RADIIANTT ACADEMY

B-213, Basement, Lajpat Nagar - 1, Delhi - 110024

ALTERNATING CURRENT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Class 12 - Physics

Section A
1. An LCR-series circuit with L = 100 mH, C = 100 μ F, R = 120 Ω is connected to an a.c. source of emf ε = 30 sin [2]
100t volt. Find the impedance, peak current and resonant frequency of the circuit.
2. An a.c. circuit consists of only an inductor of inductance 2H. If the current is represented by a sine wave of [2]
amplitude 0.25 A and frequency 60 Hz, calculate the effective potential difference (Veff) across the inductor, (π

= 3.14)
3. An alternating voltage given by [2]
V = 70 sin 100 πt is connected across a pure resistor of 25Ω . Find
i. the frequency of the source.
ii. the rms current through the resistor.
4. Calculate the value of the additional capacitor which may be joined suitably to the capacitor C that would make [2]
the power factor of the circuit unity.

5. A 50 μ F capacitor, 0.05 H inductor and a 48Ω resistor are connected in series with an a.c. source of emf, ε = [2]
310 sin 314 t. Calculate the reactance of the circuit and tell its nature. What is the phase angle between the
current and the applied emf?
6. A capacitor of unknown capacitance, a resistance of 100Ω and an inductor of self-inductance L(= ) henry are [2]
4

2
π

connected in series across an a.c. source of 200V and 50 Hz. Calculate the value of the capacitance and the
current that flows in the circuit when the current is in phase with the voltage.
7. A capacitor (C) and resistor (R) are connected in series with an ac source of voltage of frequency 50 Hz. The [2]
potential difference across C and R are respectively 120 V and 90 V, and the current in the circuit is 3 A.
Calculate:
i. the impedance of the circuit.
ii. the value of the inductance, which when connected in series with C and R will make the power factor of the
circuit unity.
8. A 2 μ F capacitor, 100 Ω resistor and 8 H inductor are connected in series with an AC source. [2]
i. What should be the frequency of the source such that current drawn in the circuit is maximum? What is this
frequency called?
ii. If the peak value of emf of the source is 200 V, find the maximum current.
9. In a series LCR-circuit, the resonant frequency is 800 Hz. The half power points are obtained at frequencies 745 [2]

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 and 855 Hz. Calculate the Q-factor of the circuit. Also, calculate the bandwidth.
10. A capacitor of 1 pF is connected to an a.c. source of emf ε = 250 sin 100 π t. Write an equation for instantaneous [2]
current through the circuit and give reading of a.c. ammeter connected in the circuit.
11. A 10 kW transformer has 20 turns in the primary and 100 turns in the secondary circuit. An a.c. voltage ε = 600
1 [2]
sin 314 t is applied to the primary. Find
i. the maximum value of flux and
ii. the maximum value of the secondary voltage.
12. Distinguish between alternating current and direct current. [2]
13. The current flowing through a pure inductance 2mH is, I = 15 cos(300t) A. What is the [2]
i. rms and
ii. average value of current for a complete cycle?
14. What will be the readings in the voltmeter and ammeter of the circuit shown in figure? [2]

15. In a series R-C circuit, R = 30Ω , C = 0.25 μ F, V = 100 V and ω= 10,000 rad s-1. Find the current in the circuit [2]
and calculate the voltage across the resistor and the capacitor.
Is the algebraic sum of these voltages more than the source voltage? If yes, resolve the paradox.
16. When 200 volts d.c. are applied across a coil, a current of 2 ampere flows through it. When 200 volts a.c. of 50 [2]
cps are applied to the same coil, only 1.0 ampere flows. Calculate the resistance, impedance and inductance of
the coil.
17. An inductor of unknown value, a capacitor of 100 μ F and a resistor of 10 Ω are connected in series to a 200 V, [2]
50 Hz a.c. source. It is found that the power factor of the circuit is unity. Calculate the inductance of the inductor
and the current amplitude.
18. An a.c. circuit consists of a series combination of circuit elements X and Y. The current is ahead of the voltage in [2]
phase by π

