Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM25Ph1a3b: JEE Main 2025 Physics - Class 12 JEEM25Ph1a3b Solution: An alternating current is given by . The r.m.s current will be

An alternating current is given by I=IAsin⁡ωt+IBcos⁡ωt\mathrm{I}=\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{A}} \sin \omega \mathrm{t}+\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{B}} \cos \omega \mathrm{t} . The r.m.s current will be

Multiple Choice Options

  • A IA2+IB22\frac{\sqrt{\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{A}}^2+\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{B}}^2}}{2}
  • B IA2+IB22\sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{A}}^2+\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{B}}^2}{2}}
  • C ∣IA+IB∣2\frac{\left|\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{A}}+\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{B}}\right|}{\sqrt{2}}
  • D IA2+IB2\sqrt{\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{A}}^2+\mathrm{I}_{\mathrm{B}}^2}

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

Irms=IA2+IB22I_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{I_A^2 + I_B^2}{2}}

To determine the root mean square (r.m.s) value of the alternating current given by

I(t)=IAsin⁡(ωt)+IBcos⁡(ωt),I(t) = I_A \sin (\omega t) + I_B \cos (\omega t),

we start by squaring the current:

I(t)2=IA2sin⁡2(ωt)+IB2cos⁡2(ωt)+2IAIBsin⁡(ωt)cos⁡(ωt).I(t)^2 = I_A^2 \sin^2 (\omega t) + I_B^2 \cos^2 (\omega t) + 2 I_A I_B \sin (\omega t) \cos (\omega t).

The r.m.s value is defined as the square root of the average of this squared current over one complete period. When averaging over a full cycle, we utilize the known averages:

⟨sin⁡2(ωt)⟩=12,⟨cos⁡2(ωt)⟩=12,⟨sin⁡(ωt)cos⁡(ωt)⟩=0.\langle \sin^2 (\omega t) \rangle = \frac{1}{2}, \quad \langle \cos^2 (\omega t) \rangle = \frac{1}{2}, \quad \langle \sin (\omega t) \cos (\omega t) \rangle = 0.

Thus, the time-averaged square of the current becomes:

⟨I(t)2⟩=IA212+IB212=IA2+IB22.\langle I(t)^2 \rangle = I_A^2 \frac{1}{2} + I_B^2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{I_A^2 + I_B^2}{2}.

Taking the square root gives the r.m.s current:

Irms=IA2+IB22.I_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{I_A^2 + I_B^2}{2}}.

This corresponds to Option B.

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