Chapter 1

Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

BASIC CONCEPTS
LEARNING GOALS
System of Units: The SI standard system
Systeme International unit (=International System of Units)
()

Basic Quantities: Charge, current, voltage, power and energy

Circuit Elements: Active and Passive

http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/index.html

Information at the foundation of

modern science and technology
of NIST
from thePhysics Laboratory

Detailed contents

Values of the constants

and related information
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In-depth information on the SI

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SI DERIVED BASIC ELECTRICAL UNITS

CURRENT AND VOLTAGE RANGES

Strictly speaking current is a basic quantity and charge is derived. However,

physically the electric current is created by a movement of charged particles.

What is the meaning of a negative value for q(t)?

+
+

+
+

q(t )

PROBLEM SOLVING TIP

IF THE CHARGE IS GIVEN DETERMINE THE CURRENT BY
DIFFERENTIATION
IF THE CURRENT IS KNOWN DETERMINE THE CHARGE BY
INTEGRATION
A PHYSICAL ANALOGY THAT HELPS VISUALIZE ELECTRIC
CURRENTS IS THAT OF WATER FLOW.
CHARGES ARE VISUALIZED AS WATER PARTICLES
8

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

0 t <0
i (t ) = 2 t
e mA t 0

q (t ) = 4 10 3 sin(120 t )[C ]

+
+

+
+

i (t ) = 4 10 3 120 cos(120 t ) [ A]

i ( t ) = 0.480 cos(120 t ) [mA]

FIND THE CHARGE THAT PASSES

DURING IN THE INTERVAL 0<t<1
1

q(t )

q = e
0

2 x

1
1
1
dx = e 2 x = e 2 ( e 0 )
2
2
2
0
1
q = (1 e 2 )
2

Units?

FIND THE CHARGE AS A FUNCTION OF TIME

q(t ) =

i ( x )dx = e

2 x

dx

t 0 q(t ) = 0
t

1
t > 0 q ( t ) = e 2 x dx = (1 e 2 t )
2
0
And the units for the charge?...
9

DETERMINE THE CURRENT

Here we are given the

charge flow as function
of time.

Charge(pC)

30
20
10
10

10 1012 10 1012 C
9
m=
=

10

10
(C / s )
3
s
2 10 0

1 2 3 4 5 6

Time(ms)

Current(nA )
To determine current we
must take derivatives.
PAY ATTENTION TO
UNITS

40
30
20
10
10
20

1 2 3 4 5 6

Time(ms)
10

CONVENTION FOR CURRENTS

THE DOUBLE INDEX NOTATION

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO INDICATE

THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF CHARGED
PARTICLES.
THE UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED CONVENTION IN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IS THAT CURRENT IS
FLOW OF POSITIVE CHARGES.
AND WE INDICATE THE DIRECTION OF FLOW
FOR POSITIVE CHARGES
-THE REFERENCE DIRECTIONA POSITIVE VALUE FOR
THE CURRENT INDICATES
FLOW IN THE DIRECTION
OF THE ARROW (THE
REFERENCE DIRECTION)

A NEGATIVE VALUE FOR

THE CURRENT INDICATES
FLOW IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION THAN THE
REFERENCE DIRECTION

IF THE INITIAL AND TERMINAL NODE ARE

LABELED ONE CAN INDICATE THEM AS
SUBINDICES FOR THE CURRENT NAME

5A

I ab = 5 A

a 3A b a 3A b
I ab = 3 A

I ab = 3 A

a 3A b a 3A b
I ba = 3 A
POSITIVE CHARGES
FLOW LEFT-RIGHT

I ba = 3 A
POSITIVE CHARGES
FLOW RIGHT-LEFT

I ab = I ba

11

I = 2 A

a
2A
I
b

I cb = 4 A
I ab =

3A
This example illustrates the various ways
in which the current notation can be used

12

CONVENTIONS FOR VOLTAGES

ONE DEFINITION FOR VOLT
TWO POINTS HAVE A VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL OF
ONE VOLT IF ONE COULOMB OF CHARGE GAINS
(OR LOSES) ONE JOULE OF ENERGY WHEN IT
MOVES FROM ONE POINT TO THE OTHER
b IF THE CHARGE GAINS
ENERGY MOVING FROM
a TO b THEN b HAS HIGHER
VOLTAGE THAN a.
IF IT LOSES ENERGY THEN
b HAS LOWER VOLTAGE
THAN a

