RLC Circuit - Voltage drop across Inductor

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the voltage drop across an inductor in an RLC circuit consisting of a 10 μF capacitor and a 25 H inductor connected in series to a 60 Hz source with an rms output of 112 V. The correct approach to find the voltage drop across the inductor is to use the formula pd = I*XL, where XL is the inductive reactance calculated as XL = ω*L. The participant initially misapplied the voltage equations, leading to confusion about the relationship between the source voltage and the voltage drops across the capacitor and inductor.

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  • Knowledge of phasor relationships in AC circuits
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calvert11
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Homework Statement



A 10 μF capacitor and a 25 H inductor are connected in series with a 60 Hz source whose rms output is 112 V.

Find the voltage drop across the inductor. Answer in units of V.
Note: Sigfigs do not matter

Homework Equations



I = V/Z where Z is the impedence

XL = omega*L
XC = 1/omega*C

The Attempt at a Solution



I assumed the closed circuit was connected thus: battery to the capacitor, the capacitor to the inductor, the inductor to the battery.

I found the current using equation I = V/Z (the answer was correct)

I found the voltage drop across the capacitor by the equation V - I*XL = \DeltaV (the answer was correct)

For the voltage drop across the inductor I tried I*XC - V. The answer is incorrect.

Could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
 
Last edited:
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The voltage across the inductor leads the current by pi/2.
The voltage across the capacitor lags the current by pi/2.

So the voltages are in antiphase, and it is the difference between them
(not the sum) which is equal to the source voltage.

But having found the current, you can simply apply pd = I*XL to get the
voltage across the inductor.
 
Last edited:
davieddy said:
So the voltages are in antiphase, and it is the difference between them
(not the sum) which is equal to the source voltage.
Thank you, this explains a lot. My answer would have been "pd = I*XL" but I thought it didn't make sense since it was greater than the source voltage.
 

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