Please explain phase calculations in electronics. No 2 dimensional trigonometry?

Answer 1

If you don't want to use trig? Fine just use polar functions in your calculator. Really it is vector maths in a different space, phsasor space. Another way to do it and get a result and feel for the topic is to do it geometrically. That is draw the phasors too scale and at correct angles as you would with vector addition. Use nose to tail or parrallogram rule or even the old compass rule this will get your answer via the resultant lenght and angle.
Good Luck

Answer 2

phase "calculations" are done using trigonometry

trigonometric functions of the phase "angle" represent the "calculation" values

I don't think you can explain phase calculations without trigonometry

now, it might be possible to explain the concepts without math

these concepts are based on the understanding that alternating current is a sine-like function that is actually alternating, meaning that the supplied voltage is ranging from the max number (that would be 120V for residential current in the U.S.) down to zero and then down to the negative of max, and then back again

U.S. residential current makes this cycle 60 times a second

Multiphase electrical current employs voltage that has several phases interacting

all the phases are "synched" differently so that they are hitting their peak at different times

residential 220/240 volt current is developed by two phases that are completely opposite in synch, so that when one is at peak 120, the other is at trough -120, providing a voltage differential of 240V.

in multiphase electical power, it is important precisely how the phases "synch up" and the extent to which they lead and lag one another

these patterns are modeled by trigonmetric functions and that is why electronic phase calculations are done with two dimensional trigonometry

good luck
much of this is not intuitive, but it is cool

Answer 3

Enginerd is correct except for the 'peak values' he gives. The '120' volt AC line is 120V 'RMS' (root mean square) which represents the DC voltage required to do the same amount of work (or supply the same amount of energy) as the constantly varying AC voltage.

The 'peak' value of a sine wave is √2 times it's RMS value so a 120V AC power line actually has 'peak' voltages of about 169 and -169 volts. For 220 it's ±311 volts.


Doug