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The resistance and reactance of an a.c. load are determined from the phasor diagram for that load. A phasor diagram is very similar to vector diagram, and represents the voltage drop across the resistive component of the load as being in phase with the load current, and the voltage drop across the reactive component as lagging the load current by 90 degrees. The vector sum of these two voltage drops will equal the value and phase-relationship of the supply voltage.

If we now divide each of these three voltages by the supply current, we will converted the phasor diagram into what is called an 'impedance triangle', in which the resistance is represented horizontally, the reactance is represented vertically, and the impedance is represented by the resulting hypotenuse. So, to find the hypotenuse (i.e. the impedance) we must use Pythagoras's Theorem to vectorially-add the horizontal (resistance) and vertical (reactance) components.

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Q: Why must you add the resistance and reactance of a circuit in series by the phythagorean method in order to find the total impedance?
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What is definition of impedence?

Impedance is usually written in equations as Z. Impedance is the real resistance (usualyl referred to as R), and the imaginary / reactive opposition (using an imaginary number 'i' or 'j', depending on your area of study). Z = R + j*n, where 'n' is the reactive opposition.Additional AnswerCurrent, in an A.C. circuit, is opposed by the resistance(R) of that circuit and the reactance (X) of that circuit. Reactance may be 'inductive reactance' (XL) or 'capacitive reactance' (XC) -depending on the nature of the circuit.Inductive reactance is directly proportional to the supply frequency; capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the supply frequency; resistance is independent of frequency.Impedance (Z) is the vector sum (not algebraic sum) of a circuit's resistance and reactance, and may be considered as the total opposition to the flow of A.C. current.Resistance, reactance, and impedance are each measured in ohms.


How can you calculate current drawn in 60 HZ circuit?

You need to divide the supply voltage by the impedance of the load. The impedance of the load is the vectorial sum of its resistance and reactance, where reactance is proportional to frequency.


Why in DC it is called as Resistance and impedance in AC Circuits?

Resistance applies to both d.c. and a.c. circuits, and is determined by the resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of a conductor.In d.c. circuits, resistance is the only opposition to the passage of current. However, in a.c. circuits, the flow of current is opposed, not only by resistance, but also by reactance. Reactance is caused by a circuit's inductance or capacitance, or both, and varies with the frequency of the supply. Like resistance, reactance is also measured in ohms.So, in a.c. circuits, the combination of resistance and reactance is called 'impedance'.Impedance is not the algebraic sum of resistance and reactance, but the vectorial sum. So if, for example, an a.c. circuit had a resistance of 3 ohms and a reactance of 4 ohms, the impedance would be 5 ohms, not 7 ohms.


If the resistance and reactance of a circuit are 2 ohms 4ohms.respectively what is the impediance?

Impedance = √(Resistance2 + Reactance2 ) = √(22 + 42) = √(20) = 4.47213595


When a series circuit containing resistance and inductive reactance is connected to a ac supply the current will?

The load current will lag the supply voltage by an angle called a 'phase angle', determined by the values of resistance and inductive reactance. The magnitude of the load current will be determined by the impedance of the circuit, which is the vector sum of the resistance and inductive reactance.

Related questions

What is impedance diagram?

An impedance diagram (sometimes called an impedance triangle) results when a series circuit's voltage phasor diagram is divided throughout by its reference phase (current) -this results in resistance (=VR/I), inductive reactance (=VL/I), capacitive reactance (=VC/I) and impedance (=V/I) andillustrates the Pythagorean relationship between the circuit's impedance, reactance, and resistance.


What is definition of impedence?

Impedance is usually written in equations as Z. Impedance is the real resistance (usualyl referred to as R), and the imaginary / reactive opposition (using an imaginary number 'i' or 'j', depending on your area of study). Z = R + j*n, where 'n' is the reactive opposition.Additional AnswerCurrent, in an A.C. circuit, is opposed by the resistance(R) of that circuit and the reactance (X) of that circuit. Reactance may be 'inductive reactance' (XL) or 'capacitive reactance' (XC) -depending on the nature of the circuit.Inductive reactance is directly proportional to the supply frequency; capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the supply frequency; resistance is independent of frequency.Impedance (Z) is the vector sum (not algebraic sum) of a circuit's resistance and reactance, and may be considered as the total opposition to the flow of A.C. current.Resistance, reactance, and impedance are each measured in ohms.


Total opposition to current flow in an AC circuit with both resistance and reactance is called?

Impedance.


How can you calculate current drawn in 60 HZ circuit?

You need to divide the supply voltage by the impedance of the load. The impedance of the load is the vectorial sum of its resistance and reactance, where reactance is proportional to frequency.


What is difference between impedance and reactance?

Impedance is the net reactance(for Capacitors and inductors in the circuit) / Resistance of the circcuit whereas reactance is the prperty of the individual passive components ( only capacitors n inductors) to resist the flow of charge.


Why in DC it is called as Resistance and impedance in AC Circuits?

Resistance applies to both d.c. and a.c. circuits, and is determined by the resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of a conductor.In d.c. circuits, resistance is the only opposition to the passage of current. However, in a.c. circuits, the flow of current is opposed, not only by resistance, but also by reactance. Reactance is caused by a circuit's inductance or capacitance, or both, and varies with the frequency of the supply. Like resistance, reactance is also measured in ohms.So, in a.c. circuits, the combination of resistance and reactance is called 'impedance'.Impedance is not the algebraic sum of resistance and reactance, but the vectorial sum. So if, for example, an a.c. circuit had a resistance of 3 ohms and a reactance of 4 ohms, the impedance would be 5 ohms, not 7 ohms.


What is Impedance for an RLC circuit in series?

1. The RLC series circuit is a very important example of a resonant circuit. It has a minimum of impedance Z=R at the resonant frequency, and the phase angle is equal to zero at resonance.AnswerThe impedance of an RLC circuit is the vector sum of the circuit's resistance, inductive reactance, and capacitive reactance -all of which are expressed in ohms. This applies whether the circuit is at resonance or not.


Does the impedance of an RL series circuit varies inversely with the frequency?

The simple answer is no. The impedance of an R-Lcircuit is the vector sum of the circuit's resistance and its inductive reactance. Resistance is determined by the length, cross-sectional area, and resistivity of the conductor (although its 'a.c. resistance' is proportional to the frequency squared), whereas the inductive reactance is directly proportional to the frequency of the supply.


If the resistance and reactance of a circuit are 2 ohms 4ohms.respectively what is the impediance?

Impedance = √(Resistance2 + Reactance2 ) = √(22 + 42) = √(20) = 4.47213595


When a series circuit containing resistance and inductive reactance is connected to a ac supply the current will?

The load current will lag the supply voltage by an angle called a 'phase angle', determined by the values of resistance and inductive reactance. The magnitude of the load current will be determined by the impedance of the circuit, which is the vector sum of the resistance and inductive reactance.


What is the impedance of a series R-L-C circuit?

the net oppostion offered by the rlc circuit for the ac current to pass through it is called the impedance of rlc circuitAnswerThe impedance of an RLC circuit is the vector sum of the circuit's resistance, inductive reactance, and capacitive reactance, expressed in ohms.


What is input impedance of a circuit?

Impedance is the total opposition to current flow. It includes both resistance AND reactance (capacitive and inductive). Impedance varies with frequency, while plain resistance does not. Scroll down to related links and look at: "Different names for the two impedances Z1 and Z2" "Calculation the damping of impedance bridging or power matching an interface connecting Zout and Zin" "Impedance bridging or voltage bridging of two audio units".