Q.An electrical device draws 2 kW power from AC mains (voltage 223 V (rms) =50000 V). The current differs (lags) in phase by ϕ (tanϕ=−43) as compared to voltage. Find
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Power Dissipation in Resistors
Whenever charge is driven through a resistor, electrical energy is converted into heat. The rate of this conversion is the power dissipated.
Why a Resistor Heats Up
Inside a resistor, drifting electrons repeatedly collide with the vibrating lattice ions. Each collision transfers kinetic energy to the lattice, raising its temperature. The source (battery or AC supply) continually does work to keep the current flowing, and that work reappears as heat. This is Joule heating.
The Power Formulas (DC)
The power delivered to any device carrying current I across a potential difference V is
P=VI
For an ohmic resistor V=IR, so this can be written in three equivalent forms:
P=VI=I2R=RV2
The SI unit is the watt (W), where 1 W=1 J s−1.
Which form to use depends on what is fixed:
- Series elements share the same current, so P=I2R shows the larger resistor dissipates more.
- Parallel elements share the same voltage, so P=V2/R shows the smaller resistor dissipates more.
The total heat produced in time t is Q=Pt=I2Rt — Joule's law of heating.
Power Dissipation with AC
With alternating current the instantaneous power p(t)=i2(t)R fluctuates, but a resistor still only dissipates energy (it never returns any). The average power over a cycle is written with root-mean-square values:
Pavg=Irms2R=RVrms2=VrmsIrms
where for a sinusoid Irms=Im/2 and Vrms=Vm/2. This is precisely why rms values are defined: an AC of rms value Irms heats a resistor at the same average rate as a steady DC of value Irms.
A pure resistor has power factor 1 — voltage and current are in phase, so all the power supplied is dissipated. In inductors and capacitors, by contrast, the average dissipated power is zero; energy is only stored and returned.
Worked Example
A 100 Ω resistor carries a current of 0.5 A. …
Why this formula?
Power Dissipation in Resistors — Why the Formula Holds
Let's build this from first principles. The goal is to understand why a resistor dissipates power as heat, and how the formula P=I2R (and its equivalents) arise naturally.
1. What is "Power" in an Electrical Circuit?
Power is the rate of energy transfer — how much energy is converted from one form to another per unit time.
- In a resistor, electrical energy is converted into heat (thermal energy).
- The fundamental definition of electrical power is:
P=V⋅I
where:
- P = power (watts, W)
- V = voltage across the component (volts, V)
- I = current through the component (amperes, A)
Why this definition?
Voltage is energy per unit charge (V=qW), and current is charge per unit time (I=tq). Multiplying them gives energy per unit time — exactly power.
2. How Does a Resistor Behave? — Ohm's Law
A resistor obeys Ohm's Law:
V=I⋅R
where R is resistance (ohms, Ω). This is an empirical law — it describes how real resistors behave: the voltage across them is proportional to the current through them.
3. Deriving the Power Dissipation Formulas
We start with P=VI and substitute Ohm's Law in two ways.
Case A: Express power in terms of I and R
Replace V with IR:
P=(IR)⋅I=I2R
Interpretation:
- For a fixed resistance, power grows with the square of current.
- Doubling current quadruples the heat generated — this is why high currents cause wires to overheat.
Case B: Express power in terms of V and R
Replace I with RV:
P=V⋅(RV)=RV2
Interpretation:
- For a fixed voltage, power is inversely proportional to resistance.
- A low-resistance resistor (like a short circuit) dissipates huge power at a given voltage — that's why short circuits are dangerous.
4. The Physical "Why" — Energy Conversion at the Atomic Level
Why does this energy turn into heat?
- Electrons moving through a resistor collide with the atoms of the material.
- Each collision transfers kinetic energy from the electron to the atom, making the atom vibrate more — i.e., heating up the resistor.
- The rate at which this energy is lost by the electrons (and gained by the lattice) is exactly P=I2R.
Key insight:
The I2 term appears because:
- More current = more electrons per second. …
Concept: Power Dissipation in an AC circuit — P=Irms2R=VrmsIrmscosϕ, using the exact given Vrms=50000=1005 V (not the rounded 223 V).
- tanϕ=−43⇒cosϕ=54.
- Irms=VrmscosϕP=1005×542000=55≈11.18 A.
- R=Irms2P=1252000=16 Ω.
- XC−XL=Rtanϕ=16×(−43)=−12 Ω.
- IM=2Irms=510≈15.81 A. …
Using the exact given value Vrms=50000 V=1005 V throughout, the first device has R=16 Ω, XC−XL=−12 Ω, and peak current IM=510≈15.81 A. Doubling R, XC and XL leaves the phase angle unchanged but halves the current and power: IM′=2510≈7.91 A and P′=1000 W.