+ a

1C

DIMENSIONALLY VOLT IS A DERIVED UNIT

VOLT =

N m
JOULE
=
COULOMB A s

VOLTAGE IS ALWAYS MEASURED IN A RELATIVE FORM AS THE VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN TWO POINTS
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR NOTATION ALLOWS US TO DETERMINE WHICH POINT
HAS THE HIGHER VOLTAGE
13

THE + AND - SIGNS

DEFINE THE REFERENCE
POLARITY

IF THE NUMBER V IS POSITIVE POINT A HAS V

VOLTS MORE THAN POINT B.
IF THE NUMBER V IS NEGATIVE POINT A HAS
|V| LESS THAN POINT B

POINT A HAS 2V MORE

THAN POINT B

POINT A HAS 5V LESS

THAN POINT B

14

THE TWO-INDEX NOTATION FOR VOLTAGES

INSTEAD OF SHOWING THE REFERENCE POLARITY
WE AGREE THAT THE FIRST SUBINDEX DENOTES
THE POINT WITH POSITIVE REFERENCE POLARITY

V AB = 2V

V AB = 5V

VBA = 5V

V AB = VBA

15

ENERGY
VOLTAGE IS A MEASURE OF ENERGY PER UNIT CHARGE
CHARGES MOVING BETWEEN POINTS WITH DIFFERENT VOLTAGE ABSORB OR
RELEASE ENERGY THEY MAY TRANSFER ENERGY FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER

BASIC FLASHLIGHT

Converts energy stored in battery

to thermal energy in lamp filament
which turns incandescent and glows

EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT The battery supplies energy to charges.

Lamp absorbs energy from charges.
The net effect is an energy transfer

Charges gain
energy here

Charges supply
Energy here

16

ENERGY
VOLTAGE IS A MEASURE OF ENERGY PER UNIT CHARGE
CHARGES MOVING BETWEEN POINTS WITH DIFFERENT VOLTAGE ABSORB OR
RELEASE ENERGY

WHAT ENERGY IS REQUIRED TO MOVE 120[C] FROM

POINT B TO POINT A IN THE CIRCUIT?
THE CHARGES MOVE TO A POINT WITH HIGHER
VOLTAGE -THEY GAINED (OR ABSORBED) ENERGY
THE CIRCUIT SUPPLIED ENERGY TO THE CHARGES

V AB = 2V

V=

W
W = VQ = 240 J
Q
17

EXAMPLE
A CAMCODER BATTERY PLATE CLAIMS THAT
THE UNIT STORES 2700mAHr AT 7.2V.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL CHARGE AND ENERGY
STORED?

ENERGY AND POWER

2[C/s] PASS
THROUGH
THE ELEMENT

CHARGE
THE NOTATION 2700mAHr INDICATES THAT
THE UNIT CAN DELIVER 2700mA FOR ONE
FULL HOUR

s
C
Q = 2700 103 3600
1Hr
Hr
S
= 9.72 103[C ]
TOTAL ENERGY STORED
THE CHARGES ARE MOVED THROUGH A 7.2V
VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL

J
W = Q[C ] V = 9.72 103 7.2[ J ]
C
= 6.998 10 [ J ]
4

EACH COULOMB OF CHARGE LOSES 3[J]

OR SUPPLIES 3[J] OF ENERGY TO THE
ELEMENT
THE ELEMENT RECEIVES ENERGY AT A
RATE OF 6[J/s]
THE ELECTRIC POWER RECEIVED BY THE
ELEMENT IS 6[W]
IN GENERAL

P = VI

t2

w (t 2 , t1 ) = p( x )dx
t1

HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE IF AN ELEMENT

SUPPLIES OR RECEIVES POWER?
18

PASSIVE SIGN CONVENTION ()

THIS IS THE REFERENCE FOR POLARITY

POWER RECEIVED IS POSITIVE WHILE POWER

SUPPLIED IS CONSIDERED NEGATIVE

+ Vab
a

b
I ab

P = Vab I ab
IF VOLTAGE AND CURRENT
ARE BOTH POSITIVE THE
CHARGES MOVE FROM
HIGH TO LOW VOLTAGE
AND THE COMPONENT
RECEIVES ENERGY --IT IS
A PASSIVE ELEMENT

A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS CONVENTION IS THAT

THE REFERENCE DIRECTIONS FOR CURRENT AND
VOLTAGE ARE NOT INDEPENDENT -- IF WE
ASSUME PASSIVE ELEMENTS
GIVEN THE REFERENCE POLARITY

