# Homework Help: Capacitor and inductor in parallel

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1. May 15, 2016

### Titan97

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the power supplied by the battery.

2. Relevant equations
$$Z_C=-iX_C$$
$$Z_L=iX_L$$

3. The attempt at a solution
$$Z_1=R_1-iX_C=\sqrt{R_1^2+X_C^2}e^{i\phi_1}$$
$$Z_2=R_+iX_L=\sqrt{R_2^2+X_L^2}e^{i\phi_2}$$
$$I_1(t)=\frac{V_0}{\sqrt{R_1^2+X_C^2}}e^{i(\omega t-\phi_1)}$$
$$I_2(t)=\frac{V_0}{\sqrt{R_2^2+X_L^2}}e^{i(\omega t-\phi_2)}$$

$\phi_1=\arctan{\frac{12}{5}}$
$\phi_2=\arctan{\frac{4}{3}}$

$$i_{1,rms}=\frac{V_{rms}}{\sqrt{R_1^2+X_C^2}}=10A$$
$$i_{2,rms}=\frac{V_{rms}}{\sqrt{R_2^2+X_L^2}}=13A$$

Power dissipated is $23\times 130\text{W}$

But the answer given is $1514\text{W}$

2. May 15, 2016

### cnh1995

It looks like the problem asks for active power.The active power comes out to be 1513.4W(close to the given answer). Start by finding the expression for current in complex form.
This should be arctan (-12/5). The impedance in the capacitive branch is 5-j12 ohm.

3. May 15, 2016

### ehild

The rms value of sum of complex currents is not equal the sum of the rms values. You know that only resistors dissipate power. The power dissipated in both parallel circuits is (Irms)2*R. Calculate (i1rms)2R1+(i2rms)2R2

4. May 15, 2016

### Titan97

@ehild that solved the question :D

5. May 15, 2016

### ehild

Of course !

6. May 15, 2016

### Titan97

But why:

7. May 15, 2016

### ehild

AC currents and voltages can be represented by their complex amplitudes-by complex numbers. The rms value is (1/√2) times the modulus of the complex voltage and current.
If you add two complex numbers z1 = a+jb and z2 = c+jd,
z1+z2 = (a+c)+j(b+d),
and the modulus is
$|z1+z2|=\sqrt{(a+c)^2+(b+d)^2}$
which is not equal the sum of the absolute values
$|z1|=\sqrt {a^2+b^2}$ and |$z2|=\sqrt {c^2+d^2}$.
As the rms value is 1/√2 times the magnitude, the rms values do not add, either.

As an example: If you have a capacitor of impedance -10j Ω and an inductor of impedance 10j Ω parallel to an AC source of rms voltage 100 V, the rms currents through both the capacitor and inductor are 10 A, but the total current is zero, as the complex currents cancel. I=U/(-10)+U/10) = 0.

8. May 15, 2016

### cnh1995

RMS values are computed over a cycle. Here, rms values of currents are 10A and 13A which are time independent, because they are calculated over a complete cycle. If they were instantaneous currents, they could be added directly since both appear at the same time.