Theory and Calculation of Alternating Current Phenomena (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Theory and Calculation of Alternating Current Phenomena

To give even a short abstract of the theory of these phenomena (which are probably the most important the engineer has to meet at present) would have been impossible without enormously increasing the already large volume, and they will therefore be published as a separate work on "Theory and Calculation of Transient Electric Phenomena and Oscillations," which is in press and may be considered as the second volume of the present work.

When reading the book, or using it as text-book, it is recommended:

First, to take up Part I of "Theoretical Elements of Electrical Engineering," which deals with general theory and is intended as an introduction to this treatise.

Then to proceed with the reading of the present volume, but when reading the chapters dealing with the theory of apparatus, to parallel their study with the reading of the corresponding chapters of Part II of "Theoretical Elements of Electrical Engineering," which deal with the same subjects in a different manner, and thus should greatly assist in imparting a clear insight into the nature of apparatus.

After finishing the main parts of these two books, the reading of "Theory and Calculation of Transient Electric Phenomena and Oscillations" may be taken up.

Where time is limited, a large part of the mathematical discussion may be skipped and in that way a general review of the material gained.

The reader is advised, after completing Chapter V, carefully to read Appendix I, on the algebra of the complex quantity, before continuing with the main text.

Great thanks are due to the technical staff of the McGraw Publishing Company, which has spared no effort to produce the fourth edition in as perfect and systematic a manner as possible, and to the numerous engineers who have greatly assisted me by pointing out typographical and other errors in the previous edition.