How to set up an integral to integrate over a sine wave?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on setting up an integral to calculate the capacitor voltage over time for a sine wave defined by the equation V(t) = 1/(R*C) ∫ Vin(t) dt. The sine wave parameters include a frequency of 120Hz and an amplitude of 120V, with integration limits from 9 to 81 degrees. The user encountered issues with WolframAlpha not producing expected results and received guidance on correctly defining the integral limits in terms of time corresponding to the sine wave phases.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of capacitor voltage formulas, specifically V(t) = 1/(R*C) ∫ Vin(t) dt
  • Knowledge of sine wave properties, including frequency and amplitude
  • Familiarity with integral calculus, particularly integrating trigonometric functions
  • Ability to convert degrees to radians for integration limits
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to calculate time values from sine wave phase angles using the formula t = θ/(2πf)
  • Study the integration of trigonometric functions, specifically ∫ sin(ax) dx
  • Explore the use of computational tools like WolframAlpha for solving integrals involving sine functions
  • Investigate the relationship between capacitor voltage and sine wave characteristics in electrical circuits
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Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone involved in circuit analysis or signal processing who needs to understand the integration of sine waves in capacitor voltage calculations.

Voltux
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How do I setup an integral to integrate over the following equation:

V(t) = 1/(R*C) integral to t Vin(t) dt

This is the capacitor voltage over time formula.

I want to integrate over a sine wave from 9 to 81 degrees. Frequency of 120Hz, amplitude of 120V.

The formula I used in wolframalpha is not producing results as expected:

integrate 1/(1000*100E-6)*120*sin(2*pi*120*t+x) dx from x=0.15708 to 1.41372

I attempted to integrate by hand by taking the voltage values of a 120V, 120Hz sine wave and applying the capacitor voltage formula to get the following results.

The application of the voltage was calculated at 23.14microseconds*9 degrees (step)

Sine Value Voltage Capacitor Voltage
9 0.1564 18.768 39.04mV
18 0.309 37.08 77.14mV
27 0.4539 54.468 113.31mV
36 0.5877 70.524 146.72mV
45 0.7071 84.852 176.52mV
54 0.809 97.08 201.96mV
63 0.891 106.92 222.43mV
72 0.951 114.12 237.41mV
81 0.9876 118.512 246.55mV
Total: 1.46108V

Thanks kindly!
 
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So actually you are trying to integrate the following expression:
$$(\text{some constants})*sin(240 \pi t + x) $$
right ?

Well, remember that ##sin(a + b) = sin(a)cos(b) + sin(b)cos(a)##.
 
Wait, I'm confused. The first integral you write is ##dt##. In the second one, you're integrating ##dx## and ##t## is undefined. Is it fixed? What value of ##t## did you use?

It looks like those ##x## values are 9 degrees and 81 degrees, and so ##t## is irrelevant. You're really trying to integrate ##\sin(x) dx## from x = 9 degrees to x = 81 degrees.

But in fact that's not what I think you really want to do. I think you want the time values that correspond to those phases in the cycle of your given frequency. So calculate ##\frac {120} {RC} \int \sin(2\pi * 120t) dt## and use as the limits the values of ##t## such that ##2\pi * 120t## = 9 degrees (expressed in radians) and 81 degrees expressed in radians.

That is, ##2\pi * 120 t_1 = 9 \pi/180 \rightarrow t_1 = 9 / (180 * 240)## and ##2\pi * 120 t_2 = 81 \pi/180 \rightarrow t_2 = 81 / (180 * 240)##
 
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