Question

A resistor, capacitor, and inductor are connected in series across an AC generator. Which of the following statements is false?

Options

• The instantaneous voltage across the capacitor lags the current by 90°.

• The instantaneous voltage across the inductor leads the current by 90°.

• The voltages across the resistor, capacitor, and inductor are not in phase.

• The RMS voltage across the combination of the three elements equal the algebraic sum of the RMS voltages across each element separately.

Answer 1

The RMS voltage across the combination of the three elements equal the algebraic sum of the RMS voltages across each element separately.

Explanation:

The RMS voltage across a series of resistors, capacitors, and inductors does not equal the algebraic addition of the RMS voltages across each element individually; rather, the RMS voltages across the three components must be added as vectors or phasors.