CBSE Class 12 Physics Chapter 7: Alternating Current - NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 12 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for the Additional Exercises of Chapter 7: Alternating Current for Class 12 Physics. It covers key concepts related to LC circuits, including initial energy storage, conservation of energy in the absence of resistance, natural frequency calculation, and the distribution of electrical and magnetic energy over time. The solutions also address scenarios where energy is equally shared between the capacitor and inductor, and the eventual dissipation of energy in circuits with resistance. These explanations are designed to help students understand the oscillatory behavior of LC circuits and prepare effectively for their board examinations.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 12
SubjectPhysics
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 7: Alternating Current - NCERT Additional Exercises Solutions

Chapter summary

This chapter's additional exercises focus on the behavior of LC circuits. Solutions cover the calculation of initial energy stored in a capacitor, the principle of energy conservation in ideal LC oscillations, determining the natural frequency of the circuit, and analyzing the times at which energy is purely electrical, purely magnetic, or equally shared. It also touches upon energy dissipation in circuits with resistance, reinforcing the understanding of alternating current phenomena.

Learning outcomes

  • Calculate the initial energy stored in an LC circuit.
  • Understand the principle of energy conservation in an ideal LC circuit.
  • Determine the natural frequency of an LC circuit.
  • Analyze the distribution of electrical and magnetic energy in an oscillating LC circuit.
  • Identify times when energy is equally shared between capacitor and inductor.
  • Explain energy dissipation in a circuit with resistance.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • LC Circuits
  • Energy Stored in Capacitor
  • Energy Stored in Inductor
  • Energy Conservation
  • Natural Frequency
  • Angular Frequency
  • Oscillations
  • Electrical Energy
  • Magnetic Energy
  • Energy Dissipation

Important topics

  • Energy Conservation in LC Oscillations
  • Natural Frequency Calculation
  • Energy Distribution over Time
  • Role of Resistance in Energy Dissipation

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Questions and Solutions

Question 7.12:

An LC circuit contains a 20 mH inductor and a 50 µF capacitor with an initial charge of 10 mC. The resistance of the circuit is negligible. Let the instant the circuit is closed be t = 0.
  1. What is the total energy stored initially? Is it conserved during LC oscillations?

(b) What is the natural frequency of the circuit?

  1. At what time is the energy stored (i) completely electrical (i.e., stored in the capacitor)? (ii) completely magnetic (i.e., stored in the inductor)?
  2. At what times is the total energy shared equally between the inductor and the capacitor?
  3. If a resistor is inserted in the circuit, how much energy is eventually dissipated as heat?
Solution:

Given values are:

Inductance, L = 20 \text{ mH} = 20 \times 10^{-3} \text{ H}

Capacitance, C = 50 \mu F = 50 \times 10^{-6} F

Initial charge on the capacitor, Q = 10 \text{ mC} = 10 \times 10^{-3} \text{ C}

(a) The total energy stored initially in the circuit is the energy stored in the capacitor when it has the maximum charge Q. This energy is given by the formula:

E = \frac{1}{2} \frac{Q^2}{C}

Substituting the given values:

E = \frac{\left(10 \times 10^{-3}\right)^2}{2 \times 50 \times 10^{-6}} = \frac{100 \times 10^{-6}}{100 \times 10^{-6}} = 1 \text{ J}

Since the resistance of the circuit is negligible, there is no mechanism for energy loss. Therefore, the total energy stored in the LC circuit will be conserved during the oscillations. The energy will continuously transfer between the capacitor (as electrical energy) and the inductor (as magnetic energy), but the total amount of energy will remain constant at 1 J.

Question 7.12 (continued):

(b) The natural frequency of the LC circuit is given by the formula:

v = \frac{1}{2\pi\sqrt{LC}}

Substituting the values of L and C:

v = \frac{1}{2\pi\sqrt{(20 \times 10^{-3}) \times (50 \times 10^{-6})}} = \frac{1}{2\pi\sqrt{1000 \times 10^{-9}}} = \frac{1}{2\pi\sqrt{10^{-6}}} = \frac{1}{2\pi \times 10^{-3}} = \frac{10^3}{2\pi}

v \approx \frac{1000}{6.283} \approx 159.15 \text{ Hz}

The natural angular frequency is:

\omega_r = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{(20 \times 10^{-3}) \times (50 \times 10^{-6})}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{10^{-6}}} = 10^3 \text{ rad/s}

Thus, the natural frequency of the circuit is approximately 159.15 Hz, or the natural angular frequency is 10^3 rad/s.

Question 7.12 (continued):

(c) The charge on the capacitor at any time t in an LC circuit, starting with maximum charge Q at t=0, is given by:

Q'(t) = Q \cos(\omega_r t)

where \omega_r = \frac{1}{\sqrt{LC}} = 10^3 \text{ rad/s} is the angular frequency.

The time period of oscillation is T = \frac{2\pi}{\omega_r} = \frac{2\pi}{10^3} \approx 6.28 \text{ ms}.