Why this approach works
The real power drawn by an AC circuit is dissipated only in its resistive part; the phase lag ϕ between current and voltage fixes the ratio of net reactance to resistance. Given the power, the rms voltage, and tanϕ, all three quantities R, XC−XL, and the peak current IM follow directly.
P=VrmsIrmscosϕ,P=Irms2R,tanϕ=RXC−XL
Since the current lags the voltage, the circuit is net inductive; the given tanϕ=−43 carries this sign directly (XC−XL is negative because XL>XC).
Step-by-step solution
1. Find cosϕ from tanϕ.
cosϕ=1+tan2ϕ1=1+1691=16251=54
2. Find Irms from the power equation.
Using the exact given value Vrms=50000 V=1005 V (rather than the rounded 223 V):
Irms=VrmscosϕP=1005×542000=8052000=525=55 A≈11.18 A
3. Find R.
R=Irms2P=(55)22000=1252000=16 Ω
4. Find XC−XL.
tanϕ=RXC−XL⇒XC−XL=Rtanϕ=16×(−43)=−12 Ω
5. Find the peak current IM.
IM=2Irms=2×55=510 A≈15.81 A
Effect of doubling R, XC, XL
If a second device has R′=2R=32 Ω, XC′=2XC, XL′=2XL, then XC′−XL′=2(XC−XL)=−24 Ω.
The new phase angle is
tanϕ′=R′XC′−XL′=2R2(XC−XL)=tanϕ, …
Method: Solving AC "Power Triangle" Problems (Given Power, RMS Voltage, and Phase Angle)
This method applies to any question that gives the power drawn, the rms supply voltage, and the phase angle (or tanϕ) of an AC circuit, and asks for the resistance, net reactance, and/or peak current — plus how scaling every element affects the result.
Steps
Step 1: Get cosϕ from tanϕ
If given tanϕ=a/b, use the right-triangle relationship (hypotenuse =a2+b2):
cosϕ=1+tan2ϕ1
Keep the sign convention in mind: check whether the question describes current lagging or leading before assigning signs to the reactance terms later.
Step 2: Find Irms from the real-power equation
P=VrmsIrmscosϕ⇒Irms=VrmscosϕP
Use the EXACT given value of Vrms (not a rounded version) if the problem supplies one, to avoid compounding rounding error through the rest of the solution.
Step 3: Find R from P=Irms2R
R=Irms2P
This works because only the resistive part of the circuit actually dissipates real power.
Step 4: Find the net reactance and the peak current …
Showing the 12 most recent of 18 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.In the circuit given below, each of three resistors of 4 Ω can have a maximum power of 20 W (otherwise, it will melt) (diagram: from terminal A, two 4 Ω resistors are connected in parallel between A and a middle node; the middle node then connects through a third 4 Ω resistor in series to terminal B). The maximum power the whole circuit can take is (A) 30 W (B) 40 W (C) 20 W (D) 10 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests identifying which resistor in a series-parallel network reaches its power limit first. Answer: 30 W.
Concept and Intuition
All the current supplied to the circuit must pass through the single series resistor, while it splits (here, equally, since the two parallel resistors are identical) between the two parallel ones. So the series resistor carries the most current of any single resistor and will hit its power (hence current) limit before the parallel ones do. The overall power limit of the circuit is set by whichever resistor melts first — the series one.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Parallel combination of the two 4 Ω resistors: Rp=4+44×4=2 Ω.
- Total resistance: Rtotal=Rp+4=2+4=6 Ω.
- Let I be the total current (equal to the current through the series resistor). Its power is Pseries=I2(4). Setting this to the 20 W limit: I2=5 A2. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.An alternating supply of 225 V is applied across a circuit with resistance 20Ω and impedance of 45Ω. The power dissipated in the circuit is (A) 500 W (B) 1000 W (C) 550 W (D) 2100 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
Average power in an AC circuit is dissipated only in the resistive part; compute rms current from V/Z, then use P=I2R.
Concept and Intuition
In any series AC circuit with resistance, inductance and/or capacitance, energy is dissipated (as heat) only in the resistor — inductors and capacitors store and return energy over a cycle with zero net dissipation. The rms current through the series circuit is set by the total impedance Z (which already accounts for the reactive elements), and once we have that current, the average power is simply Irms2R.
Step-by-Step Solution
- rms current: Irms=ZVrms=45225=5A.
- Average power dissipated (only in R): P=Irms2R=(5)2×20=25×20=500W.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-19-FN1 markMCQQ.If power dissipated in the 9 Ω resistor in the circuit shown is 36 W, the potential difference across the 2 Ω resistor is [FIGURE] (a circuit with two parallel branches, a 9 Ω resistor carrying current i1 in the top branch and a 6 Ω resistor in the bottom branch, both branches joined at both ends; this parallel combination is connected in series with a battery of emf V and a 2 Ω resistor, with total current i flowing from the battery) (A) 2 volt (B) 4 volt (C) 8 volt (D) 10 volt
›Reveal solutionSolution
From P=i12R get i1=2A in the 9Ω; the parallel 6Ω carries 3A, so total i=5A and the 2Ω drops 10V.
