Circuit Elements

Schematic Circuit Symbols

 Types of Circuit Elements
 Active elements:
 Capable of generating energy
 Battery, power generator, operational amplifiers

 Passive elements:
 Capable of consume or store energy
 Resistor, capacitor, inductor
 Active Elements
o Independent source
o Provide voltage or current independent of
other circuit variables

o Dependent source
o Provide voltage or current that is controlled
by another voltage or current in the circuit
 Independent Sources

Independent current source

+
v(t) i(t)
-

Independent voltage source

 Dependent Sources
Dependent current source
VCCS: voltage-controlled current source
CCCS: current-controlled current source

v(t) +
-
i(t)

Dependent voltage source

VCVS: voltage-controlled voltage
source
CCVS: current-controlled voltage
source
 About Voltage Sources

 Provide fixed voltages.

 Current flowing through a voltage source is

determined by the external circuit.
 About Current Sources

 Provide fixed currents.

 Voltage through a current source is

determined by the external circuit.
 Homework
i2 v2
8A i4=5A
+-
i1 2V i3 3A
+ +
v1 v3= ri4 + v4
5V 3V
r=0.6Ω -
- -

a) Find p1, p2, p3, and p4.

b) p1+p2+p3+ p4=?
 Passive Element: Resistor
ρ L
A R
A
L
o R: Resistance. An element’s ability to resist
electric current flow, measured in ohm (Ω).
o L: Material length (meter)
o A: Cross-section area (meter2)
o : Resistivity of material (Ω-meter)
 Material’s Resistivity

Material Resistivity Classification

 (Ω-m)
Copper 1.72X10-8 Conductor

Silicon 6.4X102 Semiconductor

Glass 1012 Insulator

 Ohm’s Law
i(t) R

+ v(t) -

v(t)=R i(t)

The voltage across a resistor is directly proportional to

the current flowing through the resistor
 Open and Short Circuits
Open circuit: R=  i(t)=0
i(t)=0
v(t)

i(t)
Short circuit: R=0 
v(t)=0 v(t) = 0
 Ammeter and Voltmeter
ammeter
iA + - iv
A
iR +
+ Power
- supply R V voltmeter

An ammeter is very close to a short circuit (vA=0 V)

A voltmeter is very close to an open circuit (iV=0 A)
 Resistor Types

 Carbon, wire-wound
 Fixed, variable

Some carbon physical resistors.

 Conductance
1
G
R
 Measures an element ability to conduct electric
current. Unit is Siemens (S)
 1S = 1/ Ω = 1A/V

1 A
G
 L
 Resistor and Power
p  vi
v  Ri
2 2
v i
p  Ri 
2
 Gv 
2

R G
Resistors always absorb power from a circuit
p>0