4
. If element X is a pure resistor of 100 Ω ,
i. name the circuit element Y, and
ii. calculate the rms value of current, if rms value of voltage is 141 V.
19. A student connects a long air cored coil of manganin to a 100 V dc source and records a current of 1.5 A. When [2]
the same coil is connected across 100 V, 50 Hz ac source, the current is reduced to 1.0 A.
i. Give reason for this observation.
ii. Calculate the value of inductance of the coil.
20. At an airport, a person is made to walk through the doorway of a metal detector, for security reasons. If she/he is [2]
carrying anything made of metal, the metal detector emits a sound. On what principle does this detector work?
21. 1MW power is to be delivered from a power station to a town 10 km away. One uses a pair of Cu wires of radius [2]
0.5 cm for this purpose. Calculate the fraction of ohmic losses to power transmitted if
a. power is transmitted at 220V. Comment on the feasibility of doing this.
b. a step-up transformer is used to boost the voltage to 11000 V, power transmitted, then a step-down
transfomer is used to bring voltage to 220 V.
(ρ Cu = 1.7 × 10-8 SI unit)

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22. State which of the two a capacitor or an inductor, tends to become SHORT when the frequency of the applied [2]
alternating voltage has a high value.
23. Prove that an ideal capacitor in an AC circuit does not dissipate power. [2]
24. a. The peak voltage of an ac supply is 300 V. What is the rms voltage? [2]
b. The rms value of current in an ac circuit is 10 A. What is the peak current?
25. A capacitor of unknown capacitance, a resistor of 100 Ω and an inductor of self-inductance L = ( ) henry are [2]
4

2
π

connected in series to an ac source of 200 V and 50 Hz. Calculate the value of the capacitance and impedance of
the circuit when the current is in phase with the voltage. Calculate the power dissipated in the circuit.
26. A light bulb is rated at 100W for a 220 V supply. Find [2]
a. the resistance of the bulb;
b. the peak voltage of the source; and
c. the rms current through the bulb.
27. An inductor of inductance 200 mH is connected to an a.c. source of peak emf 210 V and frequency 50 Hz. [2]
Calculate the peak current. What is the instantaneous voltage of the source when the current is at its peak value?
28. A source of AC voltage V = V0 sin ωt is connected to a series combination of a resistor 'R' and a capacitor 'C'. [2]

Draw the phasor diagram and use it to obtain the expression for
i. impedance of the circuit and
ii. phase angle.
29. At a hydroelectric power plant, the water pressure head is at a height of 300 m and the water flow available is [2]
100 m3 s-1. If the turbine generator efficiency is 60%, estimate the electric power available from the plant (g =

9.8 ms-2).
30. The figure shows a series L-C-R circuit connected to a variable frequency 220 V source with L = 80 mH, C = 40 [2]
µF and R=60Ω .
Determine
i. the source frequency which derives the circuit in resonance.
ii. the quality factor Q of the circuit.

31. An electric lamp having coil of negligible inductance connected in series with a capacitor and an AC source is [2]
glowing with certain brightness. How does the brightness of the lamp change on reducing the
i. capacitance, and
ii. the frequency? Justify your answer.
32. A virtual current of 4 A flows in a coil when it is connected in a circuit having alternating current of frequency [2]
50 Hz. Power consumed in the coil is 240 W. Calculate the inductance of the coil if the virtual potential
difference across it is 100 V.
33. An inductor of 200 mH, capacitor of 400 μ F and a resistor of 10 μ are connected in series to an a.c. source of 50 [2]
V of variable frequency. Calculate:

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 i. the angular frequency at which maximum power dissipation occurs in the circuit and the corresponding value
of the effective current, and
ii. the value of Q-factor in the circuit.
34. A circuit consists of a resistance of 10 Ω and a capacitance of 0.1 μ F. If an alternating emf of 100 V, 50 Hz is [2]
applied, find the current in the circuit.
35. An a.c. source of 100 V r.m.s., 50 Hz is connected across a 20 Ω resistor and 2 mH inductor in series. Calculate [2]
i. impedance of the circuit and
ii. r.m.s. current in the circuit.
36. Write some advantages and disadvantages of a.c. over d.c. [2]
37. Explain the significance of the time constant of the RC circuit? [2]
38. A power transmission line feeds power at 2200 V with a current of 5 A to step down transformer with its [2]
primary winding having 4000 turns. Calculate the number of turns and the current in the secondary in order to
get output power at 220 V.
39. A coil has an inductance of 1 H. [2]
i. At what frequency will it have a reactance of 3142 Ω ?
ii. What should be the capacity of a capacitor which has the same reactance at that frequency?
40. State the underlying principle of a transformer. How is the large scale transmission of electric energy over long [2]
distances done with the use of transformers?
Section B
–
41. If the voltage in a.c. circuit is represented by the equation, V = 220√2 sin(314 t − ϕ) [3]
Calculate:
a. peak and rms value of the voltage
b. average voltage,
c. frequency of a.c.
42. The current, in the LCR circuit shown in the figure, is observed to lead the voltage in phase. Without making any [3]
other change in the circuit, a capacitor, of capacitance C0, is (appropriately) joined to the capacitor C. This

results in making the current, in the modified circuit, flow in phase with the applied voltage.
Draw a diagram of the 'modified' circuit and obtain an expression for C0 in terms of ω, L, and C.