Current in the 9Ω branch. Power dissipated is 36W:
P=i12R⇒36=i12(9)⇒i12=4⇒i1=2A.
Voltage across the parallel section. The voltage across the 9Ω resistor equals that across the parallel 6Ω resistor:
V∥=i1×9=2×9=18V.
Current in the 6Ω branch:
i2=618=3A. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.A resistor of resistance 30 Ω and a capacitor of reactance 40 Ω are connected in series to an ac supply. If the rms current through the resistor is 2 mA, then the wattless current is (A) zero (B) 2 mA (C) 1.2 mA (D) 1.6 mA
›Reveal solutionSolution
The wattless (idle) current component is the part of the total current that is out of phase with the voltage and does no net work — found using Isinϕ for a series RC circuit.
Concept and Intuition
In an AC circuit with both resistance and reactance, only the in-phase component of current (Icosϕ) contributes to real power dissipation. The out-of-phase (wattless/reactive) component is Isinϕ, where ϕ is the phase angle between voltage and current, determined by the ratio of reactance to impedance.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Impedance of the series RC circuit: Z=R2+XC2=302+402=900+1600=2500=50Ω.
- sinϕ=ZXC=5040=0.8.
- Wattless current =Isinϕ=2mA×0.8=1.6mA.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.The power dissipated by a uniform wire of resistance 100 Ω when a potential difference of 120 V is applied across its ends is (A) 122 W (B) 144 W (C) 160 W (D) 200 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
Tests the power–resistance relation P=V2/R for a fixed resistor; answer is 144 W.
Concept and Intuition
For a resistor with a fixed potential difference V across it, the power dissipated is entirely due to Joule heating, given by P=VI=I2R=RV2. Since we are given V and R directly, the most direct form to use is P=V2/R.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Given: R=100 Ω, V=120 V.
- Apply P=RV2=1001202=10014400. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.A wire of resistance 'R' is bent in the form of a circular loop. Two points on the circle separated by a quarter circumference are connected to a battery of emf 'E' and negligible internal resistance. The heat generated in the wire per second is (A) 4RE2 (B) 3R16E2 (C) RE2 (D) 3R2E2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The wire loop splits into two resistive arcs in parallel between the battery terminals; combine them and use P=E2/Req.
Concept and Intuition
A uniform wire bent into a circle has resistance distributed uniformly along its length, so resistance of any arc is proportional to its arc length. When two points on the loop are tapped by a battery, current can flow to the other terminal via either arc — the two arcs are electrically in parallel, not in series, because both start and end at the same two nodes.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Total loop resistance is R, uniformly distributed, so resistance is proportional to arc length.
- A quarter-circumference arc has resistance R1=41R; the remaining three-quarters arc has resistance R2=43R.
- These two arcs connect the same pair of terminals, so they are in parallel: Req=R1+R2R1R2=4R+43R(4R)(43R)=R163R2=163R …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-05-20-FN1 markMCQQ.If an electric bulb is rated at 50 W for a 220 V ac supply, then the resistance of the bulb and the peak voltage of the ac source are respectively (A) 968 Ω,2202 V (B) 484 Ω,220 V (C) 968 Ω,220 V (D) 484 Ω,2202 V
›Reveal solutionSolution
The bulb's resistance follows from P=Vrms2/R, and the peak voltage is 2 times the rms (rated) voltage — giving 968Ω and 2202 V.
Concept and Intuition
An AC bulb's power rating (50 W at 220 V) refers to the rms voltage, since power dissipation in a resistor depends on rms values: P=RVrms2. Separately, any sinusoidal AC voltage has a peak value related to its rms value by V0=Vrms2, purely from the definition of rms for a sine wave — this is independent of the bulb's rating.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Resistance: R=PVrms2=50(220)2=5048400=968 Ω.
- Peak (maximum) voltage of the 220 V (rms) AC supply: V0=2×Vrms=2202 V. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.A lamp is rated at 240V, 60W. When in use the resistance of the filament of the lamp is 20 times that of cold filament. The resistance of the lamp when not in use is (A) 54 Ω (B) 60 Ω (C) 50 Ω (D) 48 Ω
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rated power and voltage give the filament's hot resistance; dividing by 20 gives the cold resistance.