(i) Energy stored completely electrical: This occurs when the energy in the capacitor is maximum, which happens when the charge Q'(t) on the capacitor is maximum (Q or -Q). This corresponds to \cos(\omega_r t) = \pm 1.

So, \omega_r t = n\pi, where n is an integer (0, 1, 2, ...).

Therefore, the times are t = \frac{n\pi}{\omega_r} = \frac{n T}{2}. These times are t = 0, \frac{T}{2}, T, \frac{3T}{2}, \dots

(ii) Energy stored completely magnetic: This occurs when the energy in the inductor is maximum, which happens when the charge Q'(t) on the capacitor is zero (Q'(t) = 0). This corresponds to \cos(\omega_r t) = 0.

So, \omega_r t = \frac{(2n+1)\pi}{2}, where n is an integer (0, 1, 2, ...).

Therefore, the times are t = \frac{(2n+1)\pi}{2\omega_r} = \frac{(2n+1)T}{4}. These times are t = \frac{T}{4}, \frac{3T}{4}, \frac{5T}{4}, \dots

Question 7.12 (continued):

(d) The total energy E is shared equally between the inductor and the capacitor when the electrical energy equals the magnetic energy. At this point, each form of energy is half of the total energy, i.e., E/2.

Electrical energy E_E = \frac{1}{2} \frac{(Q'(t))^2}{C} and Magnetic energy E_M = \frac{1}{2} \frac{(I(t))^2}{L}.

We need E_E = E_M = E/2.

Since E = \frac{1}{2} \frac{Q^2}{C}, we need E_E = \frac{1}{2} \frac{Q^2}{2C}. This means \frac{1}{2} \frac{(Q'(t))^2}{C} = \frac{Q^2}{4C}, which simplifies to (Q'(t))^2 = \frac{Q^2}{2}, or Q'(t) = \pm \frac{Q}{\sqrt{2}}.

Using Q'(t) = Q \cos(\omega_r t), we have Q \cos(\omega_r t) = \pm \frac{Q}{\sqrt{2}}, so \cos(\omega_r t) = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}.

This occurs when \omega_r t = \frac{\pi}{4}, \frac{3\pi}{4}, \frac{5\pi}{4}, \frac{7\pi}{4}, \dots

In terms of the time period T, these times are t = \frac{T}{8}, \frac{3T}{8}, \frac{5T}{8}, \frac{7T}{8}, \dots

Question 7.12 (continued):

(e) If a resistor is inserted in the circuit, the LC circuit becomes an RLC circuit. In such a circuit, the oscillations are damped due to the presence of resistance. The energy that was initially stored in the capacitor and inductor is gradually dissipated as heat in the resistor due to the flow of current. Over a long period, all the initial energy stored in the circuit will be dissipated as heat, and the oscillations will eventually die out. The total energy eventually dissipated as heat will be equal to the initial total energy stored in the circuit, which is 1 Joule.

Common mistakes

  • Incorrectly calculating energy stored in the capacitor.
  • Errors in applying the formula for natural frequency.
  • Misinterpreting the conditions for maximum electrical or magnetic energy.
  • Confusion about energy conservation in the presence of resistance.

Revision tips

  • Review the formulas for energy stored in a capacitor and inductor.
  • Practice calculating the natural frequency of LC circuits.
  • Visualize the energy transfer between the capacitor and inductor over one oscillation cycle.
  • Pay attention to the conditions for maximum, minimum, and equally shared energy.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What is the formula for the initial energy stored in a capacitor with charge Q and capacitance C?

Q2. What is the natural frequency (v) of an LC circuit with inductance L and capacitance C?

Q3. In an ideal LC circuit (negligible resistance), when is the energy stored completely electrical?

Q4. In an ideal LC circuit, when is the energy stored completely magnetic?

Q5. What happens to the total energy in an LC circuit if resistance is present?

Frequently asked questions

What is the initial energy stored in the LC circuit described in Question 7.12?

The initial energy stored is 1 Joule, calculated using the formula E = 1/2 * Q^2 / C, with the given initial charge and capacitance.

Is the total energy conserved in an ideal LC circuit?

Yes, in an ideal LC circuit with negligible resistance, the total energy stored in the capacitor and inductor is conserved and oscillates between them.

How is the natural frequency of an LC circuit calculated?

The natural frequency (v) is calculated using the formula v = 1 / (2π * sqrt(LC)), where L is the inductance and C is the capacitance.

At what times is the energy stored completely electrical in an LC circuit?

The energy is completely electrical when the charge on the capacitor is maximum, which occurs at times t = 0, T/2, T, 3T/2, etc., where T is the time period of oscillation.

When is the energy stored completely magnetic in an LC circuit?

The energy is completely magnetic when the charge on the capacitor is zero (and current is maximum), which occurs at times t = T/4, 3T/4, 5T/4, etc.

What happens to the energy if a resistor is added to the LC circuit?

If a resistor is inserted, the oscillations are damped, and the total energy is eventually dissipated as heat due to the resistance.

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