AC Circuits Formulas

AC circuit formulas describe how voltage, current, and impedance interact in sinusoidal systems. These calculators handle reactance, phase, and resonance so you can analyse filters, tuned circuits, and power factor. They are the bridge between simple DC analysis and real-world signals.

AC Circuits Formula Calculators

Worked result for every AC Circuits formula

Formula Expression Worked result
Resonant Frequency f = 1 / (2π√(LC)) Inductance 100 nH, Capacitance 1 pF → Frequency = 0.5033 GHz
Impedance (RLC Series) Z = √(R² + (XL − XC)²) Resistance 1 Ω, Inductive Reactance 2.2 Ω, Capacitive Reactance 4.7 Ω → Z = 2.693 Ω
Quality Factor (Bandwidth) Q = f₀ / BW Resonant Frequency 100 Hz, Bandwidth 5 Hz → Q Factor = 20
Quality Factor (RLC) Q = (1/R) × √(L/C) Resistance 1 Ω, Inductance 100 nH, Capacitance 1 pF → Q = 316.2
Power Factor PF = P / S = cos(φ) Real Power 10 mW, Apparent Power 22 mW → Power Factor = 0.4545
Apparent Power S = √(P² + Q²) Real Power 22 mW, Reactive Power 47 mW → Apparent Power = 51.89 mW
Reactive Power Q = S × sin(φ) Apparent Power 22 mW, Phase Angle 1.5 ° → Reactive Power = 0.5759 mW
RLC Circuit Bandwidth BW = f0 / Q Resonant Frequency 100 Hz, Quality Factor 0.025 → Bandwidth = 4 kHz
AC RMS / Peak Conversion V_rms = V_peak / √2 Peak Voltage 0.726 V → RMS Voltage = 0.5134 V
Transformer Turns Ratio N = V1 / V2 Primary Voltage 0.33 V, Secondary Voltage 0.726 V → Turns Ratio = 0.4545
Average Rectified Voltage V_avg = 0.637 × Vpeak Peak Voltage 0.726 V → Average Voltage = 0.4625 V
Three-Phase Line vs Phase Voltage V_line = √3 × V_phase Phase Voltage 0.726 V → Line-to-Line Voltage = 1.257 V
Power Factor Correction Capacitor C = Qc / (ω × V²) Reactive Power 0.025, Line Frequency 5 Hz, Line Voltage RMS 0.33 V → Capacitance = 7.307 mF
Transformer Efficiency η = Pout / (Pout + Piron + Pcopper) Output Power 10 mW, Core (Iron) Loss 22 mW, Copper Loss 47 mW → η = 0.1266
Inrush Current I_inrush = Vpeak / Zsource Peak Voltage 0.33 V, Source Impedance 1 Ω → Inrush Current = 0.33 A
Complex Impedance Magnitude (RLC) |Z| = √(R² + (ωL − 1/(ωC))²) Resistance 2.2 Ω, Frequency 5 Hz, Inductance 100 µH, Capacitance 100 nF → Impedance Magnitude = 0.3183 MΩ
AC Phase Angle φ = arctan((XL − XC) / R) Inductive Reactance 1 Ω, Capacitive Reactance 2.2 Ω, Resistance 4.7 Ω → φ = -14.32
Power Triangle (S, P, Q) S² = P² + Q² Real Power (W) 10 mW, Reactive Power (VAR) 0.055 → Apparent Power (VA) = 0.0559
Phasor Magnitude (Rect → Polar) |Z| = √(R² + X²) Real Part 2.2 Ω, Imaginary Part 4.7 Ω → Magnitude = 5.189 Ω
Phasor Angle (Rect → Polar) θ = atan(X / R) Real Part 1 Ω, Imaginary Part 2.2 Ω → Phase Angle = 65.56 °
Phasor Real Part (Polar → Rect) R = |Z| · cos(θ) Magnitude 2.2 Ω, Phase Angle 1.5 ° → Real Part = 2.199 Ω
Phasor Imaginary Part (Polar → Rect) X = |Z| · sin(θ) Magnitude 2.2 Ω, Phase Angle 1.5 ° → Imaginary Part = 57.59 mΩ
Parallel (Tank) Resonant Frequency f = (1/2π)·√(1/LC − R²/L²) Inductance 100 µH, Capacitance 100 pF, Coil Resistance 1 Ω → Resonant Frequency = 1.592 MHz
Waveform Form Factor FF = Vrms / Vavg RMS Value 0.33 V, Average Value 0.726 V → Form Factor = 0.4545
Peak-to-Peak Voltage Vpp = 2 · Vpeak Peak (Amplitude) 0.726 V → Peak-to-Peak = 1.452 V
Instantaneous AC Voltage v = Vmax · sin(θ) Peak Voltage 0.726 V, Phase Angle 1.5 ° → Instantaneous Voltage = 19 mV
Angular Frequency ω = 2π · f Frequency 5 Hz → Angular Frequency = 31.42 rad/s

Variables used across AC Circuits formulas

  • f — Resonant frequency in hertz (Hz)
  • L — Inductance in henries (H)
  • C — Capacitance in farads (F)
  • Z — Impedance magnitude in ohms (Ω)
  • R — Resistance in ohms (Ω)
  • XL — Inductive reactance in ohms (Ω)
  • XC — Capacitive reactance in ohms (Ω)
  • Q — Quality factor (dimensionless)
  • f₀ — Resonant (center) frequency in hertz (Hz)
  • BW — Bandwidth at -3dB points in hertz (Hz)
  • PF — Power factor (0 to 1, dimensionless)
  • P — Real (true) power in watts (W)
  • S — Apparent power in volt-amperes (VA)
  • φ — Phase angle between voltage and current (degrees)
  • f0 — Resonant (center) frequency (Hz)
  • V_rms — Root mean square voltage (V)
  • V_peak — Peak (maximum) voltage (V)
  • N — Turns ratio (primary to secondary, dimensionless)
  • V1 — Primary (input) voltage (V)
  • V2 — Secondary (output) voltage (V)
  • V_avg — Average rectified voltage (V)
  • V_line — Line-to-line (phase-to-phase) voltage (V)
  • V_phase — Phase-to-neutral voltage (V)
  • Qc — Reactive power to compensate (VAR)
  • V — RMS line voltage (V)
  • Pout — Output (load) power (W)
  • P_iron — Core loss from hysteresis and eddy currents (W)
  • P_copper — Winding I²R loss (W)
  • I_inrush — Peak inrush current (A)
  • Z_source — Total impedance including wiring, NTC, and source (Ω)
  • |Z| — Impedance magnitude (Ω)
  • X_L — Inductive reactance, ωL (Ω)
  • X_C — Capacitive reactance, 1/(ωC) (Ω)
  • X — Reactance / imaginary part (Ω)
  • θ — Phase angle (degrees)
  • FF — Form factor (dimensionless)
  • Vrms — RMS value of the waveform (V)
  • Vavg — Average (rectified mean) value (V)
  • Vpp — Peak-to-peak voltage (V)
  • Vpeak — Peak amplitude from zero (V)
  • v — Instantaneous voltage (V)
  • Vmax — Peak amplitude (V)
  • ω — Angular frequency (rad/s)

Questions people ask about AC Circuits

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