power distribution day 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering electrical circuit concepts, reactance, power types, AC signals, signal conversion types, and transformer principles.

Inductive Reactance ($X_L$)

The opposition to current flow caused specifically by an inductor in an alternating current circuit.

Capacitive Reactance ($X_C$)

The opposition to current flow caused specifically by a capacitor in an alternating current circuit.

Impedance ($Z$)

The total opposition to current flow in an $AC$ circuit resulting from the combination of resistance, inductive reactance, and capacitive reactance.

True Power

The power that performs actual work, such as producing light, heat, or mechanical work, provided by resistive components.

Reactive Power

Power stored in magnetic or electric fields and returned to the circuit by reactive components (inductors and capacitors) without doing actual work.

Apparent Power

The total power supplied to a circuit, combining true power and reactive power, measured in Volt-Amperes ($VA$).

Power Factor

The ratio of true power to apparent power, representing how effectively power is converted into useful work.

Inductor

A component made by looping insulated wire that produces a magnetic field and opposes changes in electric current.

Time Period ($T$)

The time required to complete one full cycle of an alternating signal, defined as $T = \frac{1}{f}$.

Frequency ($f$)

The rate at which cycles repeat in an alternating current waveform, measured in Hertz ($Hz$) and defined as $f = \frac{1}{T}$.

Rectifier

A device that performs rectification, converting alternating current ($AC$) to direct current ($DC$).

Inverter

A device that performs inversion, converting direct current ($DC$) into alternating current ($AC$).

Chopper

A device that converts direct current ($DC$) to another level of direct current ($DC$) through a process called chopping.

Transformer

An electrical device consisting of coupled inductors that transfers electrical energy between $AC$ circuits using electromagnetic induction.

Primary Winding ($N_P$)

The coil of a transformer connected to the input power source.

Secondary Winding ($N_S$)

The coil of a transformer in which voltage is induced and delivered to the output load.

Step-Up Transformer

A transformer with more secondary turns than primary turns ($N_S > N_P$), which increases voltage while decreasing current.

Step-Down Transformer

A transformer with fewer secondary turns than primary turns ($N_S < N_P$), which decreases voltage while increasing current.

Mutual Induction

The process where a changing current in one coil generates a changing magnetic field that induces a voltage in a nearby secondary coil.