43. What is meant by root mean square value of alternating current? Derive an expression for r.m.s value of [3]
alternating current.
−−−−−−
44. An electrical device draws 2kW power from AC mains (voltage 223V (rms) = √50, 000 V). The current differs [3]
−3
(lags) in phase by ϕ (tan ϕ = 4
) as compared to voltage. Find

a. R
b. XC - XL, and

c. IM. Another device has twice the values for R, XC and XL. How are the answers affected?

45. A series L-C-R circuit is connected to an AC source (200 V, 50 Hz). The voltages across the resistor, capacitor [3]

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 and inductor are respectively 200 V, 250 V and 250 V.
i. The algebraic sum of the voltages across the three elements is greater than the voltage of the source. How is
this paradox resolved?
ii. Given the value of the resistance of R is 40Ω . Calculate the current in the circuit.
46. A circuit draws a power of 550 W from a source of 220 V, 50 Hz. The power factor of the circuit is 0.8. The [3]
current in the circuit lags behind the voltage. Show that a capacitor of about 1

42π
× 10
−2
will have to be
connected to bring its power factor to unity.
47. Obtain the expression for the magnetic energy stored in an ideal inductor of self-inductance L when a current I [3]
passes through it. Hence obtain the expression for the energy density of magnetic field B produced in the
inductor.
48. An inductor 200μH , capacitor 500μF , resistor 10Ω are connected in series with a 100 V, variable frequency [3]
a.c. source.
Calculate:
i. frequency at which the power factor of the circuit is unity
ii. current amplitude at this frequency
iii. Q-factor
49. Show graphically the variation of instantaneous power P with angle cot when the alternating voltage V = V0 sin [3]

ω t is applied across
i. a pure resistor
ii. a pure inductor and
iii. a pure capacitor.

50. i. The primary of a transformer has 400 turns while the secondary has 2000 turns. If the power output from the [3]
secondary at 1100 V is 12.1 kW, calculate the primary voltage.
ii. If the resistance of the primary is 0.2 Ω and that of the secondary is 2.0 Ω and the efficiency of the
transformer is 90 %, calculate the heat losses in the primary and the secondary coils.

51. i. Find the value of the phase difference between the current and the voltage in the series L-C-R circuit shown [3]
below. Which one leads in phase: current or voltage?

ii. Without making any other change, find the value of the additional capacitor C', to be connected in parallel
with the capacitor C, in order to make the power factor of the circuit unity.
52. A series LCR ac circuit has L = 2.0 H, C = 32 μ F and R = 10Ω . [3]
i. At what angular frequency of ac will it resonate?
ii. Calculate the Q value of the circuit.
53. The instantaneous value of an alternating voltage in volts is given by the expression ε = 140 sin 300 t, where t
t [3]
is in second. What is
i. the peak value of the voltage,
ii. its rms value and

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 iii. frequency of the supply?
–
Take n = 3, √2 = 1.4
54. A 200 V variable frequency a.c. source is connected to a series combination of L = 5H, C = 80 μ F and R = 40 [3]
Ω . Calculate
i. angular frequency of the source to get maximum current in the circuit,
ii. the current amplitude at resonance and
iii. the power dissipated in the circuit.
55. A 20 W, 50 V, filament is connected in series to an a.c. mains of 250 V, 50 Hz. Calculate the value of the [3]
capacitor required to run the lamp.
56. An inductor L of inductance XL is connected in series with a bulb and an ac source. How would brightness of [3]

the bulb change when

i. the number of turns in the inductor is reduced
ii. an iron rod is inserted in the inductor and
iii. a capacitor of reactance XC = XL is inserted in series in the circuit.

Justify your answer in each case.

57. Figures (a), (b) and (c) show three a.c. circuits in which equal currents are flowing. If the frequency of emf be [3]
increased, how will the current be affected in these circuits? Give reason for your answer.

58. The graph shown here depict the variation of current Irms with angular frequency ω for two different series L-C- [3]

R circuits.

