<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Phet explorations: generator

Generate electricity with a bar magnet! Discover the physics behind the phenomena by exploring magnets and how you can use them to make a bulb light.

Generator

Section summary

  • Direct current (DC) is the flow of electric current in only one direction. It refers to systems where the source voltage is constant.
  • The voltage source of an alternating current (AC) system puts out V = V 0 sin 2 π ft size 12{V = V rSub { size 8{0} } "sin2"π ital "ft"} {} , where V size 12{V} {} is the voltage at time t size 12{t} {} , V 0 size 12{V rSub { size 8{0} } } {} is the peak voltage, and f size 12{f} {} is the frequency in hertz.
  • In a simple circuit, I = V/R size 12{I = ital "V/R"} {} and AC current is I = I 0 sin 2 π ft size 12{I = I rSub { size 8{0} } "sin2"π ital "ft"} {} , where I size 12{I} {} is the current at time t size 12{t} {} , and I 0 = V 0 /R size 12{I rSub { size 8{0} } = V rSub { size 8{0} } ital "/R"} {} is the peak current.
  • The average AC power is P ave = 1 2 I 0 V 0 size 12{P rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = { {1} over {2} } I rSub { size 8{0} } V rSub { size 8{0} } } {} .
  • Average (rms) current I rms size 12{I rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {} and average (rms) voltage V rms size 12{V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {} are I rms = I 0 2 size 12{I rSub { size 8{"rms"} } = { {I rSub { size 8{0} } } over { sqrt {2} } } } {} and V rms = V 0 2 size 12{V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } = { {V rSub { size 8{0} } } over { sqrt {2} } } } {} , where rms stands for root mean square.
  • Thus, P ave = I rms V rms size 12{P rSub { size 8{"ave"} } = I rSub { size 8{"rms"} } V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {} .
  • Ohm’s law for AC is I rms = V rms R size 12{I rSub { size 8{"rms"} } = { {V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } over {R} } } {} .
  • Expressions for the average power of an AC circuit are P ave = I rms V rms , P ave = V rms 2 R , and P ave = I rms 2 R , analogous to the expressions for DC circuits.

Conceptual questions

Give an example of a use of AC power other than in the household. Similarly, give an example of a use of DC power other than that supplied by batteries.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Why do voltage, current, and power go through zero 120 times per second for 60-Hz AC electricity?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

You are riding in a train, gazing into the distance through its window. As close objects streak by, you notice that the nearby fluorescent lights make dashed streaks. Explain.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Problem exercises

(a) What is the hot resistance of a 25-W light bulb that runs on 120-V AC? (b) If the bulb’s operating temperature is 2700º C , what is its resistance at 2600º C ?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Certain heavy industrial equipment uses AC power that has a peak voltage of 679 V. What is the rms voltage?

480 V

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A certain circuit breaker trips when the rms current is 15.0 A. What is the corresponding peak current?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Military aircraft use 400-Hz AC power, because it is possible to design lighter-weight equipment at this higher frequency. What is the time for one complete cycle of this power?

2.50 ms

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A North American tourist takes his 25.0-W, 120-V AC razor to Europe, finds a special adapter, and plugs it into 240 V AC. Assuming constant resistance, what power does the razor consume as it is ruined?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

In this problem, you will verify statements made at the end of the power losses for [link] . (a) What current is needed to transmit 100 MW of power at a voltage of 25.0 kV? (b) Find the power loss in a 1 . 00 - Ω size 12{1 "." "00"- %OMEGA } {} transmission line. (c) What percent loss does this represent?

(a) 4.00 kA

(b) 16.0 MW

(c) 16.0%

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

A small office-building air conditioner operates on 408-V AC and consumes 50.0 kW. (a) What is its effective resistance? (b) What is the cost of running the air conditioner during a hot summer month when it is on 8.00 h per day for 30 days and electricity costs 9.00 cents /kW h size 12{9 "." "00"" cents/kw" cdot h} {} ?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What is the peak power consumption of a 120-V AC microwave oven that draws 10.0 A?

2.40 kW

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

What is the peak current through a 500-W room heater that operates on 120-V AC power?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Two different electrical devices have the same power consumption, but one is meant to be operated on 120-V AC and the other on 240-V AC. (a) What is the ratio of their resistances? (b) What is the ratio of their currents? (c) Assuming its resistance is unaffected, by what factor will the power increase if a 120-V AC device is connected to 240-V AC?

(a) 4.0

(b) 0.50

(c) 4.0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Nichrome wire is used in some radiative heaters. (a) Find the resistance needed if the average power output is to be 1.00 kW utilizing 120-V AC. (b) What length of Nichrome wire, having a cross-sectional area of 5.00 mm 2 size 12{5 "." "00"" mm" rSup { size 8{2} } } {} , is needed if the operating temperature is 500º C size 12{"500"°C} {} ? (c) What power will it draw when first switched on?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the time after t = 0 size 12{t=0} {} when the instantaneous voltage of 60-Hz AC first reaches the following values: (a) V 0 / 2 size 12{V rSub { size 8{0} } /2} {} (b) V 0 size 12{V rSub { size 8{0} } } {} (c) 0.

(a) 1.39 ms

(b) 4.17 ms

(c) 8.33 ms

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

(a) At what two times in the first period following t = 0 size 12{t=0} {} does the instantaneous voltage in 60-Hz AC equal V rms size 12{V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {} ? (b) V rms size 12{-V rSub { size 8{"rms"} } } {} ?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

what does mean opportunity cost?
Aster Reply
what is poetive effect of population growth
Solomon Reply
what is inflation
Nasir Reply
what is demand
Eleni
what is economics
IMLAN Reply
economics theory describes individual behavior as the result of a process of optimization under constraints the objective to be reached being determined by
Kalkidan
Economics is a branch of social science that deal with How to wise use of resource ,s
Kassie
need
WARKISA
Economic Needs: In economics, needs are goods or services that are necessary for maintaining a certain standard of living. This includes things like healthcare, education, and transportation.
Kalkidan
What is demand and supply
EMPEROR Reply
deman means?
Alex
what is supply?
Alex
ex play supply?
Alex
Money market is a branch or segment of financial market where short-term debt instruments are traded upon. The instruments in this market includes Treasury bills, Bonds, Commercial Papers, Call money among other.
murana Reply
good
Kayode
what is money market
umar Reply
Examine the distinction between theory of comparative cost Advantage and theory of factor proportion
Fatima Reply
What is inflation
Bright Reply
a general and ongoing rise in the level of prices in an economy
AI-Robot
What are the factors that affect demand for a commodity
Florence Reply
price
Kenu
differentiate between demand and supply giving examples
Lambiv Reply
differentiated between demand and supply using examples
Lambiv
what is labour ?
Lambiv
how will I do?
Venny Reply
how is the graph works?I don't fully understand
Rezat Reply
information
Eliyee
devaluation
Eliyee
t
WARKISA
hi guys good evening to all
Lambiv
multiple choice question
Aster Reply
appreciation
Eliyee
explain perfect market
Lindiwe Reply
In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
Ezea
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 6

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, College physics. OpenStax CNX. Jul 27, 2015 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11406/1.9
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'College physics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask