Phasors & AC-Current: Same Direction?

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In summary, the two currents are going in opposite directions but since their phase difference is pi, they will eventually line up and go in the same direction over time. The direction of the currents may appear different due to the labeling of "from A to B" and "from B to A".
  • #1
Niles
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Hi all.

If I have a current going from A to B with a phase of 0.78 (radians) at time t, and a current going from B to A with a phase of 0.78+Pi = 3.93 at the same time t, does this mean that the currents are going the same way?

Thanks in advance.


Niles.
 
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  • #2
all that's really crucial is that their phase difference is pi, so their graphs over time will look like this:

http://www.4815162342.org.uk/e014b2.gif
(note, if you wanted it to perfectly match your situation, you could move the x-y axes over a pinch, but it would be the same result.)From the graphic it appears the two currents are always pointing opposite directions, however your problem states that one current is "from A to B" and the other is "from B to A" so one of them will be flipped and line up with the other one. So they do go the same direction over time.
 
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  • #3
Thanks for taking the time to plot the graphics and for answering.

Have a happy New Year.
 

FAQ: Phasors & AC-Current: Same Direction?

1. What is a phasor and how is it related to AC current?

A phasor is a mathematical representation of a sinusoidal wave that is used to analyze the behavior of alternating current (AC) circuits. It consists of a magnitude and phase angle and is used to simplify the analysis of AC circuits by converting complex sinusoidal functions into simpler linear functions.

2. How are phasors and AC currents represented?

Phasors are typically represented using complex numbers, with the magnitude being represented by the absolute value of the complex number and the phase angle being represented by the argument of the complex number. AC currents, on the other hand, are represented by sinusoidal functions with a peak amplitude and frequency.

3. What is the main advantage of using phasors to analyze AC circuits?

The main advantage of using phasors is that they allow for the simplification of complex sinusoidal functions, making it easier to analyze AC circuits. With phasors, calculations involving multiplication and differentiation can be replaced with simpler operations such as addition and subtraction.

4. Are phasors and AC currents always in the same direction?

No, phasors and AC currents are not always in the same direction. The direction of a phasor depends on the phase angle, while the direction of an AC current depends on the direction of the current flow in the circuit. In some cases, the phasor and AC current may be in the same direction, while in others they may be in opposite directions.

5. Can phasors be used to analyze other types of waves besides AC currents?

Yes, phasors can be used to analyze other types of sinusoidal waves, such as sound waves and electromagnetic waves. They can also be used to analyze non-sinusoidal periodic functions by decomposing them into a series of sinusoidal functions using Fourier analysis.

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