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PhysicsMediumClass 12

Power in AC — Power factor, wattless current

AC Circuits

8

JEE Qs

8%

Hard

60

min

Master the phase relationship between voltage and current across different components and for the entire circuit to correctly calculate the power factor and average power.

🧮 Key Formulas

P_inst = V_inst * I_inst
P_avg = V_rms * I_rms * cos(phi)
cos(phi) = R/Z
cos(phi) = R / sqrt(R^2 + (X_L - X_C)^2)
Apparent Power (S) = V_rms * I_rms
Reactive Power (Q) = V_rms * I_rms * sin(phi)
I_wattless = I_rms * sin(phi)
I_power_component = I_rms * cos(phi)

✅ Key Points for JEE

  • 1Average power dissipated in an AC circuit depends only on the resistive component; ideal inductors and capacitors do not dissipate energy over a full cycle.
  • 2The power factor, `cos(phi)`, where `phi` is the phase difference between voltage and current, indicates the fraction of apparent power that is actual useful power dissipation.
  • 3Wattless current is the component of current (I_rms * sin(phi)) that is 90 degrees out of phase with the voltage and contributes zero to the average power dissipation.
  • 4At resonance in a series RLC circuit, `X_L = X_C`, leading to `phi = 0` and `cos(phi) = 1`, signifying maximum power transfer for a given voltage.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • Confusing instantaneous power with average power, or incorrectly using peak values (V_0, I_0) instead of RMS values (V_rms, I_rms) in the average power formula.
  • Incorrectly identifying the phase difference `phi`; it is between the total voltage across the circuit and the total current through the circuit.
  • Assuming that reactive components (inductors and capacitors) dissipate average power, leading to errors in total power calculations.

📝 Practice Questions

See all

Q47.In a series LCR circuit, a resistor of 300Ω, a capacitor of 25 nF and an inductor of 100 mH are used. For maximum current in the circuit, the angular frequency of the ac source is _____ ×104 radians s−1 .

2025·NumericalEasy

Q28.Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : Choke coil is simply a coil having a large inductance but a small resistance. Choke coils are used with fluorescent mercury-tube fittings. If household electric power is directly connected to a mercury 2025 (29 Jan Shift 1) JEE Main Previous Year Paper tube, the tube will be damaged. Reason (R): By using the choke coil, the voltage across the tube is reduced by a factor + , where ω is frequency of the supply across resistor R and inductor L . If the choke (R/√R2 ω2L2) coil were not used, the voltage across the resistor would be the same as the applied voltage. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below : (1) (A) is true but (R) is false (2) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A) (3) (A) is false but (R) is true (4) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

2025·Assertion ReasoningMedium

Q39.A series LCR circuit is connected to an alternating source of emf E. The current amplitude at resonant frequency is I0 . If the value of resistance R becomes twice of its initial value then amplitude of current at resonance will be (1) 2I0 (2) I0 (3) I0 (4) I0 2 √2

2025·MCQEasy

Q46.A time varying potential difference is applied between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 2.5μ F. The dielectric constant of the medium between the capacitor plates is 1 . It produces an instantaneous displacement current of 0.25 mA in the intervening space between the capacitor plates, the magnitude of the rate of change of the potential difference will be _____ Vs−1 .

2025·NumericalMedium

Q28.An alternating current is given by I = IA sin ωt + IB cos ωt. The r.m.s current will be ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥ 2025 (24 Jan Shift 1) JEE Main Previous Year Paper (1) |IA+IB| (2) A+I2B √2 √I2 2 B + I2B (4) √I2A+I2 (3) √I2A 2

2025·MCQMedium

Q15.In an ac circuit, the instantaneous current is zero, when the instantaneous voltage is maximum. In this case, the source may be connected to : A. pure inductor. B. pure capacitor. C. pure resistor. D. combination of an inductor and capacitor. Choose the correct answer from the options given below : (1) A, B and C only (2) A and B only (3) B, C and D only (4) A, B and D only →

2024·MCQMedium

NCERT Chapters

  • Class 12 Physics Ch 7: Alternating Current