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Chapter 2

Electrical Components and


Circuits
Basics
Most instruments require conversions between
measured signals and electrical signals
Electrical circuit - a closed electrical path
Laws of Electricity
Ohms Law V = IR
V = potential difference between 2 points in a circuit
Measured in volts (v)
I = current (rate of flow of charge)
Measured in amperes (A)
R = resistance between two points
Measured in ohms ()
Basics (cont.)
Power Law P = IV
P = power
Measured in watts (w)
Can rearrange and substitute in Ohms Law
P = I(IR) = I
2
R
P = (v/R)v = v
2
/R
Components of Circuits and Terms
Resistor
Also called an impedance
Series
Parallel

Voltage source
Direct current (DC)
Voltage
Alternating current (AC)
Frequency (Hz) and amplitude
-
+
~
Components of Circuits and Terms
Capacitor
Resists changes in voltage in AC circuits
Filters
High pass
Allows high frequencies to pass

Low pass
Allows low frequencies to pass

Band pass
~
V
out

V
in

~
V
out

V
in

Components of Circuits and Terms
Filters (cont.)




Transistors
Amplifying and switching device
Little in Big out

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