Circuit Theory Laws Digital Electronics TM

1.2 Introduction to Analog

Circuit Theory Laws

This presentation will
• Define voltage, current, and resistance.
• Define and apply Ohm’s Law.
• Introduce series circuits.
o Current in a series circuit
o Resistance in a series circuit
Circuit Theory Laws o Voltage in a series circuit
• Define and apply Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
• Introduce parallel circuits.
Digital Electronics o Current in a parallel circuit
o Resistance in a parallel circuit
o Voltage in a parallel circuit
• Define and apply Kirchhoff’s Current Law. 2

Electricity – The Basics Voltage, Current, & Resistance

An understanding of the basics of electricity Current – Current is the flow of electrical
requires the understanding of three fundamental charge through an electronic circuit. The
concepts. direction of a current is opposite to the
•Voltage direction of electron flow. Current is
measured in AMPERES (AMPS).
•Current
•Resistance
A direct mathematical relationship exists between Andre Ampere
voltage, resistance, and current in all electronic 1775-1836
circuits. 3 French Physicist 4

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Circuit Theory Laws Digital Electronics TM
1.2 Introduction to Analog

Voltage Resistance
Voltage – Voltage is the electrical force that Resistance – Resistance is a measure of
causes current to flow in a circuit. It is opposition to current flow. It is measured in
measured in VOLTS. Ohms.

Alessandro Volta Georg Simon Ohm

1745-1827 1789-1854
Italian Physicist 5 German Physicist 6

First, An Analogy Anatomy of a Flashlight

The flow of water from one tank to another is a good analogy for
an electrical circuit and the mathematical relationship between
voltage, resistance, and current.
Force: The difference in the water levels ≡ Voltage

Flow: The flow of the water between the tanks ≡ Current

Switch Switch
Opposition: The valve that limits the amount of water ≡ Resistance
Light Light
Bulb Bulb

Force
Flow
Battery - +
Battery

Block Diagram Schematic Diagram

7 8
Opposition

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Circuit Theory Laws Digital Electronics TM
1.2 Introduction to Analog

Flashlight Schematic Current Flow

• Conventional Current assumes
that current flows out of the
Conventional
Current positive side of the battery,
Current
through the circuit, and back to
Resistance
the negative side of the battery.
- + - +
This was the convention
Voltage established when electricity was
• Closed circuit (switch closed) • Open circuit (switch open) first discovered, but it is incorrect!
• Current flow • No current flow • Electron Flow is what actually
happens. The electrons flow out
• Lamp is on • Lamp is off
of the negative side of the battery,
• Lamp is resistance, uses • Lamp is resistance, but is not through the circuit, and back to Electron
energy to produce light (and using any energy Flow
the positive side of the battery.
heat)
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Engineering vs. Science Ohm’s Law

• The direction that the current flows does not affect what the • Defines the relationship between voltage, current, and
current is doing; thus, it doesn’t make any difference which resistance in an electric circuit
convention is used as long as you are consistent. • Ohm’s Law:
• Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are used. In Current in a resistor varies in direct proportion to the voltage
general, the science disciplines use Electron Flow, whereas applied to it and is inversely proportional to the resistor’s value.
the engineering disciplines use Conventional Current. • Stated mathematically:
• Since this is an engineering course, we will use Conventional
Current. V + V
-
I
R I R

Electron Conventional Where: I is the current (amperes)

Flow Current
V is the potential difference (volts)
11 R is the resistance (ohms)

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Circuit Theory Laws Digital Electronics TM
1.2 Introduction to Analog

Ohm’s Law Triangle Example: Ohm’s Law

Example:
The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb
V V with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how
I (amperes, A )
I R R much current will be drawn from the battery?

V V
R (ohms,  )
I R I

V
V  I R ( volts, V )
I R

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Example: Ohm’s Law Circuit Configuration

Example: Components in a circuit can be connected in one
The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb of two ways.
with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how
much current will be drawn from the battery?
Series Circuits Parallel Circuits
• Components are connected • Both ends of the components are
end-to-end. connected together.
Solution:
• There is only a single path for • There are multiple paths for current
Schematic Diagram current to flow. to flow.
IR
V
+
VT = VR I R
-

VR 6V
IR    0.04 A  40 mA
R 150 
15 Components 16
(i.e., resistors, batteries, capacitors, etc.)

