Module 3: Electrical Circuits

Electrical Circuits: Learning Outcomes

 On completion of this module, you will be able to:
o Recognize how electricity works in electrical circuits.

o List the various terms associated with electrical circuits.

o Summarize what is meant by a basic electric circuit.

o Discuss the reaction and involvement of atoms in electric circuits.

o Describe electrical power, charge, and current.

o Define Ohm's law.

Electrical Circuits
 Introduction to Electrical Circuits
Electricity is a form of energy that can be used by electrical devices. Working with electricity requires
knowledge of how it works in electrical circuits.

A circuit is a complete path that connects the negative terminal to the positive terminal. 

A circuit contains, at minimum, a voltage source, a load, and conductors to carry the electrical current.

Electricity is about cause and effect.

The presence of voltage (volts) in a closed circuit will cause the current (amps) to flow. Voltage is the driving
force that makes current flow in a circuit. The more the voltage, the more current will flow.

Current is the movement of electrons in a circuit. Current flow is also determined by how much resistance
(ohms) the load offers to the flow of current. In order to convert electrical energy into work, the load
consumes energy. The amount of energy a device consumes is called power, and is expressed
in watts (W).
 Electricians must understand the roles that voltage, current, and resistance play in electrical systems.
Without this knowledge, you will be merely performing trade tasks not knowing how electricity and electrical
devices work.

 Basic Electrical Circuit

An electrical circuit is a path which electrons from a voltage or current source follow. Electric current flows
in a closed path called an electric circuit.

On a very simple level, an electrical circuit is much like water flowing down a stream and being forced to turn
a water wheel to get from point A to point B.

 Click on each term to find out more (A - M):

o Ammeter

An instrument for measuring electrical current.

o Ampere (A)

A unit of electrical current. For example, one volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow
of one ampere.

o Ampere (A)

A unit of electrical current. For example, one volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow
of one ampere.

o Battery

A DC voltage source consisting of two or more cells that convert chemical energy into electrical
energy.

o Circuit

A complete path for current flow.

o Conductor

A material through which it is relatively easy to maintain an electric current.

o Current

The movement, or flow, of electrons in a circuit. Current (I) is measured in amperes.

o Insulator

A material through which it is difficult to conduct an electric current.

o Joule (J)

A unit of measurement that represents one Newton-meter (Nm), which is a unit of measure for doing
work.

o Matter

Any substance that has mass and occupies space. 

o Neutrons

Electrically neutral particles (neither positive nor negative) that have the same mass as a proton and
are found in the nucleus of an atom.

o Nucleus

The center of an atom. It contains the protons and neutrons of the atom.

o Ohm

The basic unit of measurement for resistance.

o Ohmmeter

An instrument used for measuring resistance.

o Ohm's Law

A statement of the relationships among current, voltage, and resistance in an electrical circuit:
current (I) equal voltage (divided by resistance (R). Generally expressed as a mathematical formula:
I =E/R.

o Power

The rate of doing work or the rate at which energy is used or dissipated. Electrical power is the rate
of doing electrical work. Electrical power is measured in watts. 
o Protons

The smallest positively charged particles of an atom. Protons are contained in the nucleus of an
atom.

o Resistance

An electrical property that opposes the flow of current through a circuit. Resistance ® is measured in
ohms.

o Resistor

Any device in a circuit that resists the flow of electrons.

o Schematic

A type of drawing in which symbols are used to represent the components in a system.

o Schematic

A type of drawing in which symbols are used to represent the components in a system.

o Series Circuit

A circuit with only one path for current flow.

o Solenoid

An electromagnetic coil used to control a mechanical device such as a valve.

o Transformer

A device consisting of one or more coils of wire wrapped around a common core. It is commonly
used to step voltage up or down.

o Valence Shell

The outermost ring of electrons that orbit about the nucleus of an atom.

o Volt (V)

The unit of measurement for voltage (electromotive force or difference of potential). One volt is
equivalent to the force required to produce a current of one ampere through a resistance of one
ohm.

o Voltage
 The driving force that makes current flow in a circuit. Voltage is also referred to as electromotive
force or difference of potential.

o Voltage Drop

The change in voltage across a component that is caused by the current flowing through it and the
amount of resistance opposing it.

o Voltmeter

An instrument for measuring voltage. The residence of the voltmeter is fixed. When the voltmeter is
connected to a circuit, the current passing through the meter will be directly proportional to the
voltage at the connection points.

o Watt (W)

The basic unit of measurement for electrical power.

