Final answer:
Peak voltage is the maximum value of the AC waveform, while rms voltage is the effective value that delivers the same power as an equivalent DC voltage. For a sinusoidal AC wave V(t) = Vosin(ωt), peak voltage is Vo and rms voltage is calculated as Vo/√2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction between peak voltage and rms voltage is crucial in understanding AC circuits. The peak voltage (Vo) is the maximum voltage reached by an AC waveform, while the rms voltage (Vrms) represents the root mean square value, which is a type of average voltage that would deliver the same power to a load as a DC voltage of the same value. In the context of the waveform V(t) = Vosin(ωt), the peak voltage is simply Vo. To calculate the rms voltage for a sinusoidal AC waveform, you divide the peak voltage by the square root of two: Vrms = Vo/√2. For example, if Vrms is 120 V, the peak voltage (Vo) would be calculated as Vo = Vrms × √2 = 1.414 × 120 V = 170 V.