AC

Circuit Analysis: Problems

Problem 1
An inductor draws a current of 5 A rms from a 110 V rms, 60 Hz voltage source. Express the
instantaneous voltage and current mathematically.

I2 R2
Problem 2
Find I3 at 60 Hz when I1 = 6∠30° A, I2 = 2∠20° A. I1 R1

I3 R3

v(t)
Problem 3
Find v(t) when i(t) = 10 cos (2t) A, R = 5 Ω,
L = 5 H, C = 0.2 F. i (t) R L C

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AC Circuit Analysis: Problems
Problem 4
R1 V1
Evaluate the current and voltage of each element.
Draw a phasor diagram to show all the voltages I1 I2 I3
and currents. It is given that
VS R2 C
VS = 173.2 V, R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20 Ω, C = -j11.55 Ω

R2 L2
Problem 5
Determine the currents I1, I2, I3 and draw the 1 R1 L1 2 I2 3
phasor diagram for all currents when C1
R3
VS = 100 V, R1 = 2 Ω, R2 = 3 Ω, R3 = 5 Ω, I1
VS
L1 = j3 Ω, L2 = j5 Ω, C1 = –j6 Ω. I3

i1(t) R1 i2(t) L
Problem 6
Use the mesh-current method to find i1(t) and
i2(t) when R1 = 75 Ω, R2 = 100 Ω, C = 1 μF,
L = 0.5 H, V (t)= 15cos(1500 t) V. C R2
V

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AC Circuit Analysis: Problems
Problem 7
The power factor of a circuit is 0.866 lagging. If the input power is 600 W at a voltage
= √2 × 110 sin(377 + 10°) V, what is the instantaneous current i?
Va
Ia C Ica
Problem 8 Iab
R1
Given R1 = 4 Ω, R2 = 10 Ω, R3 = 3 Ω, ZC = -j3 Ω, ZL = j4 Ω.
a) Determine the phase currents Iab, Ibc, Ica as supplied by a Vb
Ib
R2
220 V, 3-phase source.
b) Determine the line currents Ia, Ib, Ic. R3
L
c) Verify that the phasor sum of the line currents is zero.
d) Draw a phasor diagram showing Ia, Ib, Ic and Vab, Vbc, Vca. Ic Ibc
Vc

Va
Ia Za

Problem 9
Zb
Determine the three ammeter readings for the circuit as Vb
supplied by a 3-phase, 240 V, 60 Hz source, provided that Ib
Za = 3∠0° Ω, Zb = 4∠60° Ω, Zc = 5∠90° Ω. Zc

Vc
Ic

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 1
An inductor draws a current of 5 A rms from a 110 V rms, 60 Hz voltage source. Express the instantaneous
voltage and current mathematically.

Solution 1

= 2π = 377 rad/s

= √2(5) = 7.07 A
∴ = 7.07 cos(377 ) A

= √2(110) = 155.56 V
∴ = 155.56 cos (377 + 90°) V
(∵ Voltage leads current by 90° in an inductor)

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 2
Find I3 at 60 Hz when I1 = 6∠30° A, I2 = 2∠20° A. I2 R2

I1 R1

I3 R3

Solution 2

I3 = I1 – I2
= 6∠30° – 2∠20°
= 6 (cos 30° + j sin 30°) – 2 (cos 20° + j sin 20°)
= (5.196 + j 3) – (1.879 + j 0.684)
= 3.317 + j 2.316
= 4.045 ∠34.9° A

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 3
v(t)
Find v(t) when i(t) = 10 cos (2t) A, R = 5 Ω,
L = 5 H, C = 0.2 F.

i (t) R L C

Solution 3

ω = 2 rad/s

I = 10∠0° A

ZL = jωL = j 10 Ω

1
= = − 2.5 Ω

1 1 1
= = = = 1.54 − 2.31 = 2.78 ∠ − 56.3° Ω
1 1 1 1 1 1 0.2 + 0.3
+ + − +
5 10 2.5

V = I Zeq = (10∠0°) × (2.78 ∠ − 56.3°) = 27.8∠–56.3° V

∴ v(t) = 27.8 cos (2t - 56.31°) V

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 4
R1 V1
Evaluate the current and voltage of each element.
Draw a phasor diagram to show all the voltages and I1 I2 I3
currents. It is given that
VS = 173.2 V, R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20 Ω, C = -j11.55 Ω VS R2 C

Solution 4

For Node 1,
− 173.2
+ + =0 I3
10 20 − 11.55
∴ = 100∠ − 30° V

Thus, we have I1
= = = 100∠ − 30° V
VR1
= 173.2 − = 100∠30° A
60°
100∠30° 30°
= = = 10∠30° A VS
10 10 -30°
100∠ − 30°
= = = 5∠ − 30° A V1
20 20
I2
100∠ − 30°
= = = 8.66∠60° A
11.55 11.55∠ − 90°

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 5 R2 L2
Determine the currents I1, I2, I3 and draw the
phasor diagram for all currents when 1 R1 L1 2 I2 3
VS = 100 V, R1 = 2 Ω, R2 = 3 Ω, R3 = 5 Ω, C1
R3
L1 = j3 Ω, L2 = j5 Ω, C1 = –j6 Ω. I1
VS
I3

