AC voltage and current: RMS and average values
Alternating current · Physics
DC circuit
Interactive 3DElectrons drift around the loop — raise the voltage and watch the current obey Ohm's law.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
Study notes
Let us calculate the RMS value and Average value of an AC current whose peak value (maximum current) is 10 Amperes (I_0 = 10 A). Step 1: Identify the given values from the problem. The peak current I_0 = 10 A. Step 2: Calculate the RMS current using the formula I_rms = I_0 / sqrt(2). I_rms = 10 / 1.414 = 7.07 Amperes. Step 3: Calculate the average current over a half-cycle using the formula I_avg = (2 * I_0) / π. I_avg = (2 * 10) / 3.1416 = 20 / 3.1416 = 6.37 Amperes. Conclusion: For a peak alternating current of 10 A, the effective RMS current doing actual work is 7.07 A, and the half-cycle average current is 6.37 A.