Converting phasor back into time domain

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around converting a phasor representation of voltage across a capacitor back into the time domain, specifically focusing on finding the amplitude of the steady-state voltage. Participants engage in a technical exploration of complex numbers, voltage division, and the conversion process from rectangular to polar form.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in converting a complex number into the form a + bj, specifically mentioning an expression of 8 + 8/20 j^-1.
  • Another participant notes that the complex number lacks specific frequency information, emphasizing that frequency is determined by the driving signal.
  • There are suggestions to multiply by the complex conjugate to simplify the expression and obtain a real denominator.
  • Multiple participants point out potential errors in voltage division calculations, indicating that the numerator should reflect the impedance of the component of interest.
  • One participant acknowledges a mistake in applying the formula for resistors in parallel instead of the correct approach for capacitors.
  • Concerns are raised about the incorrect splitting of denominators in mathematical expressions, with examples provided to illustrate the point.
  • Participants repeatedly ask how to transform their results into the desired form a + bj, indicating ongoing confusion about the conversion process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the correct approach to the conversion process, as participants express differing views on the calculations and methods involved. Multiple competing perspectives on voltage division and complex number manipulation are present.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical steps and formulas, but there are unresolved issues regarding the assumptions made in voltage division and the handling of complex numbers. Some expressions and calculations appear to be incorrect, but these have not been definitively resolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals working on problems related to phasors, complex numbers, and electrical engineering concepts, particularly in the context of converting between different mathematical representations.

CoolDude420
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Homework Statement


Find Amplitude of Steady-state voltage across capacitor

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


5a96193ba4.jpg

d57119ca1c.jpg


I'm at the very last step of changing it back into the time domain to obtain my ampltiude. I was planning on getting it into the form a + bj, then using trigonometry and other formulae to get it into polar form from which I can get it into the form of Bsin(wt + theta), with B giving me my amplitude.

Im stuck with 8+ 8/20 j^-1. Which isn't in the form a+bj. Any ideas how I can try and get it into that form?
 
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There is no specific frequency information contained in that complex number. The frequency of all voltages and currents will be that of the driving signal.

Your complex number yields an angle and an amplitude.

How to view ##\dfrac 1j##? Multiply both numerator and denominator by ##j## and see where that leads.

BTW, ##\frac 8 {1+j20}## is not equal to what you say. Instead, multiply numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator so you can end up with a real denominator.
 
NascentOxygen said:
There is no specific frequency information contained in that complex number. The frequency of all voltages and currents will be that of the driving signal.

Your complex number yields an angle and an amplitude.

How to view ##\displaystyle {\dfrac 1j}##? Multiply both numerator and denominator by ##j## and see where that leads.

The frequency comes from the initial voltage sinusoid of 10rads/s. Phasors don't have frequencies.

If I multiply above and below by j. I get:

gif.latex?8%20+%20%5Cfrac%7B8%7D%7B20j%7D.gif
 
Check your voltage division work. The numerator of the fraction should contain the impedance of the component that you want the voltage across and the denominator the sum of the two impedances.

Regarding your conversion to time domain, take your rectangular form and convert it to polar form (magnitude and angle). You then have the magnitude and phase angle for the time domain.
 
gneill said:
Check your voltage division work. The numerator of the fraction should contain the impedance of the component that you want the voltage across and the denominator the sum of the two impedances.

Regarding your conversion to time domain, take your rectangular form and convert it to polar form (magnitude and angle). You then have the magnitude and phase angle for the time domain.

Ah.. My Voltage division is wrong. I accidently used the formula for resistors in parallel. oops
 
Your expression for V right back at the start is wrong. Pretend you have resistors and write the expression, then substitute the capacitor impedance for one of the resistances.
 
By the way, the following is definitely not true:
upload_2016-11-13_11-27-17.png


You can't split a denominator like that, even for real values. Consider an example:

##\frac{8}{6 + 2} \ne \frac{8}{6} + \frac{8}{2}##
 
gneill said:
By the way, the following is definitely not true:
View attachment 108847

You can't split a denominator like that, even for real values. Consider an example:

##\frac{8}{6 + 2} \ne \frac{8}{6} + \frac{8}{2}##

Okay. why am i being so stupid today. Apologies for all these stupid mistakes. Let me redo the question.
 
Okay. So I got

gif.latex?V%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B4%7D%7Bj20%20+%201%7D.gif


Now. How do I transform that into the form a+bj.?
 
  • #10
CoolDude420 said:
Okay. So I got

gif.latex?V%20%3D%20%5Cfrac%7B4%7D%7Bj20%20+%201%7D.gif


Now. How do I transform that into the form a+bj.?
That's standard complex math: multiply the numerator and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator.
 

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