". Rather you must say the "energy in time t" or the "power at time t". No doubt it is the latter we are looking for.

Now, I don't see how or why you got that complicated expression. To my high school mind, it should be just
P = V^2/Z = Vo^2*e^(2jwt) all divided by R + j(Xc - XL).
 
In parallel RLC circuit, RL are in series and C is in parallel to it. In this circuit the power dissipation is in the resistance only. Hence P = [ V/( R + jωL )]^2*R where V = Vosin(ωt)
 

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