Question

Define peak-to-peak voltage in AC circuits.

Answer 1

Peak-to-peak voltage, often abbreviated as Vpp, is a measure of the amplitude or magnitude of an alternating current (AC) waveform in an electrical circuit. It represents the difference between the maximum positive and maximum negative values of the waveform over one complete cycle. In other words, it quantifies the vertical distance between the highest and lowest points of the AC waveform when plotted on a graph.

To calculate the peak-to-peak voltage, you can use the following formula:




=

max
−

min
V
pp
    ​

=V
max
    ​

−V
min
    ​


Where:




V
pp
    ​

 is the peak-to-peak voltage.

max
V
max
    ​

 is the maximum value of the AC waveform (peak value).

min
V
min
    ​

 is the minimum value of the AC waveform (trough value).

Peak-to-peak voltage is commonly used in various applications, such as measuring the voltage swing in audio signals, characterizing the amplitude of AC signals in electronic devices, and assessing the voltage capabilities of power supplies. It provides a comprehensive view of the voltage range of an AC waveform, encompassing both positive and negative excursions from the zero voltage reference point.