Half power frequency divides by sqrt(2) instead of 2 why?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the half power frequencies of an RLC circuit, specifically addressing the relationship between power and impedance in the context of resonance and half power points.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between power, voltage, and impedance, questioning why the maximum power is divided by sqrt(2) instead of 2. There are attempts to clarify the correct power formulas and the conditions under which they apply.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and corrections regarding the power formulas and impedance. Some participants are seeking clarification on specific points, while others are attempting to reconcile their understanding with the textbook's approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can reference. There is also a focus on deriving relationships rather than calculating specific numerical answers.

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Homework Statement


Problem is to find the half power frequencies of a RLC circuit.
Z = √(R2 + (WL-1/WC)2)

2. Homework Equations

Power(P) = V2/Z
Pmax = V2/R <---because Z min = R

The Attempt at a Solution


P/2 = V2/2R = V2/Z
Z=2R
(R2 + (WL-1/WC)2) = 4R2
(WL-1/WC)2 - 3R2 = 0
W2-3WR/L-1/LC = 0
Solve for w to get half power frequencies.

Book gets : W2+-WR/L -1/LC = 0

Cant figure out why Pmax is divided by sqrt(2) instead of 2
 
Last edited:
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Did you make sure to convert from amplitudes to RMS values of voltage and/or current?
 
To convert V2/R to VRMS2/R you divide V by 1/√2
It would square, and become power = V2/2R
P/2 = V2/4R
Trying to get P/2 = V2/R√2
I dunno... interesting tip though. 10 min messing with it and I am still not seeing it though.
 
The issue isn't RMS/peak conversions, sorry for the confusion. I missed this the first time I read your post, but ##P \neq \frac{V^{2}}{Z}##. The correct relationship is ##P = RI^{2} = R\frac{V^{2}}{Z^{2}} = R\frac{V^{2}}{R^{2} + (X_{L} - X_{C})^{2}}##. I can't tell what the book is doing from the information given though. Can you show their steps and refer us to the book and page?
 
fahraynk said:
Problem is to find the half power frequencies of a RLC circuit.
Z = √(R2 + (WL-1/WC)2)

Is there resonance involved? Is that the complete problem statement? Check out this thread if it is any help.
https://www.physicsforums.com/posts/5372988/
 
fahraynk said:

The Attempt at a Solution


P/2 = V2/2R = V2/Z
Only if Z is a pure resistance AND the full voltage V is across that pure resistance Z.

For your series RLC circuit, at resonance, Z is purely real, and equal to R Ohms.
Power = power in the resistance = I2⋅R

Off resonance, at a frequency where X = R, the value of Z has increased to magnitude ##\sqrt{2}{R}## so current is reduced by a factor ##\frac 1 {\sqrt2}##
At this reduced current, what now is the power in the circuit's series resistance?
 
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Schaums outlines Electric Circuits 5th edition Q12.5

Twigg said:
The issue isn't RMS/peak conversions, sorry for the confusion. I missed this the first time I read your post, but ##P \neq \frac{V^{2}}{Z}##. The correct relationship is ##P = RI^{2} = R\frac{V^{2}}{Z^{2}} = R\frac{V^{2}}{R^{2} + (X_{L} - X_{C})^{2}}##. I can't tell what the book is doing from the information given though. Can you show their steps and refer us to the book and page?

Here is the complete information :
For the series RLC circuit shown in fig. 12-36, find the resonant frequency ##W_{0}=2πf_{0}##. Also obtain the half power frequencies and the bandwidth β. V(w), R=100, L = .5H, C=0.4u (V(w) is a variable. I don't care about the numbers I only care about the derivation because I want to understand this...)

At resonance, ##Z_{in}(w)=R## and ##w_{0} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}}##
##w_{0} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{0.5(0.4x10^-6)}}=2236.1rads## ##f_{0}=\frac{w_{0}}{2π}=355.9 Hz##

The power formula ##P = I_{eff}^{2}R = \frac{V_{eff}R}{|Z_{in}^{2}|}## shows that ##P_{max} = \frac{V_{eff}^{2}}{R}##, which is achieved at ##w=w_{0}##, and that ##P= \frac{1}{2}P_{max}## when ##|Z_{in}|^{2}=2R^{2}##; that is, when ##wL - \frac{1}{WC} = +-R## or ##w^{2} +- \frac{R}{L}w - \frac{1}{LC} = 0##

corresponding to the upper sign, there is a single real positive root ##w_{h} = \frac{R}{2L} + \sqrt{\frac{R}{2L}^{2} + \frac{1}{LC}} = 2338.3## rad/s or ##f_{h} = 372.1Hz##

and corresponding to the lower sign, the single real positive root ##w_{l} = -\frac{R}{2L} + \sqrt{\frac{R}{2L}^{2} + \frac{1}{LC}} = 2138.3## rad/s or ##f_{l}=340.3## Hz

Another thing I don't get is why the +- in the quadratic formula is ##+-B+\frac{\sqrt{B^{2}-4AC}}{2A}## instead of ##B+-\frac{\sqrt{B^{2}-4AC}}{2A}## I know it has to do with that +- R but I guess it just becomes arbitrary when you have a +- B term? even though doesn't it change the answers? Still, my main question is figuring out once and for all that blasted ##\sqrt{2}## ! This took like 25 minutes to type up! So ill read the other replys after a break!
 
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Quiet in this thread ...

