Phasor Diagram
The term ‘phase’ indicates a distinct state or process. Phasor diagram is a great mathematical instrument to study our circuit and understand the relationship between the values in terms of magnitude and phases . We can study the dependency or relation between two waves at same frequency, these waves are generally a function representing current and voltages of circuit. For an AC circuit with frequency ω , we can plot the phasor with a magnitude and show them moving anti-clockwise with frequency ω about the origin.
A phasor generally has two parts, a magnitude and a phase angle.
- Magnitude: This demonstrates the peak value of the AC voltage or current. This simply gives us the information about amplitude of wave.
- Phase Angle: The phase angle is a representation of the angular displacement of wave with respect to a certain value. The general unit used for measuring phase angle can be degree or radian.
Working Principles of Alternating Current Generator
Do you ever wonder what kind of current flows in the power lines of our household? Is it the same current that is generated in electronic devices with DC battery supply or is it something different? In this article, we will discuss a different current that alternates i.e. varies in magnitude and direction. This type of current is called alternating current.
Alternating current is generally seen flowing in power lines(telephone cables, office lines) and normal household electricity that comes from a wall outlet. It is basically used for industrial, chemical, and domestic power usage where it is transmitted over a long distance. The most common frequency for AC power in many parts of the world is 50 or 60 hertz (Hz), meaning the direction of the current changes 50 or 60 times per second. On the contrary, we have DC current which flows in one direction and doesn’t change polarity.
In this article, we will see all the terminologies related to AC current, the method used for generating AC current, and the difference between AC and DC current. We will also discuss the phasors and the application of AC currents. The later part of this article will talk about AC circuit analysis.