Electric Circuits I

CHAPTER 1: CIRCUIT VARIABLES

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 1

TOPICS
1. Electric Charge and Current
2. Voltage
3. Basic Circuit Modeling
4. Ohm’s Law
5. Direct Current (DC) Calculation
6. Time Dependence
7. EE Notation

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 2

1. Electric Charge and Current
Current (measured in Amperes) is the flow of
electric charge (measured in Coulombs):
𝑑𝑞
𝑖 𝑡 =
𝑑𝑡

Charge that flows across an area in a time

interval can be determined as
𝑞(𝑡) = 𝑖 𝑡 𝑑𝑡

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 3

Exercise
If an electrolytic capacitor is allowed to store a charge for a long
period of time, it will experience a leakage discharge over time as
follows:

𝑞 𝑡 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏

where 𝑄𝑜 is the initial charge of the capacitor (at t=0) and 𝜏 is a

time constant. Determine the leakage current.

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 4

Exercise (Solution)
Given the amount of charge stored in the capacitor as a function of time

𝑞 𝑡 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏

the leakage current is

𝑑𝑞
𝑖 𝑡 =
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏 𝑄𝑜 −𝑡/𝜏
𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑄𝑜 =− 𝑒
𝑑𝑡 𝜏

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 5

MATLAB Simulation (HW)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 6

Script
% CAPACITOR CHARGE AND DISCHARGE SIMULATION %%
% by Benjamin C. Flores % charge simulation
% Last edited 8/25/2017 q2=Qf.*(1-exp(-alpha.*t)); % capacitor charge vector
% %%
clc; clear all % plots
%% figure
% parameters plot(t,q1)
to=0; % initial time grid
tf=200; % final time title('EXAMPLE OF CAPACITOR DISCHARGE')
tstep=1.0; % step in time xlabel('TIME (ms)')
t=to:1:tf; % time vector in milliseconds ylabel('CHARGE (mC)')
Qo=200; % initial charge in millicoulombs figure
Qf=500; % final charge in millicoulombs plot(t,q2)
alpha=0.03; % decay constant grid
%% title ('EXAMPLE OF CAPACITOR CHARGE')
% discharge simulation xlabel('TIME (ms)')
q1=Qo.*exp(-alpha.*t); % capacitor charge vector ylabel ('CHARGE (mC)')
%

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 7

Exercise
The current in a circuit is given by

𝑖 𝑡 = 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃 𝑡>0

Determine the charge as a function of time.

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 8

Exercise (Solution)
The current in a circuit is given by

𝑖 𝑡 = 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 for 𝑡 > 0

The charge as a function of time is the integral of 𝑖(𝑡) over time:

𝑡 𝑡
𝐼 ′ ′
𝑞 𝑡 = 𝑖 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡
0 0 𝜔

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 9

2. Voltage
Voltage (measured in Volts) is the difference in electric
potential energy between two points per unit electric
charge. The voltage between two points is equal to the
work done per unit of charge against a static electric
field to move the test charge between two points:
Higher potential
𝑉𝐵𝐴 = 𝑉𝐵 − 𝑉𝐴

By convention, the Lower potential

electric current
(positive charges)
flows from higher
potential to lower
potential.

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 10

Exercise
The electric field across two parallel plates is constant and given by

𝑬 = −1 𝒛 in 𝑘𝑉/𝑚

The separation between the plates is d= 1 mm. Determine the potential difference between the
plates:

𝑑
𝑉=− 𝑬 ∙ 𝑑𝒍
0
Higher potential (𝑉 = 𝑉)𝑜

𝑉𝑜 𝑬

Lower potential (𝑉 = 0)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 11

Exercise (Solution)
Given the electric field

𝑬 = −10 𝒛 in kV/m

Therefore, the voltage is

𝑑 0.01 𝑚 0.01 𝑚
𝑉𝑜 = − 𝑬 ∙ 𝑑𝒍 = 1,000 𝒛 ∙ 𝒛 𝑑𝑧 = 1,000 𝑑𝑧 = 1,000 0.01 = 10 𝑉
0 0 0

Higher potential

Lower potential

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 12

Exercise
Consider a parallel plate capacitor. Let 𝑉𝑜 = 9 V and 𝑑 = 2 mm. Determine 𝐸𝑜 .

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 13

Exercise (Solution)
Here 𝑉𝑜 = 9 V and 𝑑 = 2 mm. Therefore,

𝑉𝑜 9 𝑉 𝑘𝑉
𝐸𝑜 = = = 4,500 = 4.5
𝑑 0.002 𝑚 𝑚

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 14

3. Basic Circuit Modeling
o Voltage (V)
o Current (I)
o Resistance (R)
o Power (P)
o Energy (W)
o Time (T)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 15

Basic Circuit Modeling

Switch
Resistor

Lamp Battery (DC Source)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 16

Basic Circuit Modeling

Capacitor Inductor

Transformer AC Source

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 17

Basic Circuit Modeling

Photo diode
Diode

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 18

Exercise
Model the following physical circuits.

