Electric Circuit Components

Prepared by:
Engr. Tomashita P. Arenas, MEng’g.Ed-EE
Basic Concepts
an electrical property of the atomic particles of
Charge
which matter consists and measured in coulombs (C)

e= -1.602x1019
1C = 1/(1.602x 1019 ) = 6.24x 1018

the time rate of change of charge,

Electric Current
measured in amperes (A)

1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second

which means charge can vary

with time

Charge & current are conserved - charge does not pile up or vanish
What is an Electric Circuit?
• It is a closed path for transmitting an electric current through the
medium of electrical and magnetic fields.
• Electron enters the circuit through the Source.
• The source provides energy to the electrons, by setting up an
electrical field which provides the electromotive force (emf).
• Electrons leave the circuit through the load, to the earth ground,
completing a closed path

A simple electric circuit

Basic Parts of an Electric Circuit
• Energy source (AC or DC)
(1) Independent source and (2) Dependent source
• Conductor (wire)
• Electrical Load (device)
• Controller (switch)
 Types of Electrical Circuits
• DC(Direct Current) Circuits
- the excitation applied is a constant source
- a current that remains constant with time (I)
• AC (Alternating Current) Circuits
- excitation element is an AC source
- it has variable current and voltage at regular
intervals of time
- a current that varies sinusoidally with time (i )
Types of Sources

An independent current source

(a) dependent voltage source

(b) Dependent current source
Basic Concepts

Direction of current
flow

Positive current flow Negative current flow

Convention: flow is from + to – as if free charges are +

Examples
1. How much charge is represented by 4,600 electrons?

Solution:
(-1.602x10-19 C/e)(4,600 e)= -7.369 x 10 -16 C

2. The total charge entering a terminal is given by q= 5t sin 4πt mC.

Calculate the current at t = 0.5 s.

3. Determine the total charge entering a terminal between t= 1 s

and t= 2 s if the current passing the terminal is i = (3t2 – t) A.
Basic Concepts
Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a
unit charge through an element, measured in volts (V)

where,
w is energy in joules (J)
q is charge in coulombs (C)
vab or simple v is measured in volts (V)

1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton meter/coulomb

Basic Concepts
is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured
Power in watts (W)
• The rate in doing work.
𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠

Power, P = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉 𝑥 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐼

𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏
𝑃= 𝑥 = 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑

time-varying quantity called instantaneous power

Passive sign convention:

+p means power is being delivered to or absorbed
by the element
-p means power is being supplied by the element
Basic Concepts

(a) p= 4 x 3= 12 W (a) p= 4 x (-3)= -12 W

(b) p= 4 x 3= 12 W (b) p= 4 x (-3)= -12 W

energy absorbed or supplied by an element

from to to time t

Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules (J)

1 Wh= 3,600 J
Examples
1. An energy source forces a constant current of 2 A for 10 s to flow
through a lightbulb. If 2.3 kJ is given off in the form of light and heat
energy, calculate the voltage drop across the bulb.

Solution:
Examples
2. Find the power delivered to an element at t= 3 ms if the current entering its
positive terminal is and the voltage is:

Solution:
Examples
3. How much energy does a 100-W electric bulb consume in two hours?

Solution:
Basic Concepts
2 types:
Circuit Elements
passive and active elements

Passive element is NOT capable of generating energy

Examples:
Resistor, capacitor and inductor

Active element is capable of generating energy

Examples:
Generator, batteries and
operational amplifier, diode
Examples
1. Calculate the power supplied or absorbed by each element in the figure.

Solution:
Basic Concepts
Resistance (R) The physical property or ability to resist the current
or the flow of electric charge, measured in ohm Ω

The resistance of any material with a uniform

cross-sectional area A depends on A and its
length

where,
ρ is the resistivity of the material, ohm-meter
Basic Concepts
Basic Concepts

Short circuit, (R = 0) Open circuit, (R = ∞)

The ability of an element to conduct electric current,

Conductance
measured in mhos (Ჾ) or siemens (S)
Questions and Clarifications????