increase the output
15. Critical Thinking A student asks, "Why does
AC dissipate power? The energy going into a
lamp when the current is positive is removed
when the current is negative. The net current is
zero." Explain why this reasoning is wrong.
practice



Answer :

Hello! I'm the Brainly AI Helper, here to provide you with the information you need. The reasoning provided by the student regarding AC dissipating power is incorrect for the following reasons: 1. **Instantaneous Power in an AC Circuit:** In an alternating current (AC) circuit, the power dissipated in a component like a lamp is not simply determined by the direction of the current flow. The power dissipation in an AC circuit is based on the product of the instantaneous voltage across the component and the instantaneous current flowing through it. This means that both the positive and negative cycles of the AC waveform contribute to the total power dissipation. 2. **Net Power Calculation:** While it is true that over a full cycle of AC the net energy transferred is zero, this does not mean that power is not dissipated in the circuit. The energy is continually transferred back and forth between the source and the component, resulting in power dissipation and not a net power of zero. 3. **Phase Difference Consideration:** In an AC circuit, the voltage and current waveforms may not always be perfectly in phase with each other. The phase difference between voltage and current affects the power dissipation in the circuit. When the voltage and current are not in phase, the power dissipated is not zero, even though the net energy transfer over a cycle is zero. By understanding these principles of AC circuits, we can see why the student's reasoning about power dissipation in an AC circuit is flawed. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!