Mechatronics 1: Week 3 - AC Circuit Fundamentals

Alternating Current (AC) Circuit Fundamentals

Building on our DC foundations, this week we dive into Alternating Current (AC) circuits, which are ubiquitous in modern technology. Understanding AC is crucial for working with power systems, communications, and many sensor applications. Explore the key concepts below.

Interactive Sandbox: Reactance vs. Frequency

This sandbox illustrates how the opposition to current flow (reactance) for capacitors and inductors changes dramatically with frequency. Observe the inverse relationship for capacitors and the direct relationship for inductors. Try different frequencies to see the effect.

Component Reactance

Set the frequency and see how reactances change:

Frequency (Hz): 1000 Hz

Capacitor: 100nF ($100 \\times 10^{-9}$ F)

Inductor: 10mH ($10 \\times 10^{-3}$ H)

Calculated Reactances at Current Frequency:

Inductive Reactance ($X_L$): 0.00 Ω

Capacitive Reactance ($X_C$): 0.00 Ω

Reactance Graph

Practice Problems

Test your understanding with these problems from the course notes. Click "Show Answer" to reveal the detailed solution.

Quiz

Challenge your knowledge with these multiple-choice questions. Select your answer and click 'Check Answer'.