How Does Current Behave Over Time in AC Circuits?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around the behavior of current in alternating current (AC) circuits, particularly in relation to voltage over time. Participants are exploring how current and voltage interact in these circuits, especially under different load conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning how current can remain constant while voltage fluctuates in AC circuits. There are attempts to clarify the relationship between current and voltage in purely resistive loads, as well as considerations of average versus instantaneous measurements.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering insights into the relationship between current and voltage in AC circuits. Some guidance has been provided regarding the measurement of fluctuating versus average values, and the implications of power factors have been mentioned. However, there is no explicit consensus on the interpretations being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about the behavior of current and voltage in AC circuits, particularly in the context of resistive loads and the implications of RMS values. There may be constraints related to the understanding of these concepts as they relate to practical applications in power engineering.

Benjamin_harsh
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Homework Statement
Current Vs Time in AC Current.
Relevant Equations
Current Vs Time in AC Current.
I always find voltage vs time majorly in case of AC current. What about current V time in AC current cases?
 
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One can plot current versus time, certainly.

For a purely resistive load (an AC power source driving current through a resistor), how does current relate to voltage?
 
jbriggs444 said:
One can plot current versus time, certainly.

For a purely resistive load (an AC power source driving current through a resistor), how does current relate to voltage?
So how current stays same while voltage repeatedly fluctuates in AC current?
 
Benjamin_harsh said:
So how current stays same while voltage repeatedly fluctuates in AC current?
Current does not stay the same in this situation.

If you are measuring a fluctuating voltage, you should be working to measure a fluctuating current.

If you are measuring an average (for instance, a root mean square average) voltage then you should be working to measure an average (for instance, a root mean square average) current.

Note that multiplying RMS voltage by RMS current is not guaranteed to yield RMS power. Hence the notion of a power factor. [That was a serious learning moment when I first encountered that -- those power engineering dudes face interesting challenges. Some of them hang out here]
 
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