Atomic Theory
 Atomic Theory - An Introduction
To be a successful and safe electrician, you must understand electrical theory. Electrical theory involves the
study of atoms, their reactions, and their involvement in electrical circuits.

Atomic theory explains the construction and behavior of atoms and the transfer of electrons in the current
flow. So, what is an atom?

An atom is the smallest part of an element that enters into a chemical change in the form of a charged
particle. These charged particles are called ions. 

There are two kinds of ions: positive and negative. Ions of the same charge repel each other, whereas
unlike ions attract each other. When ions become charged it means a quantity of electricity is either positive
or negative. 

 An atom contains three types of atomic particles that are of interest in electricity:

    1. Protons: positive charge (+)

    2. Electrons: negative charge (-)

    3. Nucleus: no electrical charge

 A proton (+) repels another proton (+)

An electron (-) repels another electron (-)

A proton (+) attracts an electron (-)

Conductors and Insulators:

The chemical activity and stability of atoms depends on the number and position of its electrons. Electrons are
located in groups of orbits called valance shell. Naturally, the electrons in this shell are called valance electrons. 

The valance electrons of an atom determine its ability to gain or lose electrons. 

 Conductors

Conductors have three or less valance electrons and they flow electricity. Conductors transfer electrical
energy from one point to another. 

For example, copper and silver conduct a flow of electrons easily.

 Insulators

Insulators have five or more valance electrons and they prevent the flow of electricity. 

Compounds such as porcelain and plastic are good examples of insulators.

 Semiconductors

 Semiconductors have four valance electrons and they are used in electronic circuits. 

Materials such as germanium and silicon are not good conductors or insulators.

 Magnetism

The force of attraction or repulsion between various substances, especially those made of iron and certain
other metals is due to the motion of electric charges. 

 Magnetism is important in electricity because the flow of electrons in a circuit or the current through a
conductor produces a small magnetic field around the conductor. 

This is the basis of how electric motors operate.

 Electrical Power
 Electrical Power - Generation and Distribution
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric energy from other forms of energy.

Electricity distribution is the delivery of electricity to end users by devices known as transformers, which
step the voltage down to lower levels as it reaches substations and eventually homes, offices, and factories.
The electrical power that travels through long distance transmission lines may be as high as 750,000 volts
(V).

 Electrical Charge and Current

Electric Charge:

An electric charge has the ability to move another charge by attraction or repulsion. Electrical charge is
measured in coulombs. 

The sum of the difference of potential of all the charges in the electrostatic field is voltage. Voltage is
represented by the letter E. An electron has 1.6 x10₋₁₉ coulomb of charge. Therefore, it takes 6.25 x 10₁₈
electrons to make up one coulomb of charge.

Current Flow:

The movement or the flow of electrons in a circuit is called a current. Current is represented by the letter (I)
and measured in ampere (A). One ampere of current is defined as the movement of one coulomb past any
point of a conductor during one second of time. The direction of current flow is from a point of negative
potential to a point of positive potential.

 Voltage:

Voltage attempts to make a current flow, and the current will flow if the circuit is complete. 

Voltage is sometimes described as the 'push' or 'force' of electricity; it isn't really a force but this may help
you to imagine what is happening. 

It is possible to have voltage without current, but current cannot flow without voltage. So, it is the force that
causes electrons to move. 
 One volt is the potential difference between two points for which one coulomb of electricity will do one joule
(J). The voltage between two ends of a path is the total energy required to move a small electric charge
along that path, divided by the magnitude of the charge.

A battery is one of several means of creating voltage.

 Resistance:

Resistance is directly related to the ability of a material to conduct electricity. All conductors have very low
resistance; insulators have very high resistance.

