A resistor of 200 `Omega` and a capacitor of 15.0 `muF` are connected in series to a 220 V, 50 Hz ac source. (a) Calculate the current in the circuit, (b) Calculate the voltage (rms) across the resistor and the capacitor. Is the algebraic sum of these voltages more than the source voltage? If yes, resolve the paradox.

Explanation

Given
`R=200Omega, C=15.0muF=15.0xx10^(-6)F`
`V=220V, v=50Hz`
(a) In order to calculate the current, we need the impedance of the circuit. It is
`Z=sqrt(R^(2)+X_(C)^(2))=sqrt(R^(2)+(2pi vC)^(-2))`
`=sqrt((200Omega)^(2)+(2xx3.14xx50xx15.0xx10^(-6)F)^(-2))`
`=sqrt((200Omega)^(2)+(212.3Omega)^(2))`
`=291.67Omega`
Therefore, the current in the circuit is
`I=(V)/(Z)=(220V)/(291.5Omega)=0.755A`
(b) Since the current is the same throughout the circuit, we have
`V_(R )=IR=(0.755A)(200Omega)=151V`
`V_(C )=IX_(C )=(0.775A)(212.3Omega)=160.3V`
The algebraic sum of the two voltages, `V_(R ) and V_(C )` is 311.3 V which is more than the source voltage of 220 V. How to resolve this paradox? As you have learnt in the text, the two voltages are not in the same phase. Therefore, they cannot be added like ordinary numbers. The two voltages are out of phase by ninety degrees. Therefore, the total of these voltages must be obtained using the Pythagorean theorem:
`V_(R+C)=sqrt(V_(R )^(2) +V_(C )^(2))`
`=220V`
Thus, if the phase difference between two voltages is properly taken into account, the total voltage across the resistor and the capacitor is equal to the voltage of the source.