ECE 1311: Electric Circuits

Chapter 1: Basic concepts

Why learn?

 Electric circuit: interconnection of electrical element

How to tackle it?
 READ the textbook
 PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE with your friends
Programme Outcome
Graduates with broad based knowledge and fundamentals of engineering
to solve problems, generate new ideas and develop products for the need
of the society

Graduates with competencies in Engineering design and analysis.

Successful and productive engineers with skill in communication,
management, teamwork and leadership.
Graduates with good understanding of moral values, professional ethics
and responsibility towards society and environment
Graduates who recognize the importance of and engage in life-long
learning.

The OBE model is a student-centered learning philosophy which focuses on measuring the students’
performance instead of the lecturers
Basic Concepts Overview
 System of unit
 Definitions: Electric charge, current, voltage, power and
energy
 Circuit elements
System of Units
Electric Charges
 Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of
which matter consists, measured in coulombs (C).
 The charge e on one electron is negative and equal in
magnitude to 1.602 × 10-19 C which is called as electronic
charge.
 Law of conservation of charge: Charge cannot be created or
destroyed, only transferred
Current (1)
 Electric current, is rate of change of charge, measured in
amperes (A)
i = current in amperes
dq
i= q = charge in coulombs
dt t = time in seconds
 The unit of ampere can be derived as 1 A = 1C/s.
 A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant with
time.
 An alternating current (ac) is a current that varies
sinusoidally with time.
 Current (2)

• The direction of current flow

Positive ions Negative ions

Current (3)

 By convention, current direction defined a flow of positive

charge
 Note: positive charge is not flowing physically
 Electron move in opposite direction of current
Practice
Example 1

A conductor has a constant current of 5 A.

How many electrons pass a fixed point on the conductor in

one minute?
Solution

Total no. of charges pass in 1 min is given by

5 A = (5 C/s)(60 s/min) = 300 C/min

Total no. of electrons pass in 1 min is given

300 C/min
−19
= 1 .87 x10 21
electrons/min
1.602 x10 C/electron
 Voltage (1)
 Voltage (potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit charge
through an element, measured in Volts (V)
 Mathematically, dw
vab =
dq
v = voltage in Volts
w = energy in Joules
q = charge in Coulombs

 The unit of volt can be derived as 1 V = 1J/C

 Electric voltage, vab, is always across the circuit element or between two
points in a circuit.
 vab > 0 means the potential of a is higher than potential of b.
 vab < 0 means the potential of a is lower than potential of b.
Voltage (2)

 The voltage source push charges in which the flow of charges

create current through the circuit
 The current is the rate of flow of charge (i.e. electron)
 The resistor resists the flow of current
 Power and Energy (1)
• Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in
watts (W).
dw dw dq
• Mathematical expression: p= = ⋅ = vi
dt dq dt
i i

+ +

v v

– –
Passive sign convention
P = +vi p = –vi
absorbing power supplying power
Power and Energy (2)
 Law of conservation of energy: the net power of a circuit is
equal to 0
 In other words, the total energy produce = the total energy
absorbed
 Energy: capacity to do work, measured in Joules(J)

t t
w = ∫ pdt = ∫ vidt
t0 t0
Practice
Given the circuit, find Vo
Solution:

P = 150 – 40 – 40 – 30 – 20 = 20W
Therefore,
Vo = 20/1 = 20V .
Practice
 Solutions
Circuit Elements (1)

 Symbols – facilitate analysis

Circuit Elements (2)
Circuit Elements (3)
Circuit Elements (4)
 Notes on ideal source:
 Ideal source are models used to simplify analysis
 Does not exist physically
 Practice
Example 2

Obtain the voltage v in the branch shown in Figure 2.1.1P for i2 = 1A.

Figure 2.1.1P
Solution

Voltage v is the sum of the current-independent 10-V source and the

current-dependent voltage source vx.

Note that the factor 15 multiplying the control current carries the
units Ω.

Therefore, v = 10 + vx = 10 + 15(1) = 25 V
Others
 Passive sign convention (PSC): Current enters the positive
terminal of an element
 Equivalent: current leaves the negative terminal

 Polarity of voltage and the direction of current must be labeled

correctly to determine the correct sign
Others
 These statements are true and equivalent when describing
the following example;

 The most common is the first i.e. voltage drop

Practice
The current flowing through a wire is given by the diagram
below. Determine the net charge moving through the wire if
q(0) = 0.
Solution:
Practice
The diagram shows the current and voltage across a device.
Find the energy for the period of 0<t<4 sec
Practice
 Solution