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 19

4. Ohm’s Law
Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor
between two points is directly proportional to the voltage
across the two points:

𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
V

I R
Likewise, the rate of energy dissipated by a conductor is equal
to the product of the voltage and the current:

𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 20

5. Direct Current (DC) Calculations
Ohm’s Law for DC Circuits: DC Energy:

𝑉 2𝑇
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 𝑊 = 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑉𝐼𝑇 = = 𝐼 2 𝑅𝑇
𝑅

𝐼 = 𝑉/𝑅

DC Power:

𝑉2
𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 = = 𝐼2 𝑅
𝑅

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 21

Exercise
A 3 Watt flashlight requires 3 “D” size batteries to run for 72 hours. Model the flashlight as a
circuit. Determine the voltage, current, and resistance.

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 22

Exercise (Solution)
Given P = 3 W and V = 1.5 x 3 = 4.5 V. Find direct current I, lightbulb resistance R, and energy W
consumed in 72 hours.

𝑃
a) Power 𝑃 = 𝑉𝐼 or 𝐼 = = 0.67 A
𝑉

𝑉
b) Voltage 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 or 𝑅 = = 4.5/0.67 = 6.75 Ω
𝐼

c) Energy 𝑊 = 𝑃𝑇 = 3 × (72 ℎ𝑟 × 60 min/ℎ𝑟 × 60 𝑠/min) = 777,600 𝐽

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 23

6. Time Dependence
Instantaneous voltage 𝑣 𝑡
Instantaneous current 𝑖 𝑡
Instantaneous power 𝑝 𝑡 =𝑣 𝑡 𝑖 𝑡
𝑡 𝑡
Work 𝑊= 0
𝑝 𝑡′ 𝑑𝑡′ = 0
𝑣 𝑡 ′ 𝑖(𝑡 ′ )𝑑𝑡′

i(t)

+
v(t) Circuit Block
-

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 24

Exercise
A circuit uses power as shown below. How much energy is consumed at 1s, 2s , 3, 4s, and 5s?

p(t)

4W

2W

2s 4s 6s time

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 25

Solution
At t=1 s, the area under the curve is
p(t)
W = ½ 1(2) = 1 J
At t=2 s, the area under the curve is
W = ½ 2(4) = 4 J 4W

At t=3 s, the area under the curve is

2W
W = 4 + (3-2)(2) = 6 J
At t=4 s, the area under the curve is
W = 6 + (4-3)(2) = 8 J
At t=5 s, the area under the curve is 2s 4s 6s time
W=8J

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 26

Time Dependence
Examples of signals with time dependence:

Linear 𝑣 𝑡 = 𝐾𝑡

0 𝑡<0
Piecewise linear 𝑣 𝑡 = 𝐾𝑡 < 0 < 𝑇
𝐾𝑇 𝑡 > 0

Decaying Exponential 𝑣 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑜 𝑒 −𝑎𝑡 𝑡 > 0

Sinusoidal 𝑣 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝑡)

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 27

Exercise
Identify the following signal based on its time dependence:
Always label
your axes!

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 28

Exercise
Identify the following signal based on its time dependence:

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 29

7. EE Notation
Prefix Voltage Current Resistance
10-12 pico pV pA pΩ
10-9 nano nV nA nΩ
10-6 micro μV μA μΩ
10-3 milli mV mA mΩ
100 V A Ω
103 kilo kV kA kΩ
106 Mega MV MA MΩ
109 Giga GV GA GΩ

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 30

Exercise
a) How many millivolts are there in 9 V?

b) How many Watts are there in 10 MW?

c) How many Ohms are there in 3.52 kΩ?

d) How many Amperes are there in 8.9 μA?

e) How many Joules are there in 5.6 mJ?

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 31

Solution
a) How many millivolts are there in 9 V? 9,000 mV

b) How many Watts are there in 10 MW? 10,000,000 W

c) How many Ohms are there in 3.52 kΩ? 3,520 Ω

d) How many Amperes are there in 8.9 μA? 0.000,008,9 A

e) How many Joules are there in 5.6 mJ? 0.005,6 J

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 32

 Summary of EE Quantities
QUANTITY SYMBOL UNIT UNIT SYMBOL
Electric Charge Q Coulomb or Ampere-second C
Electric Field E Volt per meter V/m
Current I Ampere or Coulomb per second A
Current Density J Ampere per square meter A/m2
Voltage V Volt V
Power P Watt W
Energy W Joule J
Resistance R Ohm Ω

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 33

 Working Problems
A. Use graph paper to solve your problems
◦ Neatly draw diagrams and plots

B. Deliver legible work

C. Organize your work (no random walking)
D. Circle all your answers
E. Don’t forget the sign (+/-)
F. Always include units

BENJAMIN C. FLORES, PH.D. 34