Observe the graph carefully and answer the following:

i. State the relation between L and C values of the two circuits when the current in the two circuits is
maximum.
ii. Indicate the circuit for which
a. power factor is higher
b. quality factor Q is larger.
Give the reasons for each case.
59. A resistor of resistance R, an inductor of inductance L and a capacitor of capacitance C all are connected in [3]
series with an a.c. supply. The resistance of R is 16 ohm and for a given frequency, the inductive reactance of L

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 is 24 ohm and capacitive reactance of C is 12 ohm. If the current in the circuit is 5 amp, find:
a. the potential difference across R, L and C
b. the impedance of the circuit
c. the voltage of a.c. supply
d. phase angle

60. i. When an AC source is connected to an ideal inductor show that the average power supplied by the source [3]
over a complete cycle is zero.
ii. A lamp is connected in series with an inductor and an AC source. What happens to the brightness of the lamp
when the key is plugged in and an iron rod is inserted inside the inductor? Explain.

61. If the effective value of current is 50 Hz a.c. The circuit is 5.0 A, what is [3]
i. the peak value of current
ii. the mean value of current over half cycle and
iii. the value of current 300
1
s after it was zero?
62. A resistor 'R' and an element 'X' are connected in series to an AC source of voltage. The voltage is found to lead [3]
the current in phase by π

4
. If 'X' is replaced by another element 'Y', the voltage lags behind the current by π

4
.
i. Identify elements 'X and 'Y'.
ii. When both 'X and 'Y' are connected in series with 'R' to the same source, will the power dissipated in the
circuit be maximum or minimum? Justify your answer.
63. Show that the current leads the voltage in phase by π

2
in an AC circuit containing an ideal capacitor. [3]
64. An AC voltage, V = V0 sin ωt is applied across a pure capacitor, C. Obtain an expression for the current I in the [3]
circuit and hence obtain the
i. capacitive reactance of the circuit and
ii. the phase of the current flowing with respect to the applied voltage.
65. An a.c. voltage E = E0 sin ωt is applied across an inductor L. Obtain an expression for current I. [3]
66. A resistance of 40 Ω is connected to an a.c. source of 220 V, 50 Hz. Find [3]
i. the rms current
ii. the maximum instantaneous current in the resistor and
iii. the time taken by the current to change from its maximum value to the rms value.
67. When an ideal capacitor is connected to an a.c. source, show that the average power supplied by the source over [3]
a complete cycle is Zero.
68. A device X is connected to an a.c source. The variation of voltage, current and power in one complete cycle is [3]
shown in Figure.

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 a. Which curve shows power consumption over a full cycle?
b. What is the average power consumption over a cycle?
c. Identify the device X.
69. A step-up down transformer operated on a 2.5 kV line. It supplies a load with 20 A. The ratio of the primary [3]
winding to the secondary is 10 : 1. If the transformer is 90% efficient, calculate
i. the power output
ii. the voltage and
iii. the current in the secondary coil.
70. An alternating voltage ε = 200 sin 300 t is applied across a series combination of R = 10Ω and an inductor of [3]
800 mH. Calculate:
i. impedance of the circuit
ii. peak value of current in the circuit
iii. power factor of the circuit.

71. i. In an LCR series circuit connected to an ac source, the voltage and the current are in the same phase. If the [3]
capacitor is filled with a dielectric, will the current lead or lag behind or remain in phase with the voltage?
Explain.
ii. In the circuit, why is the rms value of net voltage not equal to the sum of voltage drops across individual
elements?
iii. Draw a graph showing variation of the impedance of the circuit with the frequency of the applied voltage.

72. i. An LCR series circuit is connected to an ac source. If the angular resonant frequency of the circuit is ω , will [3]
0

the current lead or lag behind or be in phase with the voltage when ω < ω and why?
0

ii. We cannot step up a dc voltage using a transformer. Why?

iii. On what principle does a metal detector work?
73. An AC voltage V = V0 sin ωt is applied across a pure inductor L. Obtain an expression for the current I in the [3]
circuit and hence obtain the
i. inductive reactance of the circuit and
ii. the phase of the current flowing with respect to the applied voltage.
74. A 20 V-5 W lamp is to run on 200 V - 50 Hz a.c. mains. Find the capacitance of a capacitor required to run the [3]
lamp.
75. Derive the expression for the average power dissipated in a series LCR circuit for an ac source of a voltage, V = [3]
Vm sin ωt, carrying a current, i = im sin (ωt + ϕ)

Hence define the term Wattless current. State under what condition it can be realized in a circuit.

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