What is the difference between impedance and admittance?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concepts of impedance and admittance in electrical circuits, particularly focusing on their definitions and relationships when dealing with inductors and resistors in sinusoidal steady state. Participants explore the mathematical formulations and implications of these quantities, as well as the conditions under which they are defined.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, John, expresses confusion regarding the definitions of impedance and admittance, particularly when considering an inductor in series with a resistor, and questions the expected value of conductance (G) when resistance (R) is zero.
  • Another participant clarifies that if R is zero, the impedance of the inductor is Z_L = jωL, leading to an admittance of Y_L = -j/(ωL), and notes that G should not be defined in this case since R is absent.
  • A further inquiry is made about the definitions of conductance (G), reactance (X), resistance (R), and susceptance (B), questioning whether G is only defined when R is present, or vice versa.
  • John reiterates the confusion regarding the relationship between admittance and impedance, particularly in the context of parallel configurations, and discusses the implications of having infinite resistance and its relation to short circuits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions and relationships between impedance and admittance, particularly in cases where resistance is zero. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing interpretations of the mathematical definitions and their applicability.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations in defining impedance and admittance matrices simultaneously, particularly in cases like short circuits, indicating that the discussion may involve deeper complexities in circuit theory.

JohnSimpson
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I have somehow worked myself into a mental loop that I need a push to break out of.

Consider an inductor in series with a resistor. In sinusoidal steady state, the combination has an impedance Z = R + jωL. The admittance is given by (1/Z) = (R-jωL)/(R2+(ωL)2), and if R is zero, it is simply -j/(ωL) as expected. But the admittance can be broken into conductance and suseptance, so the calculated admittance Y = G+jB = 0 - j/(ωL).
But I was expecting G = infinity!

Clearly I am confusing exactly how and when these quantities are defined. Any help would be appreciated.

-John
 
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That's a good one. But think of if R=0, you only have an inductor

Z_L=jωL\;\Rightarrow Y_L=\frac 1 {jωL}=-\frac j {ωL}

There should be no G. You don't even have R in the equation!
 
So is a G only defined if you have an R, or is an R only defined when you have a finite G?

I guess I would like a clear and unambiguous mathematical definition of how and when R,X,G, and B are defined.

(I have read statements before such as one cannot always define an impedance and admittance matrix simultaneously, for example, a short circuit has no well defined admittance matrix, so I believe my question is a simpler case of this)
 
JohnSimpson said:
Consider an inductor in series with a resistor. In sinusoidal steady state, the combination has an impedance Z = R + jωL. The admittance is given by (1/Z) = (R-jωL)/(R2+(ωL)2), and if R is zero, it is simply -j/(ωL) as expected. But the admittance can be broken into conductance and suseptance, so the calculated admittance Y = G+jB = 0 - j/(ωL).
But I was expecting G = infinity!
Let's see whether you can get me just as confused.

Admittances in parallel simply add. So G+jB is a resistor in parallel with a reactance.
If the resistor is of infinite Ohms (i.e., a perfect insulator) then G=0.
If G=infinity then you would be talking about a short circuit across the inductor.
 

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