Calculating the current in an inductor (AC)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the current in an inductor within an alternating current (AC) context, specifically using integration of voltage over time. Participants are examining the implications of their calculations and the importance of including units in their answers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the integration of a given equation to find the current at a specific time and question the necessity of including units in their final answer.

Discussion Status

Several participants report arriving at the same numerical result for the current. There is an ongoing dialogue about the inclusion of units in the answer, with some suggesting that it is important to maintain good practices in engineering, while others note that the assignment specifies a numerical answer without units.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraint that the assignment requests only a numerical answer for the inductor current, despite the underlying calculations involving units of voltage, inductance, and time.

scizzzro
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Homework Statement
A 100mH inductor is connected directly to a voltage source whose voltage is given by
v = 0V for t<0s
and
v = 5(1-e^(-t)) V for T =>0s

The inductor current at t=0 s is zero. Calculate the inductor current at t=0.4 s
Relevant Equations
v = 5(1-e^(-t))
I integrated the second equation given in the form (integral)di= 1/L * (integral) V *dt and I got an answer of 3.52 for the current at 0.4 seconds, anyone can let me know if this is correct?
 
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I get the same result. Should you include units with your answer?
 
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TSny said:
I get the same result. Should you include units with your answer?

Thanks, it says for just a number for inductor current without units just for this question
 
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scizzzro said:
Thanks, it says for just a number for inductor current without units just for this question
Yes, but the information you used to get the solution did have units (V, mH, sec), so when you calculated the answer, it also gets units. Maybe your grader doesn't care, but they are there, and should be included IMO. This is a really good habit to develop in any engineering field.
 
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