Alternating Currents in Resistive Circuits

Author: E.E. Kimberly

When an alternating voltage is applied to a circuit, there are, in addition to the resistance of the circuit, other factors which, affect the magnitude of the current. These factors are inductance and capacitance. In circuits in which inductance and capacitance effects are small, such as lamp circuits and heater circuits, Ohm's Law may be used for alternating currents as well as for direct currents with acceptable accuracy. The effects of inductance and capacitance in a circuit will be considered in Chapter 5.