Concept and Intuition
A lamp's "rated" values (240 V, 60 W) describe its operating (hot) state, since that's when it's glowing and consuming that power. The cold filament (before switch-on) has much lower resistance because resistivity of the metal filament increases sharply with temperature. The problem gives us the ratio between the two, so we first get the hot resistance from P=V2/R, then scale down.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Hot resistance: Rhot=PV2=60240×240=6057600=960 Ω.
- Given Rhot=20Rcold.
- Rcold=20Rhot=20960=48 Ω. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.A resistor of 50Ω, an inductor and a capacitor are connected in series to an ac source of peak voltage 2002V. When the capacitor alone is removed from the circuit, the current lags the voltage by 37∘ and when the inductor alone is removed from the circuit, the current leads the voltage by 37∘. The power dissipated in the LCR circuit is (A) 400 W (B) 800 W (C) 200 W (D) 100 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
Equal-magnitude lag and lead angles show XL=XC, meaning the LCR circuit is at resonance; power dissipated is simply Vrms2/R=800 W.
Concept and Intuition
Removing the capacitor leaves an RL circuit (current lags voltage); removing the inductor leaves an RC circuit (current leads voltage). If both phase angles have the same magnitude (37∘), it means XL and XC individually produce the same magnitude of phase shift relative to R — i.e. XL=XC. That is exactly the resonance condition for the full LCR circuit, where the net reactance cancels and the circuit behaves purely resistively.
Step-by-Step Solution
- RL circuit (C removed): tan37∘=XL/R⇒XL=Rtan37∘=50×0.75=37.5Ω.
- RC circuit (L removed): tan37∘=XC/R⇒XC=50×0.75=37.5Ω. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.In the circuit given below, if the bulb is to glow with maximum intensity, the value of 'R' is (neglect internal resistance of the cell) [FIGURE] (a circuit diagram with a 6V battery at the top; below it the circuit splits into a branch with a 3Ω resistor in series with a resistor R, and this joins down to a bulb marked 'W' rated 1.5 V, 0.45 W, which connects back to complete the loop with the battery) (A) 1.25 Ω (B) 4.5 Ω (C) 6 Ω (D) 8.5 Ω
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests using a bulb's rated voltage/power to find its rated current, then applying KVL and KCL to a series–parallel circuit to find the parallel resistor that makes the bulb operate exactly at its rated (maximum-intensity) point.
Concept and Intuition
A bulb glows with "maximum intensity" when it operates at its rated voltage and power — any brighter isn't achievable without exceeding its design rating. Here R and the bulb are in parallel (sharing the same voltage), and this combination is in series with the fixed 3Ω resistor and the ideal 6V battery. For the bulb to sit exactly at 1.5 V, the total current drawn from the battery is fixed by KVL, and R must draw whatever current is "left over" after the bulb takes its rated share.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Bulb rating: 1.5 V, 0.45 W ⇒ rated current Ibulb=VP=1.50.45=0.3 A.
- For maximum (rated) intensity, the voltage across the parallel section (bulb and R) must equal 1.5 V.
- Apply KVL around the loop: EMF = drop across 3Ω + drop across parallel section: 6=3Itotal+1.5.
- Solving: 3Itotal=4.5⇒Itotal=1.5 A. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQQ.An inductor and a resistor of 25 Ω are connected in series to an ac source of voltage 100 sin (100 πt) volt. If the impedance of the circuit is 50 Ω, the average power dissipated per cycle in the circuit is (A) 10 W (B) 25 W (C) 50 W (D) 100 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
In a series LR AC circuit, average power is dissipated only in the resistor: P=Irms2R=50 W here.
Concept and Intuition
An ideal inductor stores and releases energy over a cycle without net dissipation — its current and voltage are 90° out of phase, so the average power delivered to it over a full cycle is zero. All the average power in an LR series circuit is therefore dissipated in the resistor, and it can be computed either from Irms2R or from VrmsIrmscosϕ (where cosϕ=R/Z is the power factor) — both give the same result.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Peak voltage from V=100sin(100πt): V0=100 V, so Vrms=V0/2=100/2 V.
- Given impedance Z=50 Ω, find Irms=Vrms/Z=50100/2=22=2 A.
- Average power is dissipated only in the resistor: P=Irms2R=(2)2×25=2×25=50 W. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set ap-2022-07-11-AN1 markMCQQ.10 W is to be delivered to a device via a wire having resistance 2 Ω. If 20 V is the voltage across the device, the power wasted in the process is (A) 3 W (B) 2 W (C) 0.5 W (D) 1.5 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
Finding the current from the device's power and voltage, then applying I2R to the wire, gives 0.5 W wasted.
Concept and Intuition
The same current flows through both the device and the connecting wire (they're in series). Knowing the power delivered to and the voltage across the device lets us find that current, which we then use to find the ohmic loss in the wire.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Current supplied to device: I=VP=20 V10 W=0.5 A.
- This same current flows through the 2 Ω wire. …
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