Solution 5

(3 + 5)(5 − 6) I3
=2+ 3+
(3 + 5) + (5 − 6)
(5.82∠59°)(7.81∠ − 50.2°) 34.63°
=2+ 3+
8.06∠ − 7.12°
= 2 + j3 + 5.65∠15.92° -31.48° VS
= 7.43 + 4.55 = 8.71∠31.48° Ω
-74.56°
100
= = = 11.48∠ − 31.48° A
8.71∠31.48°
I1
= = (11.48∠ − 31.48°)(5.65∠15.92°) = 64.86∠ − 15.56° V

64.86∠ − 15.56° 64.86∠ − 15.56° I2

= = = 11.12∠ − 74.56° A
3+ 5 5.83∠59°

64.86∠ − 15.56° 64.86∠ − 15.56°

= = = 8.3∠34.63° A
5− 6 7.81∠ − 50.19°

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 6 L
i1(t) R1 i2(t)
Use the mesh-current method to find i1(t) and i2(t)
when R1 = 75 Ω, R2 = 100 Ω, C = 1 μF, L = 0.5 H,
V (t)= 15cos(1500 t) V.
C R2
V

Solution 6
−
= = − 666.7 Ω
1500 (1 × 10 )
= (1500)(0.5) = 750 Ω

For Mesh 1, R1 I1 + ZC (I1 − I2) – V = 0

For Mesh 2, ZC (I2 − I1) + (R2 + ZL) I2 = 0

These are: 75 + (− 666.7)( − ) − 15 = 0

− 666.7( − ) + (100 + 750) = 0

Solving above equations, we have

I1 = 3.8×10-3 ∠46.6° A
I2 = 19.6×10-3 ∠–83.2° A

i1(t) = 3.8 ×10-3 cos (1500t + 46.6°) A

i2(t) = 19.6×10-3 cos (1500t – 83.2°) A

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 7
The power factor of a circuit is 0.866 lagging. If the input power is 600 W at a voltage
= √2 × 110 sin(377 + 10°) V, what is the instantaneous current i?

Solution 7
cos∅ = 0.866 lagging
∅ = cos (0.866) = 30° lagging

= cos∅
600 = (110) (0.866)
600
= = 6.3 A
110(0.866)

= 6.3√2 = 8.9 A

Now, ∅ = 30° lagging implies that i lags v by 30°.

Hence, = 8.9 sin(377 − 20°) A

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 8 Va
Given R1 = 4 Ω, R2 = 10 Ω, R3 = 3 Ω, ZC = -j3 Ω, ZL = j4 Ω. Ia C Ica
a) Determine the phase currents Iab, Ibc, Ica as supplied by a Iab
R1
220 V, 3-phase source.
b) Determine the line currents Ia, Ib, Ic. Ib
Vb R2
c) Verify that the phasor sum of the line currents is zero.
d) Draw a phasor diagram showing Ia, Ib, Ic and Vab, Vbc, Vca. R3
L
Ic Ibc
Vc
Solution 8

(a)
220∠30° 220∠30°
= = = = 44∠66.87° = 17.28 + 40.46 A
+ 4− 3 5∠ − 36.87°
220∠ − 90° 220∠ − 90°
= = = = 44∠ − 143.13° = −35.2 − 26.4 A
+ 3+ 4 5∠53.13°
220∠ − 210°
= = = 22∠ − 210° = −19.05 + 11 A
10∠0°

(b)
= − = (17.28 + 40.46) − (−19.05 + 11) = 36.33 + 29.46 = 46.77∠39.04° A
= − = (−35.2 − 26.4) − (17.28 + 40.46) = −52.48 − 66.86 = 85∠231.87° A
= − = (−19.05 + 11) − (−35.2 − 26.4) = 16.15 + 37.4 = 40.74∠66.64° A

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(c)
, , =0+ 0

(d)

Vca

Ic
Ia
150°
66.64° Vab
39.04°
30°
90°
128.13°

Vbc

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AC Circuit Analysis: Solutions
Problem 9 Va
Determine the three ammeter readings for the circuit as supplied Ia Za
by a 3-phase, 240 V, 60 Hz source, provided that
Za = 3∠0° Ω, Zb = 4∠60° Ω, Zc = 5∠90° Ω. Zb
Vb
Ib
Solution 9 Zc
The two mesh equations are Vc
= (3∠0°) + (4∠60°)( − ) Ic
= (4∠60°)( − ) + (5∠90°)
Va
The equations become Ia
I1 Za
240∠30° = (6.0828∠34.715°) − (4∠60°)
240∠ − 90° = (−4∠60°) + (8.6972∠76.705°) Zb
Vb

Solving for I1 and I2, we have Ib I2

I1 = –12.98 – j19.34 = 23.29∠236.13° A Zc

I2 = 37 – j18.36 = 41.31∠–26.39° A Vc
Ic
Referring to circuit, we have
= = −12.98 − 19.34 A
= − = −37 + 18.36 A
= − = (37 − 18.36) − (−12.98 − 19.34) = 49.98 + j0.98 A

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