Electric Circuits I

Circuit Elements

Dr. Firas Obeidat

1
 Independent Voltage Sources
An independent voltage source is
characterized by a terminal voltage
which is completely independent of
the current through it or other
circuit elements.

 The independent voltage source is an ideal source and does not

represent exactly any real physical device, because the ideal
source could theoretically deliver an infinite amount of energy
from its terminals.
 Physical sources such as batteries and generators may be
regarded as approximations to ideal voltage sources.

2
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Independent Current Sources
Independent current source is characterized
by a current which is completely
independent of the voltage across it
or other circuit elements.

 The independent current source is at best a reasonable

approximation for a physical element. In theory it can deliver
infinite power from its terminals because it produces the same
finite current for any voltage across it, no matter how large
that voltage may be.
 It is, however, a good approximation for many practical
sources, particularly in electronic circuits.

3
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Dependent Voltage & Current Sources
Dependent, or controlled, source, in which the source quantity is
determined by a voltage or current existing at some
other location in the system being analyzed.
(a) current-controlled current source;

(b) voltage-controlled current source;

(c) voltage-controlled voltage source;

(d) current-controlled voltage source.

 Sources such as these appear in the equivalent electrical
models for many electronic devices, such as transistors,
operational amplifiers, and integrated circuits.
 Dependent and independent voltage and current sources are
active elements; they are capable of delivering power to some
external device.
4
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Examples
Calculate the power supplied or absorbed by each element in
Figures.

1. p1= 20×5=100W (Supplied power). 1. p1= 45W (supplied power).

2. P2= 5×12=60W (absorbed power). 2. P2= 18W (absorbed power).
3. P3=6×8=48W (absorbed power). 3. P3=12W (absorbed power).
4. P4= 8×(0.2×5)= 8W (supplied power). 4. P4= 15W (absorbed power).

5
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Resistance
Materials in general have a characteristic behavior of resisting
the flow of electric charge. This physical property, or ability to
resist current, is known as resistance (R) measured in ohms (Ω).

Resistor is a passive element which is capable only of receiving

power.
6
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Resistance
R is the resistance (Ω).
= ρ is the resistivity (Ω.m).
is length of the conductor (m).
A=πr2 A is cross sectional area (m2).
G is the conductance (Siemens (S)).

7
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Resistance
Example: certain cable is made from
Example: What is the resistance of a 50m
certain material which has
length of copper wire with a radius of 0.
ρ=0.01Ω.m, l=xm, A=ym2, and
5cm at 20°C?
R=10Ω. another cable is made from
A=πr2= π×(0.005)2=7.85×10-5m2 the same material, If (l) is increased
by 20٪, and (A) is deceased by 50٪.
= =1.72×10-8× =0.01Ωv
=0.01Ω Calculate R for the new cable?
7.85×10−5 .
= ⇒ =
Example: material (a) has ρa=0.005 Ω.m, = .
la=x m, and Aa=k m2. material (b) has lb=2x
m, and Ab=0.5k m2 . Find ρb so that Ra=Rb? = +0.2 =1.2
= -0.5 =0.
Ra=Rb ⇒ =
. × .
= =
. × × .
= . × .
.
= =24Ω
. × .
= × . = . .
8
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s law states that the voltage (v) across a resistor is directly
proportional to the current i flowing through the
resistor.

∝ then =
 The value of R can range from zero to infinity.
 An element with R=0 is called a short circuit,
For short circuit V=iR=0
A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance
approaching zero.
 An element with R=∞ is called a open circuit,
For open circuit = lim =
→
A open circuit is a circuit element with resistance
approaching infinity.
9
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Ohm’s Law
From equation of power and the above equation, we can find that

= = = = = =
Example 1: An electric iron draws 2 A at 120 V. Find its resistance.
Solution: From Ohm’s law, R=v/i=120/2=60 Ω

Example 2: The essential component of a toaster is an electrical element (a resistor)

that converts electrical energy to heat energy. How much current is drawn by a
toaster with resistance 15 Ω at 110 V?
Solution: i=v/R=110/15=7.33 A
Example 3: for the circuit shown, calculate the current i, the
conductance G, and the power p.
Solution:
= = =
×
= = .
= = × × =

10
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Nodes, Paths, Loops, and Branches
 Node: A point at which two or more elements
have a common connection. Or, it is the point
of connection between two or more branches.

 Branch: represents a single element such as a

voltage source or a resistor.

 Loop: is any closed path in a circuit.

 Path: is a set of nodes and elements that we

have passed through.

11
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Kirchhoff’s Laws
 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) states that the algebraic sum
of currents entering a node is zero.

+ + + ⋯+ ( ) =
+ + (− ) + (− ) =

 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum

of all voltages around a closed path (or loop) is zero.

+ + + ⋯+ ( )=
(− )+ + − =
12
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Kirchhoff’s Laws - Examples
Ex: In the circuit there are eight
circuit elements. Find vR2 (the voltage
across R2) and the voltage labeled vx.

4− + =
=32V
− + 12 + 14 + vx = 0
− + 12 + 14 + vx = 0
vx =6V

Ex: Determine and vo i in the circuit shown in Figure.

applying KVL around the loop
− + + − + =0
From the figure vo = -6i
− + − =0
= -8A
vo = -6i=48V
13
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Kirchhoff’s Laws - Examples
Ex: Find current and voltage o in
the circuit shown in Figure.

applying KCL at node a.

5 + − =
=6A

o=4i=24V

Ex: Find current and voltage o in

the circuit shown in Figure.

Answer: 12 V, 6 A.

14
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Kirchhoff’s Laws - Examples
Ex: which of these elements (A,B, and C) is not resistor?

-2×5-vC-3×6=0
vC=-28V
C is supply element. Because of that, we
have to change the polarity of C.
4×7-28+vB=0
vB=0
vB could be short circuit.
-vA-0+2×5=0
vA=10V
Current enter from positive side of element (A).
(A) is a resistance.
15
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Kirchhoff’s Laws - Examples
Ex: Find currents and
voltages in the circuit shown
in the figure.
At node a, KCL gives
i1-i2-i3=0 eq (1)
Applying KVL to loop 1
-30+v1+v2=0 eq(2) then 3i2=6i3 ⇒ i3= eq(5)
By Ohm’s law Substituting eq(3)&eq(5)
in eq(1) gives
v1=8i1, v2=3i2, v3=6i3
then ( )
( ) -i2- =0
-30+8i1+3i2=0 ⇒i1= eq(3)
i2=2A
Applying KVL to loop 2
i1=3 A, i3=1 A,
-v2+v3=0 ⇒v2=v3 eq(4) v1=24 V, v2=6 V, v3=6 V
16
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
 Series and Parallel Connected Sources
 some of the equations for series and parallel circuits can be
avoided by combining sources without changing all the
current, voltage, and power relationships in the remainder of
the circuit.
 sources in series may be replaced by an equivalent voltage
source having a voltage equal to the algebraic sum of the
individual sources.
 Parallel current sources may also be combined by
algebraically adding the individual currents.

17
Dr. Firas Obeidat – Philadelphia University
18