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Worked Examples · Example 7.8

Q.A sinusoidal voltage of peak value 283 V283\ \text{V} and frequency 50 Hz50\ \text{Hz} is applied to a series LCR circuit in which R=3 ΩR = 3\ \Omega, L=25.48 mHL = 25.48\ \text{mH}, and C=796 μFC = 796\ \mu\text{F}. Find

(a) the impedance of the circuit;
(b) the phase difference between the voltage across the source and the current;
(c) the power dissipated in the circuit; and
(d) the power factor.
Telangana TsbieTextbookSubjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
16% · 8/50 Questions
✓ Free question

For a series LCR circuit driven by an AC source, the impedance is the vector sum of resistance and net reactance. Here, XL=8 ΩX_L = 8\ \Omega, XC=4 ΩX_C = 4\ \Omega, so net reactance X=4 ΩX = 4\ \Omega, giving impedance Z=5 ΩZ = 5\ \Omega. The phase angle ϕ=tan⁡−1(X/R)=53.13∘\phi = \tan^{-1}(X/R) = 53.13^\circ (voltage leads current). Power factor cos⁡ϕ=0.6\cos\phi = 0.6, and power dissipated P=VrmsIrmscos⁡ϕ=4800 WP = V_{\text{rms}} I_{\text{rms}} \cos\phi = 4800\ \text{W}.

Concept and Intuition

In a series LCR circuit, the resistor, inductor, and capacitor each oppose current in different ways. Resistance RR dissipates energy as heat. Inductive reactance XL=ωLX_L = \omega L and capacitive reactance XC=1/(ωC)X_C = 1/(\omega C) store and release energy but do not dissipate it — they merely cause a phase shift between voltage and current.

The total opposition to current is impedance ZZ, given by:

Z=R2+(XL−XC)2Z = \sqrt{R^2 + (X_L - X_C)^2}

The phase difference ϕ\phi tells us whether the circuit behaves more like an inductor (voltage leads current, ϕ>0\phi > 0) or a capacitor (current leads voltage, ϕ<0\phi < 0):

tan⁡ϕ=XL−XCR\tan\phi = \frac{X_L - X_C}{R}

Power is only dissipated in the resistor. The average power over a cycle is:

P=VrmsIrmscos⁡ϕP = V_{\text{rms}} I_{\text{rms}} \cos\phi

where cos⁡ϕ\cos\phi is the power factor.


Step-by-Step Solution

1. Find the angular frequency ω\omega

Given frequency f=50 Hzf = 50\ \text{Hz}:

ω=2πf=2π×50=100π rad/s\omega = 2\pi f = 2\pi \times 50 = 100\pi \ \text{rad/s}

2. Calculate inductive reactance XLX_L

L=25.48 mH=25.48×10−3 HL = 25.48\ \text{mH} = 25.48 \times 10^{-3}\ \text{H}

XL=ωL=100π×25.48×10−3X_L = \omega L = 100\pi \times 25.48 \times 10^{-3}

Using π≈3.14\pi \approx 3.14:

XL=100×3.14×25.48×10−3=314×0.02548≈8.00 ΩX_L = 100 \times 3.14 \times 25.48 \times 10^{-3} = 314 \times 0.02548 \approx 8.00\ \Omega

Tip

Notice 25.48×3.14≈80.025.48 \times 3.14 \approx 80.0, then divide by 1000 gives exactly 8 Ω8\ \Omega. This neat round number is common in exam problems.

3. Calculate capacitive reactance XCX_C

C=796 μF=796×10−6 FC = 796\ \mu\text{F} = 796 \times 10^{-6}\ \text{F}

XC=1ωC=1100π×796×10−6X_C = \frac{1}{\omega C} = \frac{1}{100\pi \times 796 \times 10^{-6}}

First compute ωC=100π×796×10−6=314×796×10−6\omega C = 100\pi \times 796 \times 10^{-6} = 314 \times 796 \times 10^{-6}

314×796≈250,000314 \times 796 \approx 250,000 (since 314×800=251,200314 \times 800 = 251,200, minus 314×4=1,256314 \times 4 = 1,256 gives 249,944249,944)

So ωC≈0.25\omega C \approx 0.25

XC=10.25=4.00 ΩX_C = \frac{1}{0.25} = 4.00\ \Omega

4. Compute net reactance XX

X=XL−XC=8−4=4 ΩX = X_L - X_C = 8 - 4 = 4\ \Omega

The circuit is inductive (positive reactance).

5. Find impedance ZZ

Z=R2+X2=32+42=9+16=25=5 ΩZ = \sqrt{R^2 + X^2} = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{9 + 16} = \sqrt{25} = 5\ \Omega

Z=R2+(XL−XC)2Z = \sqrt{R^2 + (X_L - X_C)^2}

6. Determine phase difference ϕ\phi

tan⁡ϕ=XR=43⇒ϕ=tan⁡−1(43)≈53.13∘\tan\phi = \frac{X}{R} = \frac{4}{3} \quad\Rightarrow\quad \phi = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{4}{3}\right) \approx 53.13^\circ

Since XL>XCX_L > X_C, voltage leads current by 53.13∘53.13^\circ.

7. Calculate rms values of source voltage and current

Peak voltage V0=283 VV_0 = 283\ \text{V}

Vrms=V02=2831.414≈200 VV_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_0}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{283}{1.414} \approx 200\ \text{V}

Watch out

A common mistake is to use peak values directly in power formulas. Always convert to rms for AC power calculations.

Irms=VrmsZ=2005=40 AI_{\text{rms}} = \frac{V_{\text{rms}}}{Z} = \frac{200}{5} = 40\ \text{A}

8. Find power factor

Power factor=cos⁡ϕ=RZ=35=0.6\text{Power factor} = \cos\phi = \frac{R}{Z} = \frac{3}{5} = 0.6

9. Compute power dissipated

P=VrmsIrmscos⁡ϕ=200×40×0.6=4800 WP = V_{\text{rms}} I_{\text{rms}} \cos\phi = 200 \times 40 \times 0.6 = 4800\ \text{W}

Alternatively, since only the resistor dissipates power:

P=Irms2R=402×3=1600×3=4800 WP = I_{\text{rms}}^2 R = 40^2 \times 3 = 1600 \times 3 = 4800\ \text{W}

Tip

The I2RI^2R formula is often quicker and avoids needing the power factor separately — but both give the same result.


✓Final answer

  1. Impedance Z=5 ΩZ = 5\ \Omega;
  2. Phase difference ϕ=53.13∘\phi = 53.13^\circ (voltage leads current);
  3. Power dissipated P=4800 WP = 4800\ \text{W};
  4. Power factor cos⁡ϕ=0.6\cos\phi = 0.6.

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