Phasor concept: In AC analysis, a phasor is used to represent which of the following properties of a sinusoidal quantity?
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Athe magnitude and the phase angle of a quantity
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Bthe phase angle only
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Cthe width of a quantity
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Dthe magnitude of a quantity only
Answer
Correct Answer: the magnitude and the phase angle of a quantity
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Phasors are rotating vectors used to represent steady-state sinusoidal signals in the frequency domain. They compress time-domain sinusoids into a complex-number form that captures both magnitude and phase at a single frequency, simplifying circuit analysis with impedances.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Sinusoidal steady state is assumed (single frequency).
- We are representing voltage or current as a phasor.
- No transient or non-sinusoidal content is considered.
Concept / Approach:
A phasor can be written as M∠φ or as a complex number M(cosφ + j sinφ). It encodes both magnitude M and phase angle φ relative to a reference sinusoid, while the time dependence is suppressed.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify what a phasor contains: amplitude (magnitude) and phase angle.Note that 'width' is not a standard signal descriptor for phasors.Recognize that magnitude-only or phase-only descriptions are incomplete.Verification / Alternative check:
Converting back to time domain: v(t) = Re{V∠φ * e^{jωt}} = Vm cos(ωt + φ). The phasor V∠φ determines both Vm and φ, confirming the two key pieces of information.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Phase angle only or magnitude only omit essential information. 'Width' is irrelevant to phasor representation and pertains to pulses, not sinusoids.
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing phasor magnitude with RMS vs peak (either can be used consistently); treating time-varying transients as phasors (phasors require steady state).
Final Answer:
the magnitude and the phase angle of a quantity