What is the difference between an ideal and real voltage source?
1 Answer
An ideal voltage source and a real voltage source are both components used in electrical circuits to provide a voltage difference across a load. However, there are significant differences between the two:
Ideal Voltage Source:
In theory, an ideal voltage source is an abstraction used for analysis and calculations in electrical circuits. It's an idealized model that simplifies the understanding of circuit behavior.
An ideal voltage source maintains a constant voltage across its terminals, regardless of the current flowing through it or the connected load. It is assumed to have zero internal resistance.
This means that no matter how much current is drawn from the ideal voltage source, its voltage remains unchanged. The voltage is perfectly stable and does not depend on external factors.
An ideal voltage source can deliver infinite current if needed to maintain the specified voltage.
In reality, no such thing as a perfect ideal voltage source exists, as all real-world voltage sources have limitations due to factors like internal resistance, load capacity, and physical constraints.
Real Voltage Source:
A real voltage source refers to practical voltage sources found in real-world applications. Examples include batteries, power supplies, generators, and so on.
Unlike the ideal voltage source, a real voltage source has internal resistance, which means that its voltage output can vary based on the current drawn from it and the characteristics of the connected load.
When a real voltage source supplies current to a load, the voltage across its terminals will drop slightly due to the internal resistance and the voltage drop across the load itself.
The voltage output of a real voltage source is not perfectly stable and may have small fluctuations depending on the current demands and the source's internal characteristics.
Real voltage sources have limits on the maximum current they can deliver, and they may have thermal and voltage regulation constraints to prevent damage and ensure safe operation.
In summary, an ideal voltage source is a theoretical concept with a constant, unchanging voltage output and zero internal resistance, while a real voltage source is a practical device used in real-world applications, subject to variations in voltage due to internal resistance and load effects. The ideal voltage source is a simplification used for theoretical analysis, whereas real voltage sources are used in actual circuits and systems.
Ideal Voltage Source:
In theory, an ideal voltage source is an abstraction used for analysis and calculations in electrical circuits. It's an idealized model that simplifies the understanding of circuit behavior.
An ideal voltage source maintains a constant voltage across its terminals, regardless of the current flowing through it or the connected load. It is assumed to have zero internal resistance.
This means that no matter how much current is drawn from the ideal voltage source, its voltage remains unchanged. The voltage is perfectly stable and does not depend on external factors.
An ideal voltage source can deliver infinite current if needed to maintain the specified voltage.
In reality, no such thing as a perfect ideal voltage source exists, as all real-world voltage sources have limitations due to factors like internal resistance, load capacity, and physical constraints.
Real Voltage Source:
A real voltage source refers to practical voltage sources found in real-world applications. Examples include batteries, power supplies, generators, and so on.
Unlike the ideal voltage source, a real voltage source has internal resistance, which means that its voltage output can vary based on the current drawn from it and the characteristics of the connected load.
When a real voltage source supplies current to a load, the voltage across its terminals will drop slightly due to the internal resistance and the voltage drop across the load itself.
The voltage output of a real voltage source is not perfectly stable and may have small fluctuations depending on the current demands and the source's internal characteristics.
Real voltage sources have limits on the maximum current they can deliver, and they may have thermal and voltage regulation constraints to prevent damage and ensure safe operation.
In summary, an ideal voltage source is a theoretical concept with a constant, unchanging voltage output and zero internal resistance, while a real voltage source is a practical device used in real-world applications, subject to variations in voltage due to internal resistance and load effects. The ideal voltage source is a simplification used for theoretical analysis, whereas real voltage sources are used in actual circuits and systems.