Question 100 of 949
The current through a resistor in an a.c circuit is given as 2 sin wt. Determine the d.c. equivalent of the current
- A. \(\frac{1A}{\sqrt{2}}\)
- B. \(\sqrt{2}\)A
- C. 2 A
- D. 2\(\sqrt{2}\)A
Correct Answer:
B
Explanation
To determine the d.c. equivalent of the given a.c. current \( I(t) = 2 \sin(\omega t) \), we need to understand the relationship between alternating current (a.c.) and direct current (d.c.) in terms of their effective values.
### Step-by-Step Explanation
1. **Understanding the a.c. Current**:
- The given current is \( I(t) = 2 \sin(\omega t) \). This means that the current varies sinusoidally with time, oscillating between +2 A and -2 A.
- The amplitude of this sine wave is 2 A.
2. **Calculating the Root Mean Square (RMS) Value**:
- For a sinusoidal current, the d.c. equivalent is often represented by the RMS value. The RMS value of a sinusoidal current is calculated using the formula:
\[
I_{\text{RMS}} = \frac{I_0}{\sqrt{2}}
\]
where \( I_0 \) is the peak (or maximum) value of the current.
3. **Applying the Formula**:
- In our case, the peak value \( I_0 \) is 2 A. Therefore, we can substitute this value into the RMS formula:
\[
I_{\text{RMS}} = \frac{2 \, \text{A}}{\sqrt{2}} = \sqrt{2} \, \text{A}
\]
4. **Conclusion**:
- The d.c. equivalent of the a.c. current \( 2 \sin(\omega t) \) is \( \sqrt{2} \, \text{A} \).
### Why the Other Options are Incorrect
- **Option A: \(\frac{1A}{\sqrt{2}}\)**:
- This value is incorrect because it does not represent the RMS value of the given a.c. current. It is actually the RMS value of a current with a peak value of 1 A, which is not relevant here.
- **Option C: 2 A**:
- This option represents the peak value of the current, not the RMS value. The d.c. equivalent is not simply the peak value; it must be adjusted to account for the nature of the a.c. waveform.
- **Option D: 2\(\sqrt{2}\) A**:
- This value is incorrect as it suggests a misunderstanding of the RMS calculation. It would imply a peak value of \( 2\sqrt{2} \) A, which is not the case here.
### Summary of Key Points
- The d.c. equivalent of an a.c. current is typically represented by its RMS value.
- For a sinusoidal current, the RMS value is calculated as \( I_{\text{RMS}} = \frac{I_0}{\sqrt{2}} \).
- In this case, the peak current is 2 A, leading to a d.c. equivalent of \( \sqrt{2} \, \text{A} \).
- Understanding the difference between peak current and RMS current is crucial for solving problems related to a.c. circuits.
### Final Answer
**Correct Option: B. \(\sqrt{2}\) A**