Deriving RMS value from sinusoidal waveform.

1. Mar 5, 2009

dE_logics

I'm having a problem with that integration part.

The average value of i^2 in one cycle = (sum of all i^2 in that period)/(that period).

To derive (sum of all i^2 in that period) we use integration, but that gives the area, how can the area be a substitution for this?...they are different things right?

Ok it might be that I'm reading the wrong source.

2. Mar 5, 2009

Ben Niehoff

What is

$$\lim_{N \to \infty} \frac{1}{N} \sum_{k=1}^N f(x_k)$$

Hint: try rewriting it as

$$\lim_{N \to \infty} \frac{1}{L} \sum_{k=1}^N f(x_k) \frac{L}{N}$$

where L is the total length of the interval in question.

3. Mar 5, 2009

Bob S

Remember that the final quantity has to have units of amps, and it has to be independent of the sign of the current. So integrate i(t)^2 dt over the period T, divide the result by T and take the square root. To verify, use i(t) = Izero cos(wt). You should get Izero/sqrt(2).

4. Mar 5, 2009

dE_logics

Sorry man...but that went over my head.

The sum should come infinite that way right?

5. Mar 5, 2009

dE_logics

Yes that is the standard procedure, but why is integration applied here, the result that integration gives is not desired right?

We need the total length of the curve, and not the area I guess.

6. Mar 7, 2009

dE_logics

Can someone help me!?

7. Mar 7, 2009

Naty1

RMS values ARE related to areas under curves....but the results are not obvious....

If that doesn't help, go to the Cartwright website mentioned in the Wikipedia references at the bottom, and look for "...RMS...without Calculus"...that gives a logical approach that shows the steps involved....

8. Mar 7, 2009

dE_logics

I did check online resources before posting (including that).

No no...that doesn't help, I'm sorta asking how do you prove that the formula for the RMS values gives such a value that is equivalent to the effective current in DC.

9. Mar 9, 2009

dE_logics

Check the attachment...its a PDF, an alternative method to derive the RMS value, but its not correct; though I can see no errors with the methodology.

Last edited: Mar 15, 2009
10. Mar 9, 2009

Staff: Mentor

A sinusoidal current has a period of T seconds for one complete cycle. During that time, it dissipates the same amount of energy in a resistor as a constant current $I_{rms}$, which dissipates power $P_{rms} = I_{rms}^2 R$. Therefore

$$P_{rms} T = \int_0^T {P(t) dt}$$

$$(I_{rms}^2 R) T = \int_0^T {I^2(t) R dt}$$

$$I_{rms}^2 T = \int_0^T {I_{max}^2 \sin^2 (\omega t) dt}$$

where $\omega = 2 \pi / T$.

Last edited: Mar 9, 2009
11. Mar 9, 2009

dE_logics

That T in the LHS is left over and so proving as a hindrance in the complete solution.

12. Mar 9, 2009

dE_logics

And where did that R go? :surprised

13. Mar 9, 2009

Staff: Mentor

If you do the integral on the right side correctly, you get a T over there which cancels the T on the left side. Note that $\omega = 2 \pi / T$.

Look at both sides of my second step. Hint: R is a constant.

14. Mar 10, 2009

dE_logics

Ok...the r problem's gone...thanks.

But the final function after integration is x - sin x cos x...and that x is (2 pi f t)...I replaced t with 1/f....so no T is left over.

15. Mar 10, 2009

JaWiB

I may be reading incorrectly but I think there should be a T there since it is the mean value of the current over one period

16. Mar 10, 2009

Staff: Mentor

Without seeing the detailed steps that you used to solve the integral, it's hard to say exactly what your problem is. My third equation above should reduce to

$$I_{rms}^2 T = \frac{1}{2} I_{max}^2 T$$

in which the T cancels. Maybe you missed a step in the substitution that is needed to solve the integral.

17. Mar 11, 2009

dE_logics

$$i^2 _{rms} T= i^2 _{max}(\frac{1}{2}(2 \pi f t - cos(2 \pi f t)sin(2 \pi f t))^T _0$$

$$i^2 _{rms} T = i^2 _{max}(\pi f t - \frac{cos(2 \pi f t)sin(2 \pi f t)}{2})_0 ^T$$

$$i^2 _{rms} T = i^2 _{max}(\pi - \frac{cos(2 \pi)sin(2 \pi)}{2})$$

18. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

It looks like you're trying to find the integral

$$\int {\sin^2 (2 \pi f t) dt}$$

by making the substitution $x = 2 \pi f t$ and using the integral

$$\int{\sin^2 x dx} = \frac{1}{2}(x - \cos x \sin x)$$

However, you didn't do the substitution completely.

$$\int {\sin^2 (2 \pi f t) dt} \ne \int{\sin^2 x dx}$$

because $dt \ne dx$. You have to apply the substitution to dt also, by using $2 \pi f dt = dx$.

This may not be an actual homework or coursework exercise, but this thread is starting to look like a homework-help type thread, so I'm moving it to one of the "homework help" forums.

19. Mar 11, 2009

dE_logics

Oh yes, thanks for notifying.

I'll fix it.

20. Mar 12, 2009

dE_logics

Thanks for all the help...problem solved.