1. Lesson 17 Intro to AC & Sinusoidal Waveforms

2. Learning Objectives
Compare AC and DC voltage and current sources as defined by voltage polarity, current direction and magnitude over time.
Define the basic sinusoidal wave equations and waveforms, and determine amplitude, peak to peak values, phase, period, frequency, and angular velocity.
Determine the instantaneous value of a sinusoidal waveform.
Graph sinusoidal wave equations as a function of time and angular velocity using degrees and radians.
Define effective / root mean squared values.
Define phase shift and determine phase differences between same frequency waveforms.

3. Direct Current (DC) DC sources have fixed polarities and magnitudes.
REVIEW
Direct Current (DC)
DC sources have fixed polarities and magnitudes.
DC voltage and current sources are represented by capital E and I.

4. Alternating Current (AC)
A sinusoidal ac waveform starts at zero
Increases to a positive maximum
Decreases to zero
Changes polarity
Increases to a negative maximum
Returns to zero
Variation is called a cycle

5. Alternating Current (AC)
AC sources have a sinusoidal waveform.
AC sources are represented by lowercase e(t) or i(t)
AC Voltage polarity changes every cycle

6. Generating AC Voltage
Rotating a coil in fixed magnetic field generates sinusoidal voltage.

7. Sinusoidal AC Current
AC current changes direction each cycle with the source voltage.

8. Time Scales
Horizontal scale can represent degrees or time.

9. Period Period of a waveform Time is measured in seconds
Time it takes to complete one cycle
Time is measured in seconds
The period is the reciprocal of frequency
T = 1/f

10. Frequency Number of cycles per second of a waveform
Denoted by f
Unit of frequency is hertz (Hz)
1 Hz = 1 cycle per second

11. Amplitude and Peak-to-Peak Value
Amplitude of a sine wave
Distance from its average to its peak
We use Em for amplitude
Peak-to-peak voltage
Measured between minimum and maximum peaks
We use Epp or Vpp

12. Example Problem 1
What is the waveform’s period, frequency, Vm and VPP?

13. The Basic Sine Wave Equation
The equation for a sinusoidal source is given
where Em is peak coil voltage and  is the angular position
The instantaneous value of the waveform can be determined by solving the equation for a specific value of  

14. Example Problem 2
A sine wave has a value of 50V at =150˚. What is the value of Em? 

15. Radian Measure
Conversion for radians to degrees.
2 radians = 360º

16. Angular Velocity
The rate that the generator coil rotates is called its angular velocity ().
Angular position can be expressed in terms of angular velocity and time.
=  t (radians)
Rewriting the sinusoidal equation:
e (t) = Em sin  t (V)

17. Relationship between , T and f
Conversion from frequency (f) in Hz to angular velocity () in radians per second
 = 2 f (rad/s)
In terms of the period (T)

18. Sinusoids as functions of time
Voltages can be expressed as a function of time in terms of angular velocity ()
e (t) = Em sin  t (V)
Or in terms of the frequency (f)
e (t) = Em sin 2 f t (V)
Or in terms of Period (T)

19. Instantaneous Value
The instantaneous value is the value of the voltage at a particular instant in time.

20. Example Problem 3
A waveform has a frequency of 100 Hz, and has an instantaneous value of 100V at 1.25 msec.
Determine the sine wave equation. What is the voltage at 2.5 msec?

21. Phase Shifts
A phase shift occurs when e(t) does not pass through zero at t = 0 sec
If e(t) is shifted left (leading), then e = Em sin ( t + )
If e(t) is shifted right (lagging), then e = Em sin ( t - )

22. Phase shift
The angle by which the wave LEADS or LAGS the zero point can be calculated based upon the Δt
The phase angle is written in DEGREES

23. PHASE RELATIONS i leads v by 110°. i leads v by 80°.
V and i are in phase.

24. Example Problem 4
Write the equations for the waveform below. Express the phase angle in degrees.
v = Vm sin ( t + )

25. Effective (RMS) Values
Effective values tell us about a waveform’s ability to do work.
An effective value is an equivalent dc value.
It tells how many volts or amps of dc that an ac waveform supplies in terms of its ability to produce the same average power
They are “Root Mean Squared” (RMS) values:
The terms RMS and effective are synonymous.