Trouble with complex power

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
Hey, I'm seriously stuck on my homework regarding complex power. I'm at a loss for what to do. These are the two problems:

1. Calculate the complex power for a resistor, R=10Ohms that has a current of i(t)=14,1*cos(314t-45°) running through.
2. Calculate the complex power for a condensator, C= uF which has a voltage of v(t) = 14,1*cos(1000t+45°).

I know that the complex power can be found by multiplying the RMS voltage and the complex conjugate of the current i, but I'm struggling. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,159
You have mentioned one way to calculate power, but using Ohm's Law and a bit of algebra you can find two additional expressions. One of the expressions involves just current and impedance, and the other involves just voltage and impedance.
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
You have mentioned one way to calculate power, but using Ohm's Law and a bit of algebra you can find two additional expressions. One of the expressions involves just current and impedance, and the other involves just voltage and impedance.
Thank you for your response :). I'm not entirely sure what you mean. Are you suggesting just I^2*R?. Thanks a bunch.
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
My best bet atm is convert the current to a phasor and multiply that with the resistor. Convert the result back to "normal" and multiply with the current?
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
Hey, I'm seriously stuck on my homework regarding complex power. I'm at a loss for what to do. These are the two problems:

1. Calculate the complex power for a resistor, R=10Ohms that has a current of i(t)=14,1*cos(314t-45°) running through.
2. Calculate the complex power for a condensator, C= uF which has a voltage of v(t) = 14,1*cos(1000t+45°).

I know that the complex power can be found by multiplying the RMS voltage and the complex conjugate of the current i, but I'm struggling. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
If you are given the current in a resistor can you find the voltage across it?

If you are given the voltage across a capacitor can you find the current through it?

If you know the voltage across a device and the current through a device, can you find the complex power in the device?
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
If you are given the current in a resistor can you find the voltage across it?

If you are given the voltage across a capacitor can you find the current through it?

If you know the voltage across a device and the current through a device, can you find the complex power in the device?
So first up is finding the voltage across it and then using that to find the complex power in the device :)
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
So first up is finding the voltage across it and then using that to find the complex power in the device :)
Finding the voltage across and the current through -- you need both. That's the most fundamental way and will always work. There are shortcuts that will work in specific instances, including these, because of what you know, for instance, about the reactive power in a resistor and the real power in a capacitor.
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
Finding the voltage across and the current through -- you need both. That's the most fundamental way and will always work. There are shortcuts that will work in specific instances, including these, because of what you know, for instance, about the reactive power in a resistor and the real power in a capacitor.
So you're telling me there is a short cut?
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
Yes -- but shortcuts are best taken only when you understand the fundamentals well enough to see the shortcut on your own. So focus on the fundamentals first.
Of course. Couldn't I just do S=I^2*Z. So for this example it would be (14,1A)^2*10Ohms, or is that completely wrong :)?
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
Yes, you can do that.

Do you know where that S=I²·Z formula comes from? Can you derive it? Or is it just a formula on a sheet that you grab and use.

I ask because, if it's the latter, then there's a good chance that you will get the next one wrong.
 

Thread Starter

db21

Joined Feb 22, 2016
10
Yes, you can do that.

Do you know where that S=I²·Z formula comes from? Can you derive it? Or is it just a formula on a sheet that you grab and use.

I ask because, if it's the latter, then there's a good chance that you will get the next one wrong.
As I understand it as and I've read in my book it is based on the following:

"In a linear circuit the sum of the complex powers produced by all the sources is equal to the sum of the complex powers delivered to all of the passive loads."

You are right about the next one tho :). I can't figure out where to start.
 

WBahn

Joined Mar 31, 2012
29,979
As I understand it as and I've read in my book it is based on the following:

"In a linear circuit the sum of the complex powers produced by all the sources is equal to the sum of the complex powers delivered to all of the passive loads."
While this is true, it has no bearing on the formulas you are trying to work with.

You are right about the next one tho :). I can't figure out where to start.
So it's time to take a step back and get the fundamentals under your belt. The following might help:

http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/blog/complex-power.580/
 
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