What is Vbias in an AC signal?
The DC component of the signal, also known as the average value (Vavg).
What is Vm in an AC signal?
The amplitude of the signal, defined as the maximum excursion from the average value.
What is f in an AC signal?
The frequency of the signal, defined as the number of cycles per second and measured in hertz (Hz).
What is t in an AC signal?
Time, measured in seconds, and used as the independent variable.
What is φ (phi) in an AC signal?
The phase shift, which defines how far the cosine waveform is shifted in time relative to t = 0 s.
What is T in an AC signal?
The period of the signal, defined as the reciprocal of frequency: T = 1 / f.
What is τ (tau) in an AC signal?
The time offset between the first positive peak of the waveform and the origin (t = 0 s), obtained by converting phase shift from degrees to seconds.
What are the key items that must be identified when graphing an AC signal?
Vmax and Vmin (defined by Vm)
The signal period (T)
Any DC bias
Any phase shift
Explain this AC signal chart to yourself.
Did you correctly identify Vm, T, Vbias, and any phase shift?
What is instantaneous power?
The power at a specific instant in time, calculated as the product of instantaneous voltage and instantaneous current.
What is Vrms?
The RMS value represents the equivalent DC voltage (or current) that would dissipate the same amount of power in a resistor. It is also called the effective value.
How do you calculate average power in an AC circuit?
Pave = Vrms × Irms