Re: "why the +- in the quadratic formula is ##\ \ \displaystyle \frac {\pm B+\sqrt{B^{2}-4AC}}{2A}##."

You were looking at ##
|Z_{in}|^{2}=2R^{2} ## which is satisfied if ##
w^{2} +\frac{R}{L}w - \frac{1}{LC} = 0## and also if ##
w^{2} - \frac{R}{L}w - \frac{1}{LC} = 0##.

That's two quadratic equations. If there is a resonance, each has two real solutions, one positive ##\omega## and one negative. You only want the positive.
 
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BvU said:
Quiet in this thread ...

Re: "why the +- in the quadratic formula is ##\ \ \displaystyle \frac {\pm B+\sqrt{B^{2}-4AC}}{2A}##."

You were looking at ##
|Z_{in}|^{2}=2R^{2} ## which is satisfied if ##
w^{2} +\frac{R}{L}w - \frac{1}{LC} = 0## and also if ##
w^{2} - \frac{R}{L}w - \frac{1}{LC} = 0##.

That's two quadratic equations. If there is a resonance, each has two real solutions, one positive ##\omega## and one negative. You only want the positive.

Interesting. Is there a theory behind why to only take the positive roots that I can google?
 
  • #10
NascentOxygen said:
Only if Z is a pure resistance AND the full voltage V is across that pure resistance Z.

For your series RLC circuit, at resonance, Z is purely real, and equal to R Ohms.
Power = power in the resistance = I2⋅R

Off resonance, at a frequency where X = R, the value of Z has increased to magnitude ##\sqrt{2}{R}## so current is reduced by a factor ##\frac 1 {\sqrt2}##
At this reduced current, what now is the power in the circuit's series resistance?

When you say "Only if Z is a pure resistance AND the full voltage V is across that pure resistance Z.", Can you elaborate a bit... I am trying to find the Z where ##P=\frac{1}{2}Pmax##. Max power is where the impedance is pure resistance and the frequency is resonance. So if power = ##\frac{V^2}{R}## at resonance, there should be a answer for Z where that power is 1/2. So voltage, resistance, everything is known but Z in the equation ##\frac{V^2}{2R} = \frac{V^2}{Z}##. So if I am trying to find the value for Z where it would be equal to half of pure resistance. Can you elaborate a bit on why that's wrong because I am staring blankly lol

Then you said : "Off resonance, at a frequency where X = R" <--- (do you mean AT resonance, X = R ?), "the value of Z has increased to magnitude ##\sqrt{2}R##"

At resonance, ##Z=\sqrt{R^2 + (WL-\frac{1}{WC})^2} = R^2##. So, how does ##Z=R^2## become ##\sqrt{2}R## ?

I see though if I take for face value and plug ##P=IV = \frac{I}{\sqrt{2}}V = \frac{V^2}{\sqrt{2}R}## it works out...
But at Vmax P=ImaxVmax, Z=R. Why does ##I = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}Imax##? One of my assumptions is probably wrong I know, since I am getting the problem wrong.
 
  • #11
fahraynk said:
Is there a theory behind why to only take the positive roots that I can google
No. Your driving frequency is positive, so the response frequency is positive as well.
 
  • #12
fahraynk said:
Then you said : "Off resonance, at a frequency where X = R" <--- (do you mean AT resonance, X = R ?), "the value of Z has increased to magnitude √2R2R\sqrt{2}R"
I mean move away from resonance until you find a frequency where reactance X equals resistance R, in magnitude. As you know, precisely at resonance, in a series circuit the total reactance = 0 ohms.

The equation ##\require{enclose}\enclose{box}[mathcolor="white",mathbackground="yellow"]{\color{black}{power=\frac{V^2}Z}}## is correct only where Z is resistance (no part of Z can be reactance in that equation), and V must be the voltage measured across that resistance (and not across the whole RLC circuit).
 
  • #13
fahraynk said:

Homework Statement


Problem is to find the half power frequencies of a RLC circuit.
Z = √(R2 + (WL-1/WC)2)

2. Homework Equations

Power(P) = V2/Z
Your power formula is wrong. Z is the magnitude of the impedance. The power is P=V I cos(θ), where V and I mean the rms values of voltage and current, and θ is the phase lag of the current behind the voltage. Now, you know that I=V/Z, and the resistance is the real part of the impedance, R=Zcos(θ). Therefore ##P=\left(\frac{V^2}{Z}\right)\left(\frac{R}{Z}\right)=\frac{V^2R}{Z^2}##
You get the same formula by using the fact that AC power is dissipated only on resistors. The power is P=I2R, and I=V/Z, so ##P=\frac {V^2R}{Z^2}##. At resonance, Z=R, so Pres=V2/R.
 
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  • #14
ehild said:
Your power formula is wrong. Z is the magnitude of the impedance. The power is P=V I cos(θ), where V and I mean the rms values of voltage and current, and θ is the phase lag of the current behind the voltage. Now, you know that I=V/Z, and the resistance is the real part of the impedance, R=Zcos(θ). Therefore ##P=\left(\frac{V^2}{Z}\right)\left(\frac{R}{Z}\right)=\frac{V^2R}{Z^2}##
You get the same formula by using the fact that AC power is dissipated only on resistors. The power is P=I2R, and I=V/Z, so ##P=\frac {V^2R}{Z^2}##. At resonance, Z=R, so Pres=V2/R.
God thanks dood I am finally seeing it now.
 

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