Average Values

The average voltage (or current) of a periodic

waveform whether it is a sine wave, square
wave or triangular waveform is defined as:
the quotient of the area under the waveform
with respect to time.
In other words, the averaging of all the
instantaneous values along time axis with time
being one full period, (T).

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Average value of
periodic instantaneous voltage v(t)

Vavg

t o T

to

V (t )dt

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Questions on Average Value

Find the average value of sinusoidal
voltage wave of half wave and full
wave rectifier.
Find the average value of square and
triangular waveform

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

For the voltage waveform shown

in figure, find average value and
RMS value.

Answer Average value 7.5V and RMS

value 8.66 V
Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

RMS of some common periodic

waveforms

Find the average value and RMS

Value of given wave form.

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Average power of AC circuit

v(t ) V sin( ot ),

i (t ) I sin( ot )

p (t ) v(t ) i (t ) V sin( ot ) I sin( ot )

zero average

cos( ) cos( 2ot )

p (t ) VI

1 t o T
VI
V I
Pavg
p (t )dt cos( )
cos( )
T to
2
2 2

Pavg Vrms I rms cos( )

Average power

Displacement power
factor/phase angle

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Effective Values
Theeffective valueof an alternating current is that
number of amperes which will produce heat at the same
average rate as that number of amperes of steady
direct current flowing through a given resistance.
It is the square root of the mean of the instantaneous
current values squared, and is also known as therootmean-squareor R.M.S value.
A.C. ammeters and voltmeters are calibrated to read
effective values. For sine curves, the effective valueis
approximately 70.7 per cent of the peak or maximum
value.
Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Root-mean squared value of

a periodic waveform with
period T

Compare to the average

power expression

1 t o T 2
2
Vrms
v (t )dt
T to

1 t o T
Pavg
p (t )dt
T to

The average value of the squared voltage

compare

Apply v(t) to a resistor

1 t o T
1 to T v 2 (t )
1 to T 2
Pavg
p (t )dt
v (t )dt

dt

T to
T to
RT to
R
2
Vrms
Pavg
R

rms is based on a power concept, describing the

equivalent voltage that will produce a given
average power to a resistor
Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

Root-mean squared value of a periodic

waveform with period T

1 t o T 2
2
Vrms
v (t )dt
T to

For the sinusoidal case

v(t ) Vm sin(o t ),
2
rms

2
rms

2
Vrms

Vm

2T

t o T

to

Vm 2 sin 2 (o t )dt

t o T

to

sin 2(ot )
Vm
1 cos 2(ot ) dt
t

2T
2o

Vm 2

, Vrms Vm
2
2
Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

t o T

to

RMS of common periodic waveforms,

cont.
Sawtooth
V

1
2
Vrms
T
V
Vrms
3

V
0 T

2 T

V
dt 3
T

2
V
2
3 T
0 t dt 3T 3 t 0

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

10

Practice Problem
Find the form factor of waveform as shown in figure.

Basic Electrical Engineering (REE101)

11