what is the average value of alternating current over a complete cycle
What is the average value of alternating current over a complete cycle?
Answer:
The average value of alternating current over a complete cycle depends on its waveform. In the case of a sinusoidal waveform, the average value is zero over a complete cycle. This is because the positive and negative halves of the waveform cancel each other out when averaged over time.
However, if we want to find the average value of the absolute magnitude of the alternating current, we can use the root mean square (RMS) method. The RMS value is calculated by squaring the instantaneous values of the current, taking the mean of the squared values, and then taking the square root of the result.
For a sinusoidal waveform, the RMS value is equal to the peak value divided by the square root of 2 (approximately 0.707). Therefore, the average value of the absolute magnitude of the alternating current over a complete cycle is equal to the RMS value.
It’s important to note that the average value of alternating current is different from its peak or peak-to-peak value. The peak value represents the maximum value reached by the current, while the average value gives us an idea about the effective value or the equivalent constant value that would produce the same amount of power dissipation in a resistive load.
In summary, the average value of alternating current over a complete cycle is zero for a sinusoidal waveform, but if we consider the average value of the absolute magnitude, it is equal to the RMS value.