+ Vab
a

REFERENCE DIRECTION FOR CURRENT

b
I ab

IF THE REFERENCE DIRECTION FOR CURRENT

IS GIVEN

EXAMPLE

+ Vab

2A

a
b
I ab
Vab = 10V
THE ELEMENT RECEIVES 20W OF POWER.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT?
SELECT REFERENCE DIRECTION BASED ON
PASSIVE SIGN CONVENTION

20[W ] = Vab I ab = ( 10V ) I ab

I ab = 2[ A]

19

UNDERSTANDING PASSIVE SIGN CONVENTION

We must examine the voltage across the component
and the current through it

I
A

+
S1
B

Current A - A'
positive
positive
positive negative
negative positive
negative negative
Voltage(V)

S1
supplies
receives
receives
supplies

PS1 = V AB I AB
S2

PS 2 = V A'B ' I A'B '

S2
ON S1
ON S2
receives VAB > 0, I AB < 0 VA B > 0, I A B > 0
supplies
ON S2
supplies
V A'B ' < 0, I A'B ' > 0
receives
20
'

'

'

'

CHARGES RECEIVE ENERGY.

THIS BATTERY SUPPLIES ENERGY

CHARGES LOSE ENERGY.

THIS BATTERY RECEIVES THE ENERGY

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CONNECTIONS ARE REVERSED

IN ONE OF THE BATTERIES?

21

Determine whether the elements are supplying or receiving power

and how much.

Vab = 2V

I ab = 4 A
2 A

I ab = 2 A

Vab = 2V

P = 8W

SUPPLIES POWER

P = 4W

ABSORBS POWER

22

Determine the amount of power absorbed or supplied by the elements ?

V12 = 12V , I12 = 4 A

V12 = 4V , I12 = 2 A

23

I = 8[ A]

V AB = 4[V ]
20[W ] = V AB (5 A)

SELECT VOLTAGE REFERENCE POLARITY

BASED ON CURRENT REFERENCE DIRECTION

40[W ] = (5V ) I

24

V1 = 20[V ]
40[W ] = V1 ( 2 A)

2A

I = 5[ A]

SELECT HERE THE CURRENT REFERENCE DIRECTION

50[W ] = (10[V ]) I
BASED ON VOLTAGE REFERENCE POLARITY

WHICH TERMINAL HAS HIGHER VOLTAGE AND WHICH IS THE CURRENT FLOW DIRECTION

25

COMPUTE POWER ABDORBED OR SUPPLIED BY EACH ELEMENT

P1 = (6V )(2 A)

2 A + 6V
+

24V

+
-

2A

18V

P1 = 12W
P2 = 36W
P3 = -48W
P2 = (18V )(2 A)

P3 = (24V )(2 A) = (24V )(2 A)

Tellegens theorem: the sum of the powers absorbed by all elements in an electrical
network is zero. Another statement of this theorem is that the power supplied in a
network is exactly equal to the power absorbed.

IMPORTANT: NOTICE THE POWER BALANCE IN THE CIRCUIT

26

CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
PASSIVE ELEMENTS
VOLTAGE
DEPENDENT
SOURCES

UNITS FOR , g , r , ?
INDEPENDENT SOURCES

CURRENT
DEPENDENT
SOURCES

27

EXERCISES WITH DEPENDENT SOURCES

FIND VO

VO = 40[V ]

FIND I O

I O = 50mA

28

DETERMINE THE POWER SUPPLIED BY THE DEPENDENT SOURCES

40[V ]
P = (40[V ])(2[ A]) = 80[W ]
TAKE VOLTAGE POLARITY REFERENCE

P = (10[V ])(4 4[ A]) = 160[W ]

TAKE CURRENT REFERENCE DIRECTION

29

POWER ABSORBED OR SUPPLIED BY EACH

ELEMENT

P1 = (12V )(4 A) = 48[W ]

P2 = ( 24V )(2 A) = 48[W ]
P3 = (28V )(2 A) = 56[W ]
PDS = (1I x )(2 A) = (4V )(2 A) = 8[W ]
P36V = (36V )(4 A) = 144[W ]
NOTICE THE POWER BALANCE

30

USE POWER BALANCE TO COMPUTE Io

12W
(12)(9)

(6)( I O )

(10)(3)
(4)(8)

(8 2)(11)

POWER BALANCE

I O = 1[ A]

31