AC Circuit Analysis Using Phasors

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to AC circuit analysis using phasors.

Phasor

A complex number representing the amplitude and phase of a sinusoidal function.

Impedance (Z)

A measure of the opposition that a circuit offers to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied; it is a complex quantity.

Homogeneous part

The transient solution of a differential equation that decays to zero over time.

Particular part

The steady-state solution of a differential equation that persists and does not decay, often written as a combination of sine and cosine functions.

KVL (Kirchhoff's Voltage Law)

The sum of the electrical potential differences (voltage) around any closed network is zero.

KCL (Kirchhoff's Current Law)

The sum of currents entering a junction must equal the sum of currents leaving the junction.

Thevenin equivalent

A simplified equivalent circuit that can replace a complex circuit with a single voltage source and a single resistor.

Mesh Current Analysis

A method used to analyze planar circuits by applying Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) around the mesh loops.

Node Voltage Method

A systematic method to analyze circuits by using the voltages at the nodes with respect to a reference point.

AC Source

An electrical source that produces alternating current (AC) which varies in time.

Differential Equation

An equation that relates a function with its derivatives, used to describe the behavior of circuits.

Steady State

The condition of a circuit in which all voltages and currents are constants or periodic steady-state values.

Transient Response

The behavior of a circuit as it transitions from one steady state to another following a sudden change, usually characterized by decay of currents and voltages.