Sine-wave voltage
Sine-wave voltage is an interactive experiment in Alternating Current, a free simulation from StudyFi Lab that runs right in your browser.
An alternating voltage changes as u(t) = U_max·sin(ωt + φ), where ω = 2πf. It is the vertical projection of a phasor of length U_max turning at angular speed ω; one full turn takes the period T = 1/f. The effective (RMS) value U_rms = U_max/√2 heats a resistor just as much as a DC voltage of the same size — the 230 V of a socket is the RMS value, the peak is about 325 V.
Try this: Pick the Europe preset and compare U_max with U_rms, then switch to USA and watch the period get shorter.
Frequently asked questions
What does the “Sine-wave voltage” experiment show?
An alternating voltage changes as u(t) = U_max·sin(ωt + φ), where ω = 2πf. It is the vertical projection of a phasor of length U_max turning at angular speed ω; one full turn takes the period T = 1/f. The effective (RMS) value U_rms = U_max/√2 heats a resistor just as much as a DC voltage of the same size — the 230 V of a socket is the RMS value, the peak is about 325 V.
How do I try “Sine-wave voltage”?
Pick the Europe preset and compare U_max with U_rms, then switch to USA and watch the period get shorter.
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