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Series Circuits Example: Series Circuit

Characteristics of a series circuit Example:
• The current flowing through every series component is equal. For the series circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate
• The total resistance (RT) is equal to the sum of all of the resistances the following:
(i.e., R1 + R2 + R3). • The total resistance (RT)
• The sum of all of the voltage drops (VR1 + VR2 + VR2) is equal to the • The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, and IR3)
total applied voltage (VT). This is called Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
• The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, and VR3)
VR1 • Use the results to verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law.
IT + - VR1
IT + -

+ +
VT VR2 + IR1 +

- - VT IR2 VR2
- IR3 -

- +
RT 17 18
VR3 - +
RT
VR3

Example: Series Circuit Example: Series Circuit

Solution: Solution:
Total Resistance: Voltage Across Each Component:
R T  R1  R2  R3
VR1  IR1  R1  (Ohm' s Law)
R T  220   470   1.2 k
VR1  6.349 mA  220 Ω  1.397 volts
R T  1890   1.89 k

Current Through Each Component: VR2  IR2  R2 (Ohm' s Law)

VR2  6.349 mA  470 Ω  2.984 volts V
VT
IT  (Ohm' s Law) V I R
RT
12 v
VR3  IR3  R3 (Ohm' s Law)
IT   6.349 mAmp I R
1.89 k VR3  6.349 mA  1.2 K Ω  7.619 volts
Since this is a seriescircuit :
IT  IR1  IR2  IR3  6.349 mAmp
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Circuit Theory Laws Digital Electronics TM
1.2 Introduction to Analog

Example: Series Circuit Parallel Circuits

Solution: Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit
Verify Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: • The voltage across every parallel component is equal.
• The total resistance (RT) is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the
VT  VR1  VR2  VR3
reciprocal: 1 1 1 1 1
12 v  1.397 v  2.984 v  7.619 v    RT 
RT R1 R2 R3 1 1 1
12 v  12 v  
R1 R 2 R 3
• The sum of all of the currents in each branch (IR1 + IR2 + IR3) is equal
to the total current (IT). This is called Kirchhoff’s Current Law.
IT

+ + + +
VT VR1 VR2 VR3
- - - -

21 22
RT

Example: Parallel Circuit Example: Parallel Circuit

Example: Solution:
For the parallel circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate Total Resistance:
the following: 1
RT 
1 1 1
• The total resistance (RT)  
R1 R 2 R 3
• The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, and VR3) 1
RT 
• The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, and IR3) 1 1 1
 
470  2.2 k 3.3 k
• Use the results to verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law.
IT R T  346.59 
IR1 IR2 IR3
+ + + + Voltage Across Each Component:
VT VR1 VR2 VR3
- - - - Since this is a parallelcircuit :
VT  VR1  VR2  VR3  15 volts

23 23 24
RT

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Example: Parallel Circuit Example: Parallel Circuit

Solution: Solution:
Current Through Each Component: Verify Kirchhoff’s Current Law:
VR1 IT  IR1  IR2  IR3
IR1  (Ohm' s Law)
R1
43.278 mAmps  31.915 mA  6.818 mA  4.545 mA
VR1 15 v
IR1    31.915 mAmps 43.278 mAmps  43.278 mAmps
R1 470 

V
VR2 15 v
IR2    6.818 mAmps I R
R2 2.2 k 

VR3 15 v
IR3    4.545 mAmp
R3 3.3 k 

VT 15 v
IT    43.278 mAmp 25 26
RT 346.59 

Summary of Kirchhoff’s Laws

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):
The sum of all of the voltage drops in a
series circuit equals the total applied
voltage.

Gustav Kirchhoff Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):

1824-1887
German Physicist
The total current in a parallel circuit equals
the sum of the individual branch currents.

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