Electrical Circuits - Other Terminologies

 Electrical Circuits - Other Terminologies
 In this topic, we look at some other terminologies associated with electrical circuits. They are as follows:

1. Ohm's Law

2. Schematic Representations

3. Resistors

4. Electrical Circuits

5. Electrical Measuring Instruments

6. Electrical Power
 1. Ohm's Law

Ohm's law defines the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance. It states that the current,
through a conductor between two points, is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two
points. 

Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance, one arrives at the usual mathematical equation
that describes this relationship: I = V/R

In the formula I is the current through the conductor in units of amperes, V is the potential difference
measured across the conductor in units of volts, and R is the resistance of the conductor in units of ohms. 

 More specifically, Ohm's law states that the R in this relation is constant, and
independent of the current. 

 2. Schematic Representation of Circuits

A schematic diagram shows by means of graphic symbols, the electrical connections and functions of the
different parts of a circuit. 

A schematic or pictorial diagram shows the connecting wires, the battery, the switch, and the lamp. 

 3. Resistors

A linear resistor is a linear, passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance
as a circuit element. The current through a resistor is in direct proportion to the voltage across the resistor's
terminals. Thus, the ratio of the voltage applied across a resistor's terminals to the intensity of current
through the circuit is called resistance. 
 This relation is represented by Ohm's law: I = E/R

 4. Electrical Circuits

An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors,

transmission lines, voltage sources, current sources, and switches.

An electrical circuit is a special type of network, one that has a close loop giving a return path for the
current. 

Electrical networks that consist only of sources (voltage or current), linear lumped elements (resistors,
capacitors, inductors), and linear distributed elements (transmission lines) can be analyzed by algebraic and
transform methods to determine DC response, AC response, and transient response. 

A resistive circuit is a circuit containing only resistors and ideal current and voltage sources. Analysis of
resistive circuits is less complicated than analysis of circuits containing capacitors and inductors. If the
sources are constant (DC) sources, the result is a DC circuit. 

A network that contains active electronic components is known as an electronic circuit. Such networks are
generally nonlinear and require more complex design and analysis tools. 

 5. Electrical Measuring Instruments

 These instruments measure voltages, current, and resistance. The most common test meter is volt-ohm-
milliammeter (VOM) or multimeter. 

o Clamp-on Ammeter

o A clamp-on ammeter measures current. 

 Ohmmeter
 An ohmmeter measures resistance. 
 Voltmeter
 A voltmeter measures voltage. 
 Voltage Testers

 A voltage tester checks the presence of voltage as a troubleshooting tool and safety measure. 

 6. Electrical Power
 Power is defined as the rate of doing work which is energy used or dissipated. In electrical circuits, power is
measured in units called watts (W). The term wattage is used colloquially to mean "electric power in watts".
Electric power, like mechanical power, is represented by the letter P in electrical equations. 

 Direct Current:

In direct current resistive circuits, electrical power is calculated using Joule's law: P = VI where P is the
electric power, V the potential difference, and I the electric current. 

In the case of resistive (Ohmic or linear) loads, Joule's law can be combined with Ohm's law (V = I • R) to
produce alternative expressions for the dissipated power, where R is the electrical resistance. 

Electrical Circuits: Lesson Summary

 The key points of this module are:
Working with electricity requires knowledge of how it works in electrical circuits. A circuit is a complete path
that connects the negative terminal to the positive terminal. It contains a voltage source, a load, and
conductors to carry the electrical current. 

Understanding the roles that voltage, current, and resistance play in electrical systems is important for an
electrician.

Electrical theory also involves the study of atoms, especially with regard to their involvement in electrical
circuits. 

An electric charge has the ability to move another charge by attraction to repulsion. Electrical charge is
measured in coulombs. 

The movement or flow of electrons in a circuit is called a current. Current is measured in amperes. 

Voltage attempts to make a current flow, and the current will flow if the circuit is complete. Voltage is
measured in volts. 

Resistance is the ability of a material to conduct electricity. Resistance is measured in ohms.

A volt-ohm-milliammeter is the most common test meter for voltages, resistances, and current in an electric
circuit.