When Voltage is Constant (DC), is current also constant?

In summary, when voltage is oscillating in a simple circuit with steady resistance (AC), the current will be proportional to the voltage. This means that as voltage increases, current will also increase, and as voltage decreases, current will decrease. However, if the circuit contains inductance or capacitance, the voltage and current will be out of phase. When the voltage is steady (DC) in a simple circuit with constant resistance, the current will also be steady. This is true when the circuit only contains resistors, but if it also contains energy storing elements like inductors or capacitors, the transient of the current will be a combination of exponential and sinusoidal functions. This can be seen in the step response of a series R
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Ocata
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Homework Statement



When Voltage is oscillating (A/C), then in a simple circle with steady resistance, the current will be proportional to the voltage. When voltage increases, current will increase. And when voltage decreases, voltage will decrease. Is it also true that in a simple circuit with constant resistance, when voltage is steady (DC), then current will also be steady.

P.S.
by "steady," I mean a horizontal line on the graph.

Homework Equations



V = IR

The Attempt at a Solution


Supposing this is correct based on observing that graphs of AC voltage (represented by some sort of sine function) are usually accompanied by current represented by a sine function. I have not seen an a/c voltage graph accompanied by a steady horizontal line for current.

Thus I assume that if current is to remain proportional to a steady resistance, the current has to maintain the same "flow pattern" (perhaps different amplitude, but same frequency and phase etc) on the graph as voltage.

Thanks
 
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  • #2
That is true when the circuit contains pure resistance. To the extent the circuit possesses inductance or capacitance, however, voltage and current will be out of phase.
 
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Ocata said:
Is it also true that in a simple circuit with constant resistance, when voltage is steady (DC), then current will also be steady.
If the circuit contains only resistors, then the current will be constant.
If the circuit contains energy storing elements like inductor or capacitor, the transient of the current is a combination of exponential and sinusoidal function w.r.t time.
Look up 'step response of series RLC circuit.'
 
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Thank you both.
 

FAQ: When Voltage is Constant (DC), is current also constant?

What is the difference between DC and AC voltage?

DC stands for direct current, which means that the voltage remains constant over time. AC stands for alternating current, which means that the voltage changes direction periodically.

How is current affected when voltage is constant?

When voltage is constant in a DC circuit, the current will also remain constant as long as the resistance stays the same. This is known as Ohm's Law, where current (I) is equal to voltage (V) divided by resistance (R).

Can current change in a DC circuit?

In a DC circuit, current can change if the resistance changes. However, if the resistance remains constant, the current will also remain constant as long as the voltage is constant.

What happens if the voltage is not constant in a DC circuit?

If the voltage is not constant in a DC circuit, the current will also not be constant. This can happen if there is a fluctuation in the power source or if there are changes in the circuit's resistance.

Is it possible to have a constant current in an AC circuit?

No, it is not possible to have a constant current in an AC circuit because the voltage is constantly changing direction. However, the average current over a